KMG tooling arm

E

elementfe

Joined
May 3, 2008
Messages
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Have patience, I'm out here in the sticks- have finally saved enough to upgrade from the ol' Grizzly, and want to go with the KMG...but what's with the lack of a 1 1/2" extra hole so you can slam a seperate tooling arm in the body of the machine?
Is that a drawback? Obviously an awful lot of knowledgeable people run KMG, but it doesn't make sense to me, looking at the photos.
 
I love my KMG but you point out a real drawback. All kinds of rests could be used if the grinder had another receptacle. You can work around that though and the KMG is a great grinder. Larry Lehman
 
I had a similar issue with my Bader and welded a 6" piece of 1" box tubing on the bottom of a tooling arm. I slid the work rest arm in that and locked it down with a lever bolt. It was a heck of a lot easier than unbolting the work rest to change things every time. Later, I switched to multiple dedicated tooling arms and didn't need to switch things much.
 
Thanks for the replies. That's a lot of grinder for the $, to be able to set up and grind for $750, without having to buy adaptors, bushings, shafts, etc., is pretty attractive (already have a motor and pulleys). KMG looks ready to go.
There are so many aspects of production where you go back and forth between needing a rest and needing a full clear platen that lack of quick change capability seems like a serious drawback. Two bolts isn't much, but it's a lot more fiddling around than I'm used to, and it's MUCH more inconvenient than a single thumbscrew on a 1 1/2" arm socket.
With Stacy's mod, it should be fine.
 
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Never gave it any thought? I just have multiple tooling arms with platens and wheels.

& three grinders each set up different. :D
 
I've seen a plan on another forum to add an extra space below the existing 1.5" opening for a tool arm with a MAP arm if that's what you're referring to. In order to have a quick change tool rest underneath the wheel/platen tool arm. It didnt look too difficult to do but I've never tried it myself.
 
JG, those are very cool links.
The one thing AdamMichael never showed was the one thing I was hungry to see: how the receiver attaches to the body of the KMG. Did I just miss it? Should be a solveable problem...
Thanks to all for the good advice, can't wait to get onto a decent machine. The Grizzly has exceeded my expectations as far as how much work it's done, but everything about it is just not what it could be.
 
Gimme, I can't see the attachment in the photo- does it screw into the KMG frame?

Brian, D-D is similar and looks like a good product, but the big difference is that it simply replaces the KMG tooling, lacking a separate reciever and tool arm.

All it comes down to is that I have assumed all along that having the tool rest on a separate arm, which sticks into a second box reciever on the grinder frame, is a big advantage. Not having used it, I guess I'll find out if that's true when the grinder arrives!
 
Gimmejr's photo shows how most all attachments attach to the KMG grinder - note the small wheel attachment assembly bolts to the top of the 1-1/2" tooling arm. Tool rests bolt on the same way, either with a bolt to the top (or side) of existing tooling arm with the platen assembly still attached to the tooling arm. Sounds more awkward than it really is - once you get it on hand so you can see how it works, MUCH simpler.

Ken H.
 
I read that whole thread last night. I'm also curious how it attaches. Does it attach to the bottom of the original tool arm holder?

Ken I think you missed the second tool arm holder in Gimme's picture. If it attaches to the tool arm itself I think that would defeat the purpose of it since that is what most of us gripe about with the KMG.
 
That's pretty brilliant, gotta love a solution like that! ....as long as it works ;) Wonder if KMG would just sell the extra parts to do this, and how it would affect belt management.
So far three different approaches- mods to the existing tooling arm, stacked receivers, and a parallel receiver that attaches to the frame....somehow.
 
Darn Augus - I DID miss the second tool arm holder out there on the left side. Thanks for pointing it out, and a reminder to myself, "Look closer before putting mouth (keyboard?) in gear" {g}

I've only got the single tool arm holder and just bolt all my attachments to the tool arm, either top or side depending on which works best.

That last setup of photos sure looks nice.

Ken H>
 
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I am going to add this feature to my KMG for sure. Thanks for sharing the idea. KMG should make this mod to their grinder. Larry Lehman
 
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