Process

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Over the course of a couple of days during the week, my 3D-printer made this:

Another view:

The middle part is attached to the outer part using four M5×30 mm cap screws, which engage with nuts that are a close sliding fit in the slots in the side pieces. The central part can hence be slid around the slot by loosening the four screws, sliding it into a new position and then tightening the screws again (without having to get a spanner on the nuts as they can't rotate in the slot).

Remember the photo where I'd labelled all the screw holes on the inner cover piece?

You might have noticed that there are two (M8 threaded) unused holes near the top of the cover. I think the reason for those holes is so that the cover plates (left and right) can be made as a single symmetrical design. On the left-hand cover (shown) the bottom two holes are used for mounting the tool rest. On the right-hand cover, the other two holes are used.

The outer four (M8) screws on each 3D-printed side piece go into the tool rest mounting holes on the two wheel covers (taking advantage of the previously unused threaded holes) and the curved side of the central plastic piece fits snugly up against the body of the grinder:

I can rotate it around the body (if required) by loosening the four M5 cap screws attaching the central piece to the outer frames:

Those four central holes with M5 threaded inserts are in just the right place to allow me to mount the Tormek BGM and then the Tormek "universal support" can be fitted and used with either of the two CBN wheels:

I'd wondered if it would be stiff enough (being 3D-printed and without increasing perimeters or in-fill), but it seems fine from what I can tell so far. I expect the design will get tweaked at some point to incorporate some protrusion-setting features (for the Tormek jigs) and that sort of thing, so I may increase the fill density then (now that I know the design is right); however, for now I think it'll be fine.

I am a hobbyist metalworker and woodworker. I work as an electronic design engineer and spend most of my working days in front of a computer so I enjoy having the opportunity to use my hands and make things in my spare time. I particularly enjoy making tools as I can then use them on other projects. This website showcases some of the things I've made.

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