Does anyone use an arbor press to drive out pins?
Basically, I am planning on modifying an arbor press with a chuck to hold different punches and a modified plate for work holding.
Backstory: Got rheumatoid arthritis with a side of Lyme arthritis (it’s a thing, really) which has taken a toll on my hand strength and dexterity.
I also am a machinist/programmer that has access to my family’s full machine shop. We are slow right now so there are machines open that otherwise would be running.
This is a fun project for me in part to get some time of machines and processes I haven’t used recently. I was gifted an Econoline bench top blast cabinet and working on cleaning up some stainless pistols.
I figured I could:
1) D&T a smaller press for an extra keyed chuck I have.
2) Modify the chuck to have a flat inside for the punch to set. Plunge with a CEM to create a flat on the interior of the chuck for the punch to set.
3) Cut to length and turn down the handles on a set of good punches and mount of a magnet strip on the side opposite the handle.
4) surface grind plate faces parallel .
5) D&T plate for work holding hardware.
I also thought about engraving a grid on the table then realized it’s probably going to devour 0.030” mills if it’s hardened.
The only thing I need to figure out is a simple way to lock down the rotation of the plate.