slight angle adjustment platform? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2025, 11:29:28 pm
content: When you use a bench belt sander, its difficult to setup the absolute angle on the machine, because its kinda bootleg.I wanted some kind of angle platform that can do a small adjustment (maybe 5 degrees) and be set. So you set up your platform the best you can, then you put on the platform and level it exactly, and then lock down the angle platform.The ones I see are big. I just need it to do a few degrees, and low profile. So it could kind of 'rock' and have a set screw.This looks good, but IDK if its what you would want for attaching to a belt sander lolhttps://www.amazon.com/Precision-Goniometer-Positioning-Adjustment-Equipment/dp/B0CH3GVZ6Jis there like a machinists version? And it would need like a oversized top, be cause often you are grinding something much longer then the platform.

author: Andy Watson
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2025, 01:57:55 am
content: Quote from: coppercone2 on October 04, 2025, 11:29:28 pmUh ?Are you saying that you want a platform that can be set to a specific angle, or that you want a means of setting the platform that you already have?The machinists equivalent of the platform that you linked to would be a sine-table ot sine-bar. On the other hand, if you want to be able to set a platform that you already have, how about a digital angle guage:https://www.machine-dro.co.uk/products/wixey-digital-angle-gauge-with-magnetic-baseIf all you require is an accuracy of a degree or so, you could make a calibrated pendulum - protractor, weight and bit of string.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2025, 01:59:07 am
content: its cl-ear you never used a cheap sander. It like moves when you tighten it and shit. The mechanism is a little pin and a worn aluminum cam.It needs something on top so you can dial it isif you try to progressively tighten this table, it like galls, gets stuck, feels jumpy, etc.If I had a 'fine correction' then it would be accurate as hellThe little table here.https://www.lowes.com/pd/PORTER-CABLE-5-Amp-Benchtop-Sander/3163789It does whatever it feels like in the process of locking the platform. This would act like a trimBest I can tell, when you tighten the screw after adjusting the angle, the table moves in a little J shape, and ends up not being where you want it to be.If I had a little smooth adjuster that goes on top of the platform, I can deal it in perfectly, smoothly. And make fine adjustments for fitting things, where I might need to adjust it by a tiny amount.And my other sander which oscillates up and down is even worse. They have sticky mechanisms.I am supersized there is no well known general purpose tool that compensates for shitty tilt mechanisms and allows for a fine adjustment. It would unlock so much potential from the machine.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2025, 02:21:35 am
content: I think I can cut a groove into something that fits into the groove on the rest, glue a small pin pin that fits in the groove to piece of flat steel and drill a hole in the platform, glue a threaded thing to the bottom of the platform under the hole, and just make it so you can adjust the nut to lightly trim the platform. It would precisely tilt a few degrees. It would just need some kind of lock on the side. It should work for light duty. I think about a 1/8 inch pin will be enough to compensate for the slight setting error

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 12, 2025, 06:00:52 pm
content: I had a long look at it. When you tighten up the platform is goes in like an arc. (If you tighten it down and try to do the last fine adjustment, its like fighting a 'seize' conditionI think it might be possible to set 'properly' using a angle gauge if I like deburr/sand the cam and pin, and apply a teflon loaded sticky grease there. Then I can tighten it down and 'struggle' with it to get to the correct angle without a adjustment platform. I thought to glue a brass or something liner over both surfaces too, so it can slide better when its tight. I can't do much other then lubricate and polish the cam groove and pin, but I can 'face' the joint. I thought to glue brass shim stock to it with epoxy, so it slides better. Maybe JB weld is a strong glue that can handle it.The angle mechanism is designed for like a carpenter (and not a master trim carpenter), not for machine things. Its a shame because I think the machine is really well built, solid. I dislike that you need to use a screw driver to change belts, and that partial disassembly is required to change the sanding disk.