4 Advice to Choose a Box Angle Plates

An angle plate is a fundamental tool in machining and metalworking, designed to assist with precision measurement, assembly, and machining tasks. This versatile device features flat, rigid surfaces with precisely machined angles, typically 90 degrees, but can accommodate other angles as well. Angle plates are widely used for positioning workpieces at specific angles during machining, ensuring accurate alignment during assembly, and serving as reference surfaces for measurement instruments.

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What is an Angle Plate?  

An angle plate, typically made from durable cast steel, is characterized by its precise 90-degree geometry and two carefully machined surfaces. These essential tools play a critical role in machining and metalworking, providing a reliable solution for securing workpieces that are difficult to hold with conventional methods like machine vices.

Angle plates feature strategically placed slots, allowing for the use of nuts and bolts to firmly secure materials during operations such as drilling, milling, or precision measurement. Whether in a machine shop or precision engineering environment, angle plates offer stability and accuracy, making them indispensable for craftsmen and engineers in various manufacturing and assembly processes.

Types of Angle Plates:

1. Plain or Solid Angle Plate  

Plain angle plates are flat and set at a fixed 90-degree angle. Unlike other types, they do not have any slots. These are the most commonly used angle plates, featuring ribbing in their design to enhance structural strength and prevent deformation. They are typically more compact compared to other types of angle plates.

2. Slotted Angle Plate

Slotted angle plates feature precisely cut slots or grooves between the two plates, making them larger in size than their plain counterparts. These slots allow for secure fastening of workpieces using nuts and bolts, and clamping bolts can be affixed within the slots on the top surface. The bottom side can be securely attached to the machine table, serving to fasten, support, and facilitate workpiece marking and machining. They are commonly used in machinery like lathes, shapers, and grinding machines.

3. Adjustable Angle Plate or Swivel Base Angle Plate  

Adjustable angle plates, also known as swivel base angle plates, provide the ability to change the angle between the two plates as needed. Unlike plain or slotted angle plates, these consist of two separate plates: one serves as the base, while the other can be adjusted to the desired angle. The plates often feature graduated markings for precise angle measurements, and they are secured in place using nut bolts. These plates are ideal for applications that require precise machining at angles other than 90 degrees.

4. Box Angle Plate  

The box angle plate gets its name from its box-like structure, consisting of six plates arranged at alternating 90-degree angles. Its functionality is similar to that of standard angle plates, but it includes slots on each of its six sides, allowing for secure fastening using nuts and bolts from either side.

Once a workpiece is clamped or positioned on a box angle plate, it can be easily rotated to change the job's orientation for various operations, such as drilling and marking. This rotational feature simplifies diverse machining processes and offers significant advantages.

To ensure precise angles, all planes within the box angle plate are meticulously machined to 90 degrees, guaranteeing accuracy. Box angle plates are commonly used in larger machinery, particularly in radial drilling machines, where they are essential for securing and clamping workpieces.

5. Swivel Angle Plates  

Swivel angle plates allow for the quick and precise positioning of workpieces at various angles. These adjustable plates feature a graduated scale for setting angles from 0 to 90 degrees, making angle adjustments easy to fine-tune and securely lock in place with two locking nuts. A degree scale, marked with at least one-degree precision, is prominently displayed on the central boss, ensuring reliable angle alignment.

Available in a variety of sizes, swivel angle plates offer tilting capabilities from 0 to 90 degrees, making them versatile tools for a range of machining applications.

What is an Angle Plate? FAQs

What is an angle plate?  

An angle plate is a precision tool with flat, machined surfaces designed to hold and secure workpieces at specific angles for various machining applications.

What is the use of a box angle plate?  

A box angle plate features a box-like structure that allows for versatile orientation changes of workpieces, making it ideal for multiple machining processes.

What is the purpose of an angle plate in a lathe machine?  

In lathe machines, angle plates assist with workpiece clamping, providing support and facilitating accurate machining at specific angles.

What are the advantages of angle plates?  

The advantages of angle plates include stable workpiece support, precise angle alignment, and improved accuracy in machining and assembly processes.

What are the types of angle plates?  

The company is the world’s best Box Angle Plates supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.

Types of angle plates include plain, slotted, adjustable swivel base, T-slotted, and box angle plates, each designed for specific applications and angle adjustments.

Gents,

I am looking to purchase an angle plate for my ML7, for face plate use.
Wondering, what would be the most useful size to have? I see they are available from small to six inches long.

Also wondering about lathe dogs. I don’t have any of these either.
Original Myford or will import copies suffice?

Not wanting to buy and own junk, but no need to have gold plated ones either.

Thanks for your thots.

felis

Angle plates to use on a faceplate are a classic "wait until you have a job for one then buy the size that suits" item.

In this game its awfully easy to spend too much money on things that you expect to need but in fact never do.

I've got lots like that.

Mostly purchased in my early days, usually because they could be got "right now" at a bargain price. Fortunately I always operated under strict pocket money rules so, objectively, not stupidly wasteful. Helped by the things that did get used coming in at much below the normal commercial price compensating for cupboard queens.

Back in those days ('s) things were much more expensive new and harder to get so bargain hunting just in case made sense. These days adequate quality at affordable prices is common so the "buy it now before its gone" strategy isn't the best.

When there are 35 or more years between purchase and first use its possible that the purchasing departmental strategy was less than ideal! Some kit has been waiting longer. Like my Keats angle plate, 40 years and counting! Wonderful device but never had the need. £2.50 I'll never see again!

If you are still certain you will need an angle plate you ideally need two. One about full face-plate diameter for larger things and one about half diameter. Smaller plate will be lighter and easier to balance. Fastening work is an issue.

I don't have one, apart from the afore-mentioned Keats. I make up a suitable carrier using whatever is to hand, either heavy angle, weld up scrap or just a lump of alloy bar. Drill and tap holes for mounting bolts and trim down to minimum size for lightness. Bin, either scrap or useful waste for next time, when job done.

Its a pity that the modern faceplate only has radial slots. The old type having radial ones in one half and parallel ones in the other are far more versatile when mounting things.

I've never used a lathe dog either!

Clive

Myford,I have the standard face plate and the larger 9 inch face plate plus the largest Myford angle plate,which has one face with a rad to suit the angle plate,its about 6 ins long.Very useful,used lots of times,over the last 55 years, learnt to bore components with faceplate and angleplate during my apprenticeship. I also have a Colchester master with both sizes of faceplate plus a selection of angleplates,.the reduction in use of the combination of angle plate /faceplate is possibly due to milling machines now being more common,though when machining boiler fittings for a full size Marshall s/roller this method was ideal where there are bores and faces at right angles and large threads that needed screwcutting ,not easy to cut threads on a hobby mill,or swing a casting on a dividing head for thread milling.A genuine Keats plate which has more features than some of the copies have ,can be very usefull on some jobs,mine only cost a pound at an autojumble,though I did have to make the clamp and u bolt. Its interesting to note that the cast iron Keats plate was entirely machined on lathe and shaper.

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