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Originally Posted by MortonH
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Yes, but about 1/10 of the size and preferably much cheaper. It's going on my Astro track rig and I'm trying to keep it somewhat light and portable.
As it is I ended up after coming up blank with searches so I drilled and tapped the small single clamp locking dual Vixen/Losmandy unit. It was a Losmandy brand. It fits nicely and I'm in the process of butchering a spare Vixen bar I had to fit a 3/8 button head stainless bolt through. I had to make a mount to fit it on the lathe to machine the centre to both the larger diameter hole plus machine x amount away so the button head bolt sits flush.
I don't have a boring bar, I ended up finding an old lathe tool not particularly suited and made it work, it's not pretty, far from pretty but it will be practical. The Vixen plate is too long but I'll cut the ends off it, I needed that one central hole.
First up I had to machine some steel 50mm round stock I had and bore and tap 2 off M4 (0.7) holes at 34mm centres to fit the Vixen bar to it to machine the centre hole.
All because I'm too lazy to weld up steel I have here for a stand for a milling machine I also have here along with necessary tools and the same job of modifying the bar would have taken minutes, it's taken from 5PM till midnight with a quick break for dinner (and preparing the food). It's still not finished but not far off.
I'll make my own custom Vixen-esque bar once I get the milling machine set up on a stand I'm yet to weld, maybe this weekend if the weather holds up.......
I say lazy, it's a combination of health and weather, I have to do all of my welding in the yard because I don't have a large enough shed (just a small garden shed). Then I have to try and get stuff square in a sloping yard. My lathe stand holds the 300Kg odd lathe with no problems, I welded it up myself and it hasn't collapsed yet (I have qualifications in welding, obtained back when I had eyes.....)
