Zero Clearance Insert

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dusty
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Post by dusty »

Ed in Tampa wrote:IDH

I have no idea why the holes are different, this is where we need Nick to run out into the factory and to bring back the official word.

If Nick could go out and check would we find anything different than we find when we go out into our various shops? I think not. If he checked and found that there are different size holes, he might be able to explain why.

All I know for sure is that they are NOT all the same. Furthermore, I have some that have different locations for the blade that I can not explain. 2, 3, 4 and 5 from the left.

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Incidently, you can readily see that there are a couple different hole sizes. These don't seem to be an issue. I didn't even notice til this thread was posted. The ones I question are all plastic (as is the ZCI blank). The others are aluminum.
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charlese
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Post by charlese »

Hi - The plastic inserts with the offset slots came with your Crafter's Station. It is the only way you can saw a miter with the CS. I saved mine when sending back my CS. Thought they might be valuable for use with the MK V. I was wrong and therefore did not receive monetary credit for turning them in. Oh Well!
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reible
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Post by reible »

Next question, are everyones metal inserts bowed?? When you tighten them do they flatten out?? Anyone care to go the next step with this information and guess why the holes are not the same?

Ed
{Knight of the Shopsmith} [Hero's don't wear capes, they wear dog tags]
ldh
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Post by ldh »

reible wrote:Next question, are everyones metal inserts bowed?? When you tighten them do they flatten out?? Anyone care to go the next step with this information and guess why the holes are not the same?

Ed
I am no engineer, but for me I have found that when I make zero clearance inserts the crown (bow) of the insert needs be be down and the larger hole in the insert allows me to take the bow out and get a better fit. I think there is a natural crown in the SS made inserts and the clearance of the larger hole allows for the same best fit. The plastic inserts are so flimsy I don't think they have much of any crown. My shop made inserts work well for me so hopefully I am on the right track.

ldh
doug45601
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Post by doug45601 »

I made a bunch of blank inserts out of 1/4" plexi-glass and drilled the same size holes in each end. Also made that drum sander insert shown in the shopsmith book.

Also believe that the "singing" comes from the slots between the blade teeth quickly closing the gap on rotations compressing the air thus causing the harmonic frequency, whistle or singing if you will.

Now ain't that a buch of crap! Well it could be true!
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Ed in Tampa
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Post by Ed in Tampa »

The bow in the metal inserts is what Shopsmith calls coined and was designed into them so you could adjust the insert to be perfectly level with the table.
My instruction manual tells me to install the back screw and tighten slightly then to install the front. Now using my finger or a straight edge to check levelness you are to tighten each screw until the insert is setting level with the table surface. If it is too high at the front you tighten the front screw more, if it low in the back you loosen the back screw.
On the plastic inserts they are built level with the table but since they are plastic they can be shimed up or sanded down to make a perfect fit.

I still don't know why the holes are different in the metal inserts unless it has to do with this bowing or coining as SS calls it.

That is why I wish Nick was here he could go talk to the engineers at SS and find out why the holes are different.
Ed in Tampa
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