Framebuilders - frame jig

Can anyone show me pics or schematic for a simple frame jig. I would like to make one to see if i like it before i buy one..

Thanks Kenny

I started to build a jig with input from the Paterak manual, and some tidbits from Henry James, and ended up making "jigs" as I went along.

C-clamps, aluminum angles, hardwoods and extrusions ended up doing the job. If you are just building a few frames for youself or buddies, you can jig perfectly as you go. Seatstays, chainstays, BB, seat cluster,etc. can be clamped as you determine the geometry and get the miters perfect.

You could use an old rear hub, anchor it to a plate, and clamp the seatstays with quick and "custom" aluminum (notched) rectangular rectangular bars etc. and it will be great.

Concentrate on spending the dough on your torch and solder, jig as you go, even use pins.

Jigs are for builders with deadlines and production schedules. The jigs you see are always modified by the end user anyway. You will invent your own little jigs for all kinds of stuff, trust me.

This of course pertains to lugged frames, you are basically jigging the frame to itself, a precision ground 1/2" thick aluminum plate to house all those fancy shmancy sliding clamps is not required to build a World class frame.

I agree that a jig or fixture is not needed. A nice sturdy flat surface plate helps quit a bit though. I had a slab of steel 12" x 30" blanchard ground and then I machined a post to mount the bottom bracket to. I can cold set and measure the straightness at the same time. http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m50/Nessism1/DSC01901.jpg

If you want a jig, there are two ways to go, One is to look at the Anvil and Strawberry pages, and see what expensive jigs and fixture look like and come as close as you can. Which is not as hard as it sounds. For instance laser and waterjet make the protractor piece a lot easier to get out than it used to be. Strawberry if I remember correctly is more expensive fixtures for different processes anyway.


The second approach is to build a jig that will get you by. You might look at the IF shop tour to see some practical fixtures, for instance they use a fork type jig to build a rear fork assembly of the CSs and BB and drops:

http://www.ifbikes.com/building2/sales.shtml

Here is a popular option in aluminum:

http://home.earthlink.net/~halcar2000/index.html

I'm building on a motorcycle jig since I already have one.

Did you get a copy of the plans for this jig? I will send them to anyone who wants them for free. It costs about $600-$700 in materials and need to do some hand machining, but nothing major.

http://picasaweb.google.com/mintcycles/FrameJig/photo#5019343878163606882
http://picasaweb.google.com/mintcycles/FrameJig/photo#5019343852393803074
http://picasaweb.google.com/mintcycles/FrameJig/photo#5019343895343476098

Mojito

Mint Cycles
www.mintcycles.com

I will send them free to anyone who asks. It costs about $600-$700 in materials to make. Let me know if you are interested.

http://picasaweb.google.com/mintcycles/FrameJig

Mojito
Mint Cycles
www.mintcycles.com

I will send them free to anyone who asks. It costs about $600-$700 in materials to make. Let me know if you are interested.

http://picasaweb.google.com/mintcycles/FrameJig

Mojito
Mint Cycles
www.mintcycles.com

I am definitely interested!

Jig Looks Nice, Is It All Aluminum. Id Love The Plans
Andy

I am definitely interested!


OK it is here....

www.mintcycles.com/jig

Download all the files and let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks!

Mojito
www.mintcycles.com