Air Operated Positioning Posts

[Hobodog2]

Does anyone have a source and part numbers for air operated positioning posts that you would mount to the edge of the work surfaces (spoil board and base board) to allow accurate positioning of material (the edges of the material would be positioned flush with the sides and/or ends of the work surface).

There is such a large selection of pneumatic cylinders available - it is difficult to figure out exactly what would work best - if someone has already dialed in a working cylinder arrangement, that information would be most helpful.

Thanks, Pete

[dana_swift]

Peter- Gary Campbell at ShopBot is the expert on pneumatic alignment devices. He has made several that I know of, and probably more than that.

What you are wanting to do is easily done, and works very well. It makes alignment a snap.. As I recollect Gary had posted some youtube videos of his alignment posts when he had the shop in Florida. Check youtube.. and Gary will probably reply shortly.

D

[nat_wheatley]

http://www.shopbotblog.com/index.php/2010/06/table-index-revisited/

[bleeth]

No part numbers but this may help:

http://www.shopbotblog.com/index.php/2010/06/table-index-revisited/

Best bet for sourcing is e-bay. I believe the cylinders pictured are Fabco 2 1/2" double acting single cylinder but they may be the 3". New on-line from distributors they are around $100.00 each,

Nat beat me to the link while I was strolling the web looking at some sources!

[Hobodog2]

Thank you both for that information - I have not looked at those columns for years - boy, have I missed some good information.

Super - thank you

[dlcw]

Here is another lower cost option that I've been using for about a year now with excellent results.

[Brady Watson]

And another...Plywood 'flags' that slide up or down as needed. Saw these at Bill Palumbo's shop years ago. These could be daisy chained together with heim joints and an actuator to automate...

-B

[garyc]

Peter...
Here is a link to another version that I did on my "old" machine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDlRTOG9B4M&list=UUl3fUyY3Nq1H5E9wEAzld2Q&index=6&feature=plcp

Looks like Dave and Nat have posted most of the info. If need more info, let us know.

[Hobodog2]

All good information and solutions to work positioning - but I think there may be other solutions out there as well - anyone else care to share their methods?

Gary, do you have any Fabco part numbers that you can share for your old and new positioning equipment pls?

Thanks for your inputs

[Design Dude]

Try this link. I just got some 7/8" bore cylinders from them to automate the dust foot height adjustment on my PRS. Gary's youtube channel was very inspiring.

http://www.automationdirect.com/adc/Shopping/Catalog/Pneumatic_Components

[garyc]

Most of the cylinders I use for this purpose are 1 1/2 or 2" diameter compact cylinders from Fabco. I use these because the shaft (pop up) is 5/8" diameter or larger.

Do an eBay search for "compact cylinder"