Shop project ideas

[SEV22XS]

Ok so I'm taking the shop class at my place of work to learn what all machines we have and how they function etc. A little back ground I'm very hands on have worked as a machinist in a hydraulics shop for a year running mills and lathes and a bore welder. The shop is extremely well equipped multiple lathes, mills, couple of CNC machining centers welders etc.

So I'm looking for a more advanced shop project then a key chain bottle opener that is the standard project for the class for myself to do.

I was thinking a set of soft vise jaws reversible with a v notch for round stock.

Anybody have other neat and useful ideas. Hopefully something I can get some use out of.

 

[sanddan]

How about a set of machinist's jacks?

 

[Spareparts]

Research Walter P Chrysler he was a machinist for the early RR system and as part of his training he had to make all his own tools, he also founded Chrysler Corp.

 

[srmofo]

Does this have to be practical? If not I would suggest a sterling engine

 

[mikegt4]

"Kant-twist" style clamps have always been a good shop class project and you will have something that you can use for the rest of your life. Plans (free) can be easily found online.

http://clampmfg.com/kant-twist/

 

[Lippyp]

We made an adjustable wrench at school. Involved lathe work to make the adjuster, metal cutting and shaping that could easily be mill work and also we gas welded part of it together.

 

[zkling]

Ok so I'm taking the shop class at my place of work to learn what all machines we have and how they function etc. A little back ground I'm very hands on have worked as a machinist in a hydraulics shop for a year running mills and lathes and a bore welder. The shop is extremely well equipped multiple lathes, mills, couple of CNC machining centers welders etc.

So I'm looking for a more advanced shop project then a key chain bottle opener that is the standard project for the class for myself to do.

I was thinking a set of soft vise jaws reversible with a v notch for round stock.

Anybody have other neat and useful ideas. Hopefully something I can get some use out of.

What type of machines do you have access to and what products does the company produce? Time you want to spend? A set of soft jaws, is extremely basic unless you are building them for something like a Parker that has a complex curve.

A small tool makers vise is always a good project, but you will need a surface grinder.

A air or steam engine is always fun
Heavy air pistol modifications, but your employer may have reservations about this one.

 

[SEV22XS]

It happens to be a machine shop a large well known university. They produce mostly scientific equipment and appartaus. Time isn't really a factor as long as it isn't months to do. I have acess to most any machine tool you could want surface grinders various lathes from collet to large engine lathes. Milling machines manual and cnc. Edm machine etc. Yes gun mods are out of the question I joked about bring in a 80 percent lower for my project. The shop guys seemed to thinking it was a really bad idea as this area is very anti-gun.

 

[SEV22XS]

Ok so nobody has any useful shop tools and projects they made ?

 

[Kevin54]

What sort of useful stuff you want? I've made a sine plate, sine bars, 1-2-3 blocks, wide sine bars, cylindrical square, 45 / 30-60 angle plates, 1,2,3,4,5,&10 degree angle plates, angle blocks, vises, magnetic Vee Blocks, Vee blocks, parallels, and probably more stuff that I forgot than I remember.

 

[kkroger]

Make a Toolmakers vise... and MAKE all the parts no purchased hardware, you can turn the bolts on a lathe..

a LOT of machinists courses have you build one from plans (gets you used to working from a print, multiple setups, multiple machines... yup it is what I would do, probably a 3" one...
http://www.projectsinmetal.com/free-metalworking-project-plans-toolmakers-screwless-vise-mill/# you can down the plans for free (you DO have to sign up for the site)

 

[SEV22XS]

Honestly I'm not even looking for machining related tools. I'm not a machinist I actually do building maintenance. Just looking things useful around the garage/cars.

 

[kkroger]

Honestly I'm not even looking for machining related tools. I'm not a machinist I actually do building maintenance. Just looking things useful around the garage/cars.

Make yourself a set of Bushing Drivers or Bearing Race and Seal Drivers...
Or a Hammer and call it a day.

I made a Harmonic Damper removal and installation tool way back when.
I made a crank turning tool when one my brother in law had broke in half...

Pretty easy to make with CNC... Or even Manual machines...

 

[SEV22XS]

I like the bushing/bearing seal drivers ideas a lot. I need to research sizes.

 

[kkroger]

I like the bushing/bearing seal drivers ideas a lot. I need to research sizes.

That is all going to be lathe stuff, Turning, Boring, Tapers, Facing, Parting, Threading, Knurling, Chamfers.

I can take some measurements off my bearing race and seal drivers, and you should be able to get some measurements for a bushing driver set from Snap-On or even the harbor... it will tell you what sizes they are. If you want to get fancy with the bushing drivers you can polish them up then glass bead them and phosphate them or black oxide them like the big boys do. if you are handy with wood you can make a case for them. I even use my bearing race and seal drivers as a drift when pressing suspension bushings into control arms and such.