Centering circle on larger circle

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Hi. I am fabricating a manual ring roller. For the "drive" spool I'd like to weld a large sacrificial socket, soon cut down to a lower profile, with a 1/2 inch drive and rotate the roller with a large socket drive or slow drill. I would dearly love to have the socket centered on the spool prior to welding, for obvious reasons. Trouble is I don't know a technique for placing the socket on the exact center of the roller. Any tips and tricks for this? Thanks a ton. (Fabrication is a blast!!!) sorry about the sideways photo......


Reply:

Originally Posted by SwoD

Hi. I am fabricating a manual ring roller. For the "drive" spool I'd like to weld a large sacrificial socket, soon cut down to a lower profile, with a 1/2 inch drive and rotate the roller with a large socket drive or slow drill. I would dearly love to have the socket centered on the spool prior to welding, for obvious reasons. Trouble is I don't know a technique for placing the socket on the exact center of the roller. Any tips and tricks for this? Thanks a ton. (Fabrication is a blast!!!) sorry about the sideways photo......


Reply:Measure the gap and then put 3 fillers that size equally spaced around the socket. Example wood dowels or toothpicks, sheet metal screws, steel rod, etc. If they are equal size and spaced evenly the socket should be centered. Tack it together and remove fillers. Then you can solid weld it. Note wood will burn so better to fill with metal.Burt _____________________Miller Syncrowave 250Millermatic 211Miller 375 Plasma Cutter Hobart Handler 120www.10FtDrillBit.comwww.MyWelds.com - pictures of my work
Reply:Without seeing the rest of the design, it shouldn't matter too much if the drive socket is slightly off center. The drill, handle or driver will move with any eccentricities. The roller itself is what needs to be correct to the other rollers. Just pass a bolt through with a washer and nut on each end and clamp them together. Sent from my SM-G996U using TapatalkMillermatic 252 MIGMiller Dynasty 200DX TIGMiller Spectrum 625 PlasmaAltas 12x36 Metal LatheBridgeport Milling Machinewww.psacustomcreations.com
Reply:Make a paper template. Use a compass to create concentric circlesOn the paper.  Cut them out and use the pattern.  If you have a cad program then ….Any access to a lathe?I agree perfection is not needed. But they need be parallel.Last edited by tapwelder; 8 Hours Ago at 06:53 PM.
Reply:

Originally Posted by psacustomcreations

Without seeing the rest of the design, it shouldn't matter too much if the drive socket is slightly off center. The drill, handle or driver will move with any eccentricities. The roller itself is what needs to be correct to the other rollers. Just pass a bolt through with a washer and nut on each end and clamp them together. Sent from my SM-G996U using Tapatalk
Reply:

Originally Posted by Lis2323

Others will have good advice for centering but I would try to use an impact socket as it will be heavier wall and not have plating. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Reply:Thanks. Didn't think of the plating. I'm a hobby guy so I guess the plating is a no go??
Reply:

Originally Posted by SwoD

Thanks. Didn't think of the plating. I'm a hobby guy so I guess the plating is a no go??
Reply:Yeah you're right. It's not a Steinway. :-)
Reply:More pictures. I got the idea on YouTube of course, with my own modifications/f**k ups. Want to weld a shortened version of the socket to the outside of the center bearing sleeve, if that makes sense. Had an issue with the inside nuts. The holes were too close to the sidewall as I was trying to trap the nuts for tightening, but failed. Then I could not get a wrench to hold the nuts. MIG to the rescue. The nozzle fit right in and tacked the nuts. TIG would not have worked. Blessing it's a hobby. If I tried to make a living..................  :-)




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Reply:I use one of these circle center finder tools and find it easy to get things centered.  Might work in your case?

Yeswelder MIG-205DS(3) Angle Grinders at the ReadyJust a hobbyist trying to improve