The Machine Work Thread

[Hephaestus29]

I know Practical Machinist is a good forum for machine work, I was a member there, but they are just a little too picky about where things should be posted for my taste. If there is another Machine work thread in the Garage Journal forum I couldn't find it.

I Just traded a hunting rifle I never used for a Yuasa 10" Rotary Table, I paid 300.00 for the rifle nearly 20years ago but it was still like new. It also has a 8" Atlas 4 jaw independent chuck on it. I may have to find a three jaw self centering chuck for it also.

It's a bit big for my Smithy 13-24 and I am looking for larger machines but I think I can make it work. My work table does have a weight limit, I need to check & see what it is but I think it will be ok.

 

[Zeke]

I'm no machinist but I know when you need one of those, you need one. Many times when I've had to drill holes in a particular layout I've had to do it all by hand.

 

[Kevin54]

I belong to Practical Machinist, The CNC Zone, and a couple others that I have bookmarked. One thing I found out is that some of them, the members are sort of arrogant. Or like you said.....too picky about where you post a question. And if you find Practical Machinist too picky......you are basically **** out of luck, except for hanging out in the Fab Forum here. You may try this one http://www.chaski.org/homemachinist/

Another is the Home Model Engine Maker or HMEM http://www.homemodelenginemachinist.com/forum.php

Both seem to be a little more helpful.

If you are interested in selling the rotary table in the future, let me know, and I may be interested. I'd swap you a smaller one for it if I had one.

 

[Hephaestus29]

I'm no machinist but I know when you need one of those, you need one. Many times when I've had to drill holes in a particular layout I've had to do it all by hand.

I don't claim to be a machinist myself, but I have made quite a few things. Up until a couple of years ago everything I did was pretty much trial & error or self taught, and except for watching the video that came with my machine I have no formal training.

A couple years ago I started watching Tubal Cain & Keith Fenner's videos on youtube & I have learned quite a bit from them. With machine work I believe there is something new you could learn every day, like general machining, or tips & tricks or whatever, there is more than one way to set up & machine a lot
of things you'll run across.

 

[zkling]

Practical machinist is very good, as well as home shop machinist, but both of those forums don't take kindly to beginner/basic/DIY type questions. Especially if it is on a smaller off shore machine.

What rifle did you trade for the table?

I belong to Practical Machinist, The CNC Zone, and a couple others that I have bookmarked. One thing I found out is that some of them, the members are sort of arrogant. Or like you said.....too picky about where you post a question. And if you find Practical Machinist too picky......you are basically **** out of luck, except for hanging out in the Fab Forum here. You may try this one http://www.chaski.org/homemachinist/

From what I've seen, for the majority that goes with the trade.

 

[Hephaestus29]

Practical machinist is very good, as well as home shop machinist, but both of those forums don't take kindly to beginner/basic/DIY type questions. Especially if it is on a smaller off shore machine.

What rifle did you trade for the table?



From what I've seen, for the majority that goes with the trade.

Model 70 Winchester in .300 Win Mag

 

[A_Pmech]

From what I've seen, for the majority that goes with the trade.

It's a finely honed skill, yes.

 

[sanddan]

Here is a link to a small group that seems friendly.

http://www.metalworkingfun.com/

 

[Kevin54]

sanddan....nice link. Thanks

 

[jeff g]

Hi
This is a good site.

http://www.hobby-machinist.com

very friendly & lots of info, highly recommended.

ps, the site is down at the moment

 

[kf4zht]

Hi
This is a good site.

http://www.hobby-machinist.com

very friendly & lots of info, highly recommended.

ps, the site is down at the moment

I have used that site more than any other when researching. They don't shun people for having an import lathe or asking basic setup questions.

 

[longlivepunk]

You can also look at Tom's Techniques; knowledgeable guy, and willing to make videos as a specific response to emailed questions. Has links to a lot of good pages too.

 

[Steevo]

+1 for hobby-machinist.com
The friendliest machining forum on the 'net.
I have never had anyone there give me anything but positive response.
Even to my dumb questions.

But I think I have learned more from Tubal Cain (YouTube) than anywhere else.

 

[bullnerd]

Sooo..is this thread to list other sources of machine work?(which is good) Or to show your/our machine work?

 

[Hephaestus29]

Sooo..is this thread to list other sources of machine work?(which is good) Or to show your/our machine work?

I was hoping
people would show their work, talk about general machining practices, give tips etc.. I know there has to be some machinists on this forum ! I know A_PMech is !

I've actually had my machine for going on 15 years, I've done a lot of things with it but I might still be considered a novice.

 

[zmotorsports]

Great find on the rotary table, they are invaluable. I picked up a very, very slightly used 8" Vertex a few years back and grin to myself for what I paid every time I use it.

As far as machining sites, another vote for hobby-machinist. I am a moderator over there and they are great people, very helpful and knowledgeable. I looked at Practical Machinist a while back and although the members there are very, very knowledgeable, if you have anything other than what they have you get criticized for it. Not for me.

On a side note, I too had a Smithy as my first home mill/lathe (CB1239). I had it for 16+ years and made a lot of one off parts and repairs with it before selling it in April of this year and upgrading/upsizing.

Mike.

 

[sberry]

My neighbor is on PM and says the same thing. I like this forum because its a little loose and because it is very general and most of the worlds work is done with simple hand tools.
Most hobby machinists I know are fixing their machines so they can make more machines to fix more, if it wasn't for that wouldn't have use for any of it,,,, hahaha
He admits its a hobby. I run a fleet of unusual stuff and its a rare day I use a drill press. Shopping got better, less stuff is made one off, we know our machines and stock a few things, as our skill set grew I almost never need a machine tool.
We have come up with solutions for our problems that are easier and faster in most cases and don't require a whole additional layer of tooling. I am a super hand driller and Mgyver and know every tube fit inside a tube and a hacksaw etc.
To get something done find the world has shifted to more "installer" type work. My next new tool additions will be battery powered, even less dependent on highly specialized and expensive equipment.

 

[sberry]

Its about like a boat and a tig welder. The best way to have the stuff is have a bud who has it. The same for wood working.
Pressure washer, mig welder, torch, floor jack air comp and impacts, a sawzall and battery drills and some hand tools and some guys could eliminate the washer.
After that most of it is so specialized that the avg guy should become profficient in outsourcing the few things he cant do with general tools.

 

[A_Pmech]

Here are a few photos of some recent work:

6061 Aluminum:

304 stainless. The ring-shaped parts are ground and lapped to a thickness of +- .0001

M-42 High Speed Steel:

Medium carbon steel shafting:

More 304 stainless steel:

 

[zmotorsports]

^^^^Very nice work. Thanks for sharing.

Mike.

 

[Hephaestus29]

John always does very nice work, in fact his mistakes probably look better than my best work. LOL

I suppose since I started this thread I should post some of my work, it's not going to look as nice as Johns though.

 

[mattygee]

www.machinistweb.com is a good site for novices like myself also...

 

[Hephaestus29]

Here's my latest project, don't ask what it is,
it 's not quite finished.

 

[Hephaestus29]

I don 't know why but I cant upload more than 1 pic at a time from my phone. Also for some reason the pics are upside down but you probably wouldn't know if I didn't tell you.

 

[Hephaestus29]

The first two are of a miniature engine block, I made the dies quite some time ago, they don't have any end detail. I'd like to do it again & make the die in 5 pieces instead of just two.

The rest are of a Jig I made for my Dad, he makes musical instruments, so this was to assist with the fret slots that are cut on the radial arm saw. It's actually linkage that can be controlled from the front of the saw.

 

[nine4gmc]

Nice job, any more work on the engines?

 

[Hephaestus29]

Nice job, any more work on the engines?

Thanks, No I haven't done anything with the engine blocks in quite a while, I do have about 6 blanks in the garage. They are really more or less paper weights at this point. You have to drill or mill your own holes in the ones I have, they are good for about a half inch hole. They would make great pencil holders. The first two I had cast had porosity, I haven't machined any of the six to know if they have porosity or not.

 

[Hephaestus29]

Well I finally got the Yuasa Turntable on the L.M.D. so yes with a little imagination you too can have a 10" rotary table on a Smithy maybe a 12" !

This is just a mock up for fit right now. What I'm planning on doing is using the turntable for some concave turning. It will work but I'm going to have to make an insert holder to fit in the T-Slot & then mill to match the centerline. The bottom of the T-Slot is just below centerline now. I believe I can make this work. I'm slow though so don't expect to see it done next weekend.

 

[A_Pmech]

Looks like the rotary table with do the trick in regards to making a large radius!

 

[Hephaestus29]

Thats what i'm after.

 

[sanddan]

Here are a few photos of some recent work:

[/img]

your work is beautiful, thanks for posting it.

 

[Kevin54]

Looks like the rotary table with do the trick in regards to making a large radius!

Thats what i'm after.

If I'm thinking correctly at the moment, you will only be able to make a radius as small as what the rotary table is large, or larger. You won't be able to make the radius any smaller than the radius of the rotary table, even if you slide the cutter in towards center, because of rotary table/stock interference. Good concept, but not very practical. And you only be able to make a concave radius with it because of the side of centerline your cutter will be on.

Now you might get more use out of it, if you stand the table up in the vertical position, and mount a ball nose end mill in the headstock. That would allow you to have a little more flexibility, but then again, not much different than running it in a vertical mill.

Oh well.....scrap that idea

 

[A_Pmech]

If I'm thinking correctly at the moment, you will only be able to make a radius as small as what the rotary table is large, or larger. You won't be able to make the radius any smaller than the radius of the rotary table, even if you slide the cutter in towards center, because of rotary table/stock interference.

Right on all counts! I'm assuming a large radius is what he has planned!

 

[Hephaestus29]

Yes I have other things planned for it
I didn't just get it to do a large radius but
You are right and it will probably be a little
bit bigger radius than what I wanted but
I'm going to try it and see how it turns out.

I'm the type of person that will try and
make do with what I have. If it doesn't work out
I'll have to get a real radius tool or make one.

I got the table in a trade and i believe I came
out on top. It will get used in the future if not now.

 

[KMinAF]

Just set up the Logan bench top lathe that I bought a couple months ago and here is my first little project. It is a great feeling to be able to machine/create something that actually is useful and needed no matter how simple or complicated.

 

[ez-duzit]

A_P--nice photos. I especially like the last one.

 

[RogueFab]

+1 for hobby-machinist.com
The friendliest machining forum on the 'net.
I have never had anyone there give me anything but positive response.
Even to my dumb questions.

But I think I have learned more from Tubal Cain (YouTube) than anywhere else.

+1 about HM and tubal cain. I'm addicted to his videos and can't figure out why. PM is "only for people who work as machinists" or something IIRC. I'm a member anyway... it's ok.

 

[zmotorsports]

Last night I had was waiting for a guy to drop off a bike and had an hour or so to kill. I have also noticed now that I have a cam-lock chuck mounting system on my new lathe, I have been using my 4-jaw chuck for odd shaped/square work more than I ever did with my last lathe.

One thing I noticed last time was picking up the center of a punch mark and dialing in the 4-jaw could be a little easier. I decided to fabricate a tool to assist in this matter.

Started with just an 18" piece of 1/4" O-1 drill rod and a piece of 1/2" key stock.

I installed the 4-jaw chuck and centered the key stock.

Set my compound to 30-degrees to form a 60-degree point with a flat on the end.

I then put some 1/4-28 threads on the end of the drill rod after drilling and tapping the opposite end of the key stock.

Now when centering up on a punch mark in the 4-jaw I simply install this in the tailstock and use a dial indicator on the the four flats of the keystock. I haven't tried it out yet but will soon.

Mike.

 

[Hephaestus29]

Last night I had was waiting for a guy to drop off a bike and had an hour or so to kill. I have also noticed now that I have a cam-lock chuck mounting system on my new lathe, I have been using my 4-jaw chuck for odd shaped/square work more than I ever did with my last lathe.

One thing I noticed last time was picking up the center of a punch mark and dialing in the 4-jaw could be a little easier. I decided to fabricate a tool to assist in this matter.

Started with just an 18" piece of 1/4" O-1 drill rod and a piece of 1/2" key stock.

I installed the 4-jaw chuck and centered the key stock.

Set my compound to 30-degrees to form a 60-degree point with a flat on the end.

I then put some 1/4-28 threads on the end of the drill rod after drilling and tapping the opposite end of the key stock.

Now when centering up on a punch mark in the 4-jaw I simply install this in the tailstock and use a dial indicator on the the four flats of the keystock. I haven't tried it out yet but will soon.

Mike.

That looks like nice work, i'm not quite understanding how you are going to use it, maybe i've seen different versions of it. I'll
look it up on youtube.

 

[Kevin54]

Instead of indicating in 4 sides of your square, make a long flexible round piece with a 60 degree point. 18" long is fine. Once you have your center punch mark in the piece that goes into the four chuck, then all you have to do is indicate the round rod to zero on your indicator. Way faster, and more accurate because you don't have to keep backing out your compound to indicate a square.

As long as the rod is small enough diameter, you will have enough flex that you can indicate it to within a thou or two. And that is damn close picking up off of a center with a rod in the tailstock over that distance.