Sorry for that snobbish reply, since you do Cad/Cam you could use
your mill and manually mill into a small steel block to make a
setting fixture, or even a piece of scrap cast iron. Although given
the density of the metal a piece of hot rolled steel would be better,
mill a hole of sufficient depth to hold the bezel but leave the top
exposed so that you can burnish or hammer the bezel over the stone.
Cut the hole with a two-flute end mill so you get a flat bottom in
the hole, put the bezel in the hole, and then use your engravers
block or just a simple bench vise to hold your custom-made setting
fixture. This should present no problem with a Taig, Sherline, MaxCNC
or the Model Master or Wolverine. An actual milling machine that
still has handles; otherwise, you will have to write your own G code.
For something that simple, that would be no problem. Depending on the
size of the stone, you possibly could purchase an end mill of a near
appropriate size. If your machine doesn’t use a vise or hold down
clamps you might want to try it with a piece of aluminum You won’t
get the same density which will translate into the fixture not having
the density in relationship to use of a impact hammer
For the sake of simplicity, you could even take a sheet of copper of
perhaps 16 Ga. and just drill a hole through it just to allow the
bezel to fit with out binding. Then place the setting in the hole
place this on a hard solid surface and burnish or hammer the edge
over the stone. If you are having an issue with cutting the seat,
perhaps try placing the tube in a pitch cup if you have a GRS
Benchmate or just a pitch bowl. You can place several in a cup, or a
lot in a small pitch bowl. Cut your seats then clean the pitch off,
put them in either of the above described fixtures and Yabba Dabba
Doo you’ll soon be through. Now how’s that for artistic
interpretation A milling machine is the most versatile machine
found in a shop, it’s uses are endless they are good for far more
than milling model board or wax.
Kenneth Ferrell
www.shadras.com
