ball detent: how to make one?

harkamus

harkamus

Joined
Apr 23, 2007
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I need to make a prototype of an assist mechanism I came up with. I got the assist mechanism down, but in order to test it, I need to add a detent to adjust the strength of the mechanism. What's the easiest way to make a detent? I'm guessing drill a hole, but what is it that keeps the tiny ball bearing in the hole?
 
Usually pressure from the frame/liner lock... Or do you mean what keeps the ball in the frame? Oversized ball in a undersized hole...

Is it even a frame/liner lock?
 
Ah. I always thought they were fixed or adhered to the lock bar. Now I just have to find tiny ball bearings for the detent ball.
 
I have limited experience with it but I know it can be tricky to adjust the height of the ball for the first time.
 
Many knife supply houses sell them. I've installed many in my linerlocks. Purchase a package of 20 as you'll lose some. It will state on the package what size drill to use. I drill the shallow hole/depression in the liner then take a ball and a nail set, place the ball on the depression and nail set on the ball and give it one tap to seat it in place. Test it a time or two before a final run. The ball bearings are very hard. Then drill a depression on the blade to encounter the ball during pivoting of blade at the correct amount of opening. Usually one inch. DM
 
David Martin said:
Many knife supply houses sell them. I've installed many in my linerlocks. Purchase a package of 20 as you'll lose some. It will state on the package what size drill to use. I drill the shallow hole/depression in the liner then take a ball and a nail set, place the ball on the depression and nail set on the ball and give it one tap to seat it in place. Test it a time or two before a final run. The ball bearings are very hard. Then drill a depression on the blade to encounter the ball during pivoting of blade at the correct amount of opening. Usually one inch. DM
Click to expand...

Thanks for this explanation. That made it seem pretty easy to do.
 
harkamus said:
I need to make a prototype of an assist mechanism I came up with. I got the assist mechanism down, but in order to test it, I need to add a detent to adjust the strength of the mechanism. What's the easiest way to make a detent? I'm guessing drill a hole, but what is it that keeps the tiny ball bearing in the hole?
Click to expand...

Hark I've been following your posts to try to figure out how this mechanism is going to work, and I've come to the conclusion that this really isn't like anything we've seen yet. All I can say is that if I'm right, slap a patent on it and make sure that we're the first to know! :thumbup:
 
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