New Post-Modern Garage/Workshop

[56rpm]

Oooo I just had a thought. That center column would be the perfect place to mount an articulating jig crane! I could then lift things just about everywhere in the space, and I could store it above the cabinets when not in use:

hmmmmm......

Not as much got done this week as I'd hoped..neither the brick nor the fence material arrived yet. Both are supposed to arrive next week...But the interior column was fabricated & is being installed:

And the garage door was installed:

It came with insulation on the inside...not too keen on the shiny surface. I'm looking at whether I can paint it a different color.

They mounted it to an steel L-beam so that the brick can be brought right up to the door:

I think this will work out well....

Re the interior steel post, what is it's purpose, did the building dept require it, are you going to use it for some future structural need? I ask because it is only supporting 1 ceiling joist. Very nice build indeed.

 

[works4me]

Re the interior steel post, what is it's purpose, did the building dept require it, are you going to use it for some future structural need? I ask because it is only supporting 1 ceiling joist. Very nice build indeed.

The GC was afraid it was needed for structure/stiffness, but in the end it really wasn't. I beefed it up with the idea of ultimately making it into a jib crane. Because of that the GC ended up adding blocking to attach it to three joists. And it is bolted down the the floor with four very large lag bolts.

At some point I was going to do the calculations to see if I can really make it into a crane. In the mean time it really isn't in the way...

 

[works4me]

Latest Arrival!

Quick peek at my latest Garage addition:

I'll give you a hint:

More pics once I get them set up....

 

[Omphaloskeptic]

Dang, it must feel like Christmas morning at your place! lol

 

[works4me]

Dang, it must feel like Christmas morning at your place! lol

Actually I'm looking forward to switching over to *making* more than *buying* I just had to get the basic infrastructure set up....

 

[jj3]

Awesome build and everything else. Great to see that you were able to maximize space in that part of town as well. Congrats and can't wait to see the 'final' product.

 

[works4me]

New Toolbox setup

I placed the new cabinet. This will store tools for the Mill, cutter blades, etc. Fits the opening perfectly:

Before I go further I want to create an organizational system for it. I'm considering either milling out holders or printing them with a 3D printer.

The other smaller cabinet will be part of the Electronics workstation. I'll post info on it as I get farther on the design (I'm going to fabricate it myself).

 

[synik]

Wow, great garage space you have! love the mill. What turbo setup is on the mini?

 

[works4me]

Air Compressor Lines

I finally had time to finish installing the first part of my MaxAir air line system. I'm starting with two stations on the north wall to power the plasma cutter & a power draw bar for the mill. Each vertical line has a drain valve on the bottom, and the top line slopes about 1" for every 5':

I put a connector at the top left point that I'll replace later to extend the system onto the west wall to add two additional stations.

A few things I learned along the way:

1. The trick to get the lines straight is getting the wall brackets lined up more than the tubes.

2. The best spacing appears to be about 18". Closer is excessive. Farther allows too much flexure in the lines.


Also, I'm starting to play with the mill. I used the tilting 4th axis to mill some large aluminum beads for my wife's jewelry projects. I even played with programming some G-code to start automating it:

My next step is to engrave them. Using the mill+4th axis I can programmatically cut arbitrarily complex designs onto the surfaces....should be a good learning experience!

 

[Omphaloskeptic]

Please be sure to record as many steps of the process as possible for us GJ'ers who lust for a mill, especially one that can be programmed. As a former CAD jockey who at most got to code for Gerber flatbed drawings, I would love to see every step of the process. Have fun and post some G-code for us wannabes! lol

 

[works4me]

FYI here's the full extent of my first crude G-code program:

M03
G01 X-.1 F10.0
G01 A+80.0 F200.0
G01 X+.1
M05

Translated this means:

1. Turn on the spindle
2. Move in the X axis to -.1 (moves the mill into the material)
3. Move in the A axis to 80.0 (rotates the 4th axis around about one rotation to cut the face)
4. Move the X axis to +.1 (moves the mill off of the material)
5. Turn off the spindle

...gotta start somewhere

 

[MPOWERD]

All I can say is WOW... Great shop!

When will see more pics of the finished garage area?

 

[CrustyD3mon]

Nice job....keep this updated...nice looking garage!!

 

[vr4joe]

Just read this whole thread. Really nice garage build. In for some more progress and more organizational strategies.

 

[Omphaloskeptic]

"...gotta start somewhere"


Heck yes, you'll be milling out those 'custom' Mini bits-o-bling in no time at all! lol

Keep us posted on your part production progress.

 

[LCG]

I want a video of that mill working!

 

[works4me]

Finally have a driveway!

...and a yard! They graded & placed the sod yesterday. We went with an Emerald Zoyza (sp?). I think we need to let it settle in a few weeks before I can drive on it.

Oddly somehow the yard feels bigger now...and a bit TOO tidy. We need to add more plants...

 

[jimmie jam]

Nice! Very nice.........

 

[MHORTON79]

Re: Success!

Are you still looking to unload that engine hoist?

 

[Omphaloskeptic]

The landscaping is the 'icing on the cake'! It must feel good to be at the stage where you can finally start using the shop for its intended purpose.

Your pooch is either looking for the 'perfect spot' to make a deposit or else he/she is trying to remember under which square of turf that bone is buried. lol

 

[works4me]

Re: Success!

Are you still looking to unload that engine hoist?

Sure! PM me & we can arrange it.

 

[OJ Bartley]

Beautiful workshop, you've done an amazing job. And thanks for pointing out that "Grand Edison" sconce from Restoration Hardware, those would look incredible in my theatre (if it ever gets built).

 

[MHORTON79]

Re: Success!

Sure! PM me & we can arrange it.

PM sent. Thanks for the reply.

 

[Unfinished_Projects]

What brand acid stain and epoxy clearcoat did you use?

 

[VINCENZ0]

Amazing work! Love it.

Just curious, how big of a lot is it on?

 

[MHORTON79]

I wanted to give a thank you to works4me for the engine hoist & other misc. items yesterday. I really appreciate it. I also got to see the garage in person & the pictures do not do it justice. It's a really cool space with a really unique house attached to it. I just wanted to say thank you again. Keep in touch with the garage updates.

 

[LoRollinLS]

Garage and yard look great. Will that sod hold up to driving cars in and out of that garage for very long? jw

 

[jeffmoss26]

That shop is awesome!!

 

[freedomgli]

Everything looks great! Nice job!

 

[works4me]

Update: electronics area & spray cooler

Couple of quick updates:

I finally had time to start arranging the work area on the other end of the garage and to begin fabricating the electronics workbench. I'm going to weld together 1" 14-guage square tubing for the legs and under the top. Then I'll cover that with plywood and a replaceable melamine top. Finally I'm going to trim the top with an aluminum edge.

My first step was to cut the end pieces with my chop saw:

I'll post pictures as I progress.

I also setup a droplet-based cooler system for the CNC. This is significantly less mess than the flood-based coolant and the nozzles are much easier to position. But I did have to redesign it a bit to move the regulator to before the solenoid, since it doesn't work correctly with more than 10psi pressure:

Finally tried milling Copper for the beads. I was a bit hesitant at first, hearing all the horror stories about cutting such a soft metal. But it actually cut almost identical to the Aluminum:

My next step is to try using a tumbler to polish them and to try engraving patterns on them.

 

[Omphaloskeptic]

It has got to feel great to finally be using the shop for various projects; have fun!

As I said in post #64, your pictures showing the floor treatment makes me want to do at least one bay of my shop floor that way. Yours really looks good. I don't know if you saw an earlier question by another member, but "what brand acid stain and epoxy clear coat did you use"? I'd like to know that myself for future reference too!

When you mill those beads for your wife's art, what kind of fixture do you use to hold the work?

Oh, just a quick thought on your electronics bench project, when I'm hunched over a bench working on a project, I tend to rest my forearms on the bench edge. I've found that keyboard wrist rests picked up cheap at the local thrift store make excellent cushions to keep my forearms from getting that unsightly 'bench crease'. lol If you score the type that has the keyboard tray integrated into it, you can customize it as a fixture to hold circuit boards, parts, a 'third hand' alligator clip arm, or whatever. When done for the night, you can just pick up the whole works off the bench and shelve it. Just a suggestion....

 

[works4me]

It has got to feel great to finally be using the shop for various projects; have fun!

As I said in post #64, your pictures showing the floor treatment makes me want to do at least one bay of my shop floor that way. Yours really looks good. I don't know if you saw an earlier question by another member, but "what brand acid stain and epoxy clear coat did you use"? I'd like to know that myself for future reference too!

When you mill those beads for your wife's art, what kind of fixture do you use to hold the work?

Oh, just a quick thought on your electronics bench project, when I'm hunched over a bench working on a project, I tend to rest my forearms on the bench edge. I've found that keyboard wrist rests picked up cheap at the local thrift store make excellent cushions to keep my forearms from getting that unsightly 'bench crease'. lol If you score the type that has the keyboard tray integrated into it, you can customize it as a fixture to hold circuit boards, parts, a 'third hand' alligator clip arm, or whatever. When done for the night, you can just pick up the whole works off the bench and shelve it. Just a suggestion....

The floor stain is Cola color from Legacy Industrial. I acid-stained it myself & then put two coats of their Epoxy on top. I diluted the stain about 50/50 (if my memory serves me correctly...don't quote me on that).

As far as mounting the beads, she uses threads and yarn to connect them together. I'll post a picture once I get a bit farther along with them.

And that's a great suggestion about the wrist wrests!

Thanks!

 

[Omphaloskeptic]

"As far as mounting the beads, she uses threads and yarn to connect them together. I'll post a picture once I get a bit farther along with them."

I guess I didn't state the question clearly. I was wondering what fixture you use to hold the material while you are milling it.

 

[works4me]

I guess I didn't state the question clearly. I was wondering what fixture you use to hold the material while you are milling it.

Whopse! I completely mis-read that question.

For the first stage the raw stock is held using a v-groove jaws with a wavy parallel underneath. It surfaces the ends, taps & drills the whole, and then reams it. Then I transfer it to an inner collet on the rotary table set at 45 degrees and mill the faces using an end mill. To hold it in the collet consistently I created a spacer by drilling a larger hole in a blank:

 

[LoRollinLS]

Nice idea for a table top. Shop is looking great man!

 

[Omphaloskeptic]

Hey, thanks for the info on the floor stain and the CNC fixtures.

That is one nice machine!

 

[bdkw1]

Re: Update: electronics area & spray cooler

Finally tried milling Copper for the beads. I was a bit hesitant at first, hearing all the horror stories about cutting such a soft metal. But it actually cut almost identical to the Aluminum:

My next step is to try using a tumbler to polish them and to try engraving patterns on them.

Copper can be very gummy, especially the oxygen free stuff. The one shop I worked at that did a lot of copper machining used a mixture of lard cutting oil and kerosene in the mills. Smelled real good on Monday morning..........

 

[works4me]

Progress on workbench

Sorry I haven't had time to post progress pictures on my workbench welding project. I welded up the ends first, then attached the top beams. Next step will be to add some additional supports to the top, and then mount the wood to the top and sides.

BTW, I have modified the workbench a bit to match the design for the heavy base I designed for the other end of the garage:

which will support this:

which I will be using for Plasma CNC cutting, as well as 3D printing.

 

[aggierailroad]

How do you like the Quincy compressor? I'm on the fence with buying a cheapy HF to get by for a small project or just forking over the cash for the Quincy I want... I hate to spend money twice, but for what I use one for, I can probably get by with the 20 gal Harbor Freight special..

 

[works4me]

How do you like the Quincy compressor? I'm on the fence with buying a cheapy HF to get by for a small project or just forking over the cash for the Quincy I want... I hate to spend money twice, but for what I use one for, I can probably get by with the 20 gal Harbor Freight special..

Balancing cost vs. benefit is never an easy decision. I *really* hate buying things twice. If you *really* only have one project, it probably won't make much difference. But if there's any chance you'll want to do other things in the future, it's better to spend the money.

From everything I have seen Quincy is very reliable, excellent support, and relatively efficient. I don't have much experience with other brands, but from what I can tell the Quincy is significantly better than other brands at that price point.

No matter what you do, don't go with oil-less. From everything I have read & heard the sound will deafen you.