Dia. Mag. Alternator

[z.monkey]

This new plate is thicker, 0.125 inches, harder to cut with teh hacksaw...
I'll probably have the outlines on all four plates cut in a few hours...

[z.monkey]

Looking forward to the Holiday to get some metal shop time...

I used a left over piece of 1/2"x1" Bar Stock and a couple of C-Clamps
to make a fence on my milling table.  This will help a lot when I am
spotting the NeoMag8.  I have had significant trouble trying to square
things up on a drill press table.  The post is round, with no markings,
and the Head is so far away from the base that there is no common
reference.  This is why I need a mill, or at least a better drill press.
I was thinking about getting a laser line generator, and attaching it
to the head of the drill press somehow.  This will help me square the
head to the table at least.  A legitimate mill would have reference
points and locks to sit square, solid...

[z.monkey]

What luck...

I've been whining about magnet prices today.  I had based the NeoMag8
on some magnets that I found at Magcraft...

http://www.rare-earth-magnets.com/p-36-nsn0625.aspx

When I first sourced these magnets they were $10.99 a pair.  Then recently
I went to order them and they were $16.99 a pair!  So that started the
rampage to find an alternate supplier...

I found some arc magnets at CMS Magnet that are the same size, on sale, $6.89
for a pair...

http://www.magnet4sale.com/On-Sale-2-PC-Neodymium-Magnets-N42SH-OD2.00XID1.75XL1.0-X45-Degree.html

So, now I have the magnets for NeoMag8 on order, better get back to shredding metal...

[z.monkey]

OK, now spotting DiaMag8...

I have all the plates and the sacrificial block squared up with the fence.
I am using a regular 1/8 inch drill bit for spotting this time.  The 1/8"
mill that I normally use only has a 3/8 inch length of cut.  The stack
of DiaMag8 plates is 1/2 inch thick and I want to punch down into
the sacrificial block as well.  This is also the tallest stack of plates
that I have put on the Palmgren Table.  I am just about at the limit
of the vertical clearance on my Mini Mill setup...

The fence was very helpful in getting the workpieces squared up...

[z.monkey]

Finally got the new rotor magnets for DiaMag8...