JimGnitecki
Member
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2010
- Messages
- 1,258
I am intrigued by the Armanov Free Float Lock Rings for Dillon Toolheads, but I cannot figure out how they work from the online descriptions.
I THINK I understand the basic concept, but not the actual execution and installation.
I THINK Dillon builds their presses with a bit of play in the toolhead to frame interface, so that the toolhead can actually move a little, both horizontally and vertically, to help "align" cases or bullets that vary a bit. For example, I've measured on my own XL750 and have detemined that I can get a .0015" feel gage between the toolhead and the frame. The dies in the Dillon toolhead are each tightly fixed to the toolhead. This means that if one case pulls the toolhead slightly in one direction, or tilts the toolhead slightly, ALL the dies are pulled or tilted the same amount. I THINK.
It SOUNDS like the Armanov concept is to do 2 different things:
1. Make toolhead to frame interface much tighter, and pull the toolhead up against the top of the frame to eliminate ALL clearance by using bolts versus pins and threading the Armanov toolhead to accept those bolts
AND
2. Mount each die, or at least the sizing die and the bullet seating die, firmly to special lockrings that get pinned to the toolhead to prohibit each die from threading itself upward, but allow each die to move to the extent that the clearances in the standard die thread allow. This supposedly enables EACH die to handle small variations in case and bullet location INDEPENDENTLY of the other dies. Armanov apparently considers that only the sizing die and bullet seating die really need this "limited independence", but the powder & belling die and the crimping die do not.
IF I have these concepts right, and I'm not sure I do, then how do you actually install these Free Float Lock Rings, and how do you know when they are set up "correctly"??
And, Armanov claims that this approach can reduce COAL variation and axial misalignment enough to make a notable difference. Have any of you tested / used these Free Float Lock Rings, and do you agree that they are beneficial?
I'm asking because the threaded toolheads with their small diameter bolts. and the Free Float Lock Rings, are not very costly, so if they do improve consistency, I am interested.
Jim G
I THINK I understand the basic concept, but not the actual execution and installation.
I THINK Dillon builds their presses with a bit of play in the toolhead to frame interface, so that the toolhead can actually move a little, both horizontally and vertically, to help "align" cases or bullets that vary a bit. For example, I've measured on my own XL750 and have detemined that I can get a .0015" feel gage between the toolhead and the frame. The dies in the Dillon toolhead are each tightly fixed to the toolhead. This means that if one case pulls the toolhead slightly in one direction, or tilts the toolhead slightly, ALL the dies are pulled or tilted the same amount. I THINK.
It SOUNDS like the Armanov concept is to do 2 different things:
1. Make toolhead to frame interface much tighter, and pull the toolhead up against the top of the frame to eliminate ALL clearance by using bolts versus pins and threading the Armanov toolhead to accept those bolts
AND
2. Mount each die, or at least the sizing die and the bullet seating die, firmly to special lockrings that get pinned to the toolhead to prohibit each die from threading itself upward, but allow each die to move to the extent that the clearances in the standard die thread allow. This supposedly enables EACH die to handle small variations in case and bullet location INDEPENDENTLY of the other dies. Armanov apparently considers that only the sizing die and bullet seating die really need this "limited independence", but the powder & belling die and the crimping die do not.
IF I have these concepts right, and I'm not sure I do, then how do you actually install these Free Float Lock Rings, and how do you know when they are set up "correctly"??
And, Armanov claims that this approach can reduce COAL variation and axial misalignment enough to make a notable difference. Have any of you tested / used these Free Float Lock Rings, and do you agree that they are beneficial?
I'm asking because the threaded toolheads with their small diameter bolts. and the Free Float Lock Rings, are not very costly, so if they do improve consistency, I am interested.
Jim G