Jig keeps letters in line

Marking specifications and sizes on the end faces of long pipes with thin wall thicknesses is difficult and time consuming.
Sept. 11, 2005
Marking specifications and sizes on the end faces of long pipes with thin wall thicknesses is difficult and time consuming. Since I had a tough time centering the character punches on these thin walls, I manufactured a letter-punching jig that fits over the pipe face to punch equal-distanced and symmetrical characters.

The hardened jig has an annular groove that accommodates the pipe's I.D. and O.D. and a machined slot that accepts three to four punches simultaneously. With the jig on the pipe, I arrange the required punches in the slot and hammer them.

S. Ram Murthy
Andhra Pradesh, India
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