OP
OP
45Shooter13
Member
Here's a link to the book https://www.amazon.com/Milling-Mach...0ROBHT3E&revisionId=cf5b5355&format=1&depth=1
Ambitious build
- Thread starter 45Shooter13
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Here's a link to the book https://www.amazon.com/Milling-Mach...0ROBHT3E&revisionId=cf5b5355&format=1&depth=1
OP
OP
45Shooter13
Member
Update:
I've recently underwent triple bypass surgery, which has thrown a huge wrench into my timeline on my build. As of today I am still waiting on Dr.'s approval to go to Cardiac Rehabilitation. So as soon as I am done with that I Will be able to start the work on the milling machine. Will keep you posted.
I've recently underwent triple bypass surgery, which has thrown a huge wrench into my timeline on my build. As of today I am still waiting on Dr.'s approval to go to Cardiac Rehabilitation. So as soon as I am done with that I Will be able to start the work on the milling machine. Will keep you posted.
LiveLife
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Howland937
Member
Sorry to hear of your setback, but glad you're heading in the right direction with regards to your health. Anxious to see what you come up with.
David Hoback
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Jesse James (the chopper builder), has been making Damascus steel 1911’s for years.
I commend your attitude, however, I think you are reaching well beyond the stars. To machine the upper/lower frames, barrel & such, a 5 axis CNC is really what’s needed. A standard 3 axis would work I guess, at the cost of time. But to even attempt this without CNC, I believe, is an effort in futility. I’m familiar with building as well. I’m a custom Knifemaker & hobby Gunsmith as well as machinist. One of the MUST have machines for any Knifemaker is a 2x72 belt grinder. These machines costing $2K, $3K+ have many of us building our own. I also figured out years ago, how to home build Travis Wuertz’s surface grinder attachment. My findings became a bit of a sensation among knifemaking enthusiasts. What I’ve learned is that while precision can be had to to a point with hand made machines, to capture the precision a milling machine is known for, in one of those Gingery machines, is a tall order indeed. Much the same, machining precision parts without CNC can make a disaster of tolerance stacking. I’he looked at building one from scratch. But I soon cast that idea aside. Instead, I started with a Mini Mill. Reinforced it & filled all voids with Epoxy Granite. Added a 1hp motor and made my own cog belt drive. Replaced the bearings for Angular Contact Bearings & made larger ACME lead screws.
I am a huge fan of DIY, so I am routing for you. Pray you heal from your surgery quickly & and that you are spared any set backs. (Additional, that is.) Regardless of outcome I’ll be following your progress on building. As I said, I’m a huge fan.
I commend your attitude, however, I think you are reaching well beyond the stars. To machine the upper/lower frames, barrel & such, a 5 axis CNC is really what’s needed. A standard 3 axis would work I guess, at the cost of time. But to even attempt this without CNC, I believe, is an effort in futility. I’m familiar with building as well. I’m a custom Knifemaker & hobby Gunsmith as well as machinist. One of the MUST have machines for any Knifemaker is a 2x72 belt grinder. These machines costing $2K, $3K+ have many of us building our own. I also figured out years ago, how to home build Travis Wuertz’s surface grinder attachment. My findings became a bit of a sensation among knifemaking enthusiasts. What I’ve learned is that while precision can be had to to a point with hand made machines, to capture the precision a milling machine is known for, in one of those Gingery machines, is a tall order indeed. Much the same, machining precision parts without CNC can make a disaster of tolerance stacking. I’he looked at building one from scratch. But I soon cast that idea aside. Instead, I started with a Mini Mill. Reinforced it & filled all voids with Epoxy Granite. Added a 1hp motor and made my own cog belt drive. Replaced the bearings for Angular Contact Bearings & made larger ACME lead screws.
I am a huge fan of DIY, so I am routing for you. Pray you heal from your surgery quickly & and that you are spared any set backs. (Additional, that is.) Regardless of outcome I’ll be following your progress on building. As I said, I’m a huge fan.
jmorris
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I don’t think I would go that far. There were many built, for decades before 5 axis CNC machines even existed.
IIRC Cincinnati Milacron started it all in the ‘50’s with CNC. First 5 axis IIRC was 1958 and the Army had already tested and adopted the 1911 by March 29, 1911.
So they had already been in production for 47 years before the first 5 axis CNC existed.
That said, building on on the homemade mill the OP is looking at would be a substantial achievement. Hope you get back to it when you can and show us your progress along the way.
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jmorris
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CNC machines, loaded with tooling (offsets set) can make life easier but there are ways the old dinosaurs did it that allowed for high precision and high output.
Generally called for large machines with multi faceted tooling that does take painstakingly long to setup. So you don’t generally let the button pushers operate them as a “crash” can take a long time to recover from.
This machine that sold for scrap could out produce the most modern CNC slab siding these links and machining groves down the top. Who doesn’t like a 12ft bed and parts all the way down, inside the +.000/-.002 tolerance.
Not unlike the machine for the drive sprocket.
As you might expect, equipment stays setup for the specific task at hand. The beauty of the CNC’s is greatly reduced tooling costs and setup time.
Generally called for large machines with multi faceted tooling that does take painstakingly long to setup. So you don’t generally let the button pushers operate them as a “crash” can take a long time to recover from.
This machine that sold for scrap could out produce the most modern CNC slab siding these links and machining groves down the top. Who doesn’t like a 12ft bed and parts all the way down, inside the +.000/-.002 tolerance.
Not unlike the machine for the drive sprocket.
As you might expect, equipment stays setup for the specific task at hand. The beauty of the CNC’s is greatly reduced tooling costs and setup time.
Officers'Wife
Member
First off, Gingery is an evil man that should not have been allowed to inflict his particular brand of misery on a peaceful society. (Standard complaint and not serious) Just remember that when you decide to build a rifling lathe... And you will... It's easier to design if the pipe is stationary and the cutter makes the stroke.
CapnMac
Member
Even so, modern gun manufacture does not hugely benefit from multi-axis CNC machines. Industry often uses NC/CNC controlled single point machines, as the through put is much higher. Having only the one set up on a machine also improved the QC process.
So, having ten machines doing one thing each are faster than one machine performing the same ten operations, but with set up and QC checks. And multiple single-point (or single setup) machines worked for Colt et al, "back in the day." Now the labor hours were cheaper than the quality materials, too.
Now, for the solitary machinist, there is much merit in multi-axis CNC machine tools (and much expense, too). The solitary machinist is also not aiming to make a 100 or a 1000 parts per day, either.
Jim Watson
Member
Not in their catalog now.
Oh, wait, he cheated, it is a Damascus chemise over a fluid steel bore.
David Hoback
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Yes, Damascus doesn’t work for the bore of a barrel. What we call “Damascus” today isn’t even the real thing. The steels you see like this are actually pattern welded. Two different steels are forge welded together in layers & folded many times. One heavy carbon steel & one with more alloy elements. One of the favorites for crazy patterning is 1095 Carbon & 15N20 steels. This is ok knife steel, but would be horrible for a barrel.
OP
OP
45Shooter13
Member
Thank you all for the well wishes on my recovery.
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