Originally Posted by
martin
ANeat,
Looks like you did some good work and you have somthing to be proud of.
Couple of questions:
1. Not having used a "Corbin" style press before, I take it that the ram is conneceded to the center piece that moves up and down on the round guide bars. I see set screw hole in the front - is that what holds the ram so that the ram and the center piece move together?
Yes the ram is connected to the center piece, it acts as a guide for the ram since there is actually very little support where the ram goes thru the base
2. I am assuming that the slot in the ram is for an extractor for the internal punch. Is that correct?
Yes the slot is for the base punch, which also acts as the ejector. When the ram goes up the punch bottoms out on a step inside the ram. When the ram goes down a pin holds the ejector/base in place while the center die moves down with the ram
3. Is there a spring loaded internal punch that is used for point forming (1/16 inch pin) and how does that work?
I havent done that yet but its my understanding that when point forming on a press like this the bullet would be nose down and the ejector would come up from the bottom
4. I see you chose to mill slots in the top for the rectangular bars to slide in and out. Would it not have been easier to use round bars and round holes and mill them flat where they meet the camming bar at the bottom?
Those rectangular bars only swing, they do not move up and down, they are the "fulcrum" point I guess you would call it. They are pinned to the top plate to provide a more rigid setup. Very similar to a Redding or Walnut hill press
5. How did you drill your holes for the cam and get them alligned?
I drilled everything on a Bridgeport milling machine
6. Did you use bearing on the ram at the cam?
There is no bearing on the Ram (yet) I have a bushing for that as well but another member here that has made their own press didnt use any bushings and has no problems yet so Im going to try it for a while and see
7. Did you make the bronze bushing or did you order them from someplace?
I purchased oilite bushing from Mcmaster Carr, they are press fit into place
8. It would appear that you have a large treaded insert (maybe 1 1/2 inch to 7/8 inch similar to the RCBS presses. If you intend on using dies that have 7/8 x 14 threads, why not make this a 7/8 x14 threaded hole?
Thats just in case I decide to do any 50 bmg reloading, 50 bmg and I think a couple other larger calibers use a threaded die larger than 7/8-14...... the hole is 1 1/2-12.
9. I do not have access to welding equipment. Do you think that the pieces on the cam bar at the bottom could be threaded and cap head screws be used to hold them in place and still work without any problems? Maybe a couple of 3/8 inch cap head screws countersunk for each piece you have welded?
Its possibe, If I didnt have the welder I would have sure tried it bolted together. That would be a lot of drilling though... Might be a good oportunity to look up a local weld shop
As you can tell, I am new at the "Corbin" style presses but would sure like to make one (I for one am admire your work).
Thank You,
Martin