[LRF]

Has anyone designed a set of table covers for their machine? Thinking they may be nice to minimize end of day clean up by keeping the chips out of the table slots.
If you have hope you could share your design and tell the good points of the design and if you did it again would there be improvements you would make?

[LSM]

there are commercially available table slot covers.
the slots are the same as a BP table.
table slots have no relation to the ways and way covers

[LRF]

Thanks LSM

Sorry, I meant table covers. I was machining at the time and for some reason had "ways" on my mind.

Table covers

[popspipes]

Has anyone designed a set of table covers for their machine? Thinking they may be nice to minimize end of day clean up by keeping the chips out of the table slots.
If you have hope you could share your design and tell the good points of the design and if you did it again would there be improvements you would make?

check out this page, I have seen them at Enco as well.

thetoolco.com/index.php/milling-table-slot-cover-vst-16.html

It wont let me post the link for some reason, this outfit has them though.

[LeeWay]

I made some out of 3/16" black phenolic. They are two piece and fit up next to my vise on each side of the table. Very simple to make. I just use some bolts from my T-slot set to secure them in place.

[popspipes]

At present I am using 3/4" vinyl tubing stuffed in the slots with a 1/4" spacer under it, it works but isnt the best.
I am thinking a piece of .625 x 1 cold rolled steel, cut to length and dropped in the slots.The cost of a 12' piece of cold rolled steel and the slot covers are about the same price.

[LRF]

LeeWay,
I like your idea about using plastic sheet. I will have to give that serious consideration. Thanks

[LeeWay]

Nice and easy to cut and is coolant proof. Also dropping a tool on it doesn't kill the tool or dent the table. Not that I drop many tools.

[LRF]

If I dropped a tool......it would be my first...........today LOL