hole alignment issues

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hello, I am new to this forum.  I have a question about a job I just got.  Not really welding but still part of my business. I got a job that requires me to replace a plate on the bottom of a  foot pedal for an x-ray machine. The bottom is only in contact with the floor on three sides so it rocks when it is stepped on. The plate that I want to put on will be thicker and wider to keep it from tipping. My question is how do I accurately transcribe the holes to drill them on the new piece that will go on top with bolts going through it into the holes in the bottom piece. it has to match up perfectly or the screws wont fit. the screws are #4-40. Thanks for any help.Scott
Reply:Paint the bottom of the pedal, place it on a piece of paper. There is your template. Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Not really enough information to give a direct answer to the OP's question.  Is the hole in the plate to be threaded for the screw or does the screw pass through the plate into a blind threaded hole?  Some sort of transfer punch or transfer point come to mind.  Of course there is the old time honored measure and mark.  Chalking the bottom of the pedal or using carbon transfer paper to derive a template might work.  So many possibilities!!!!!!!!!!RogerOld, Tired, and GRUMPYSalesman will call, Batteries not included, Assembly is required, and FREE ADVICE IS WORTH EXACTLY WHAT YOU PAY FOR IT!Dial Arc 250HFThunderbolt 225 AC/DCAssorted A/O torches
Reply:The standard solution is a transfer punch, as far as I know.  I use transfer punches for that kind of work.  Harbor freight has them for $10.4-40 screws sound very small, I might drill that out to something larger.RichardSculptures in copper and other metalshttp://www.fergusonsculpture.comSyncrowave 200 Millermatic 211Readywelder spoolgunHypertherm 600 plasma cutterThermal Arc GMS300 Victor OA torchHomemade Blacksmith propane forge
Reply:Transfer punches. They come in a index with various sizes. You put one plate on top of the other, choose the correct size punch, put it in a hoe and tap it with a hammer.I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:http://www.mcmaster.com/#transfer-screws/=oypger
Reply:Pic never showed, sorry.I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:Transfer punches or transfer screws. I like tranfer screws better if they can be used. http://www.reidsupply.com/products/m...er-screw-sets/
Reply:Transfer screws? That's a new one on me! Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Transfer screws work very well if you have a piece with threaded holes that you need to transfer to another surface. You can screw them into the holes and transfer all the points at once.
Reply:You could use a piece of foil or paper.  Place it on the housing (which I presume has tapped holes).  Rub it a bit or use a pencil and make some mark or impression.   You can even tap with a plastic or rubber mallet. Use the foil/paper to carefully mark or punch the mating plate and drill.  Just like making a gasket."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:I bought the cheap harbor freight ones and they still are in one piece. http://www.harborfreight.com/28-piec...-set-3577.html
Reply:Originally Posted by leightrepairsTransfer screws work very well if you have a piece with threaded holes that you need to transfer to another surface. You can screw them into the holes and transfer all the points at once.
Reply:Thanks, that was just what I was looking for.
Reply:Great idea! thanks
Reply:Alignment punches are great but it is a blind hole. thanks for the help
Reply:Just get a handful of screws, cut off the heads and grind to a point, then just thread them into the holes and mark the opposing piece with them. That is what a transfer screw is.
Reply:Grinding points on #4 screws sounds like fun. Sounds more like an opportunity to grind points on your fingers. Depending on how super accurate you need to be, a photocopier can be your friend for flat parts. Place the part to be reproduced on the copier and simply make yourself a paper template. Some copiers do have some distortion, so double check that the template will be close enough to what you want. A bit of spray tack to hold the template on the new stock and away you go. If the screws aren't threading into the new base, the holes don't have to be ultra accurate. In fact oversized holes to allow for minor misalignment might help. At worst counter sink the holes slightly and use washers to deal with the larger hole size..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWGrinding points on #4 screws sounds like fun. Sounds more like an opportunity to grind points on your fingers.