Dove-tail design references?

[telecomguy]

Does anyone have a good design reference for dove-tail design? In particular, I'd like to slide a hard rubber (male dovetail) into an ABS plastic (female groove). I'm looking for recommended clearances for sliding fit and tolerancing schemes.

TIA,
<tg>

 

[eromlignod]

For steel dovetail gibs, usually there is an adjustable shim strip on one side of the dovetail with adjustment screws in the saddle that control the amount of clearance in the joint. Otherwise it's hard to control the fit of something on an angle like that.

Hope this helps.

Don
Kansas City

 

[griffengm]

You might try tech data from a cutter manufacturer. Seems to me that I saw some published by makers in the past.

Griffy

 

[Cockroach]

Machinist Handbook and other mechanical design textbooks, Machine Design by Langaiah comes to mind. You could also google on "dove tail groove" and see what pops up.

Kenneth J Hueston, PEng
Principal
Sturni-Hueston Engineering Inc
Edmonton, Alberta Canada

 

[telecomguy]

Thanks for the feedback.

I'm moving forward with a slightly altered dovetail since I can build in some interference (rubber part will give) and I don't have to fully fill the groove in the ABS part. FYI, eromlignod's shim comments kind of lead me to this approach since I had a built-in shimming device in the rubber.

I did the google attack, but I finally admitted defeat. Usually my pride and stubbornness will have me google to death until I find my answer. This time I got tired of reading through all the woodworking links and decided to solicit help from the experts!

Thanks again,
<tg>