Small Scale Machining

[LubeckTech]

I would like to be able to mill small parts like sights and other thing for guns and am starting to work on building small robots. I realize a small mill/lathe is going to run between $600 - $4000+ but don't know where to start looking for the hardware and more important knowlege about how to use such. Are there any forums like this one on the subject or websites that may help me?

 

[BSlacker]

I have an EMCO Compact 5. It is a mill/lathe combo. A lathe can do mill work but it doesn't hurt to have both. You might check ebay if shipping is not to much. I live near a large metro area and when I looked years ago pickings was slim. Make sure that standard tooling is available and get any accessories like thread gears and dogs and belts. The EMCO unit has some metric threads and the center line is metric. Not a biggie, tools need to be shimed and such, just easier to not convert and adapt. Google machining basics and you should get plenty of advice. My dad and FIL were machinist and I could just call and ask questions. Hold on to your wallet it is an expensive hobby!
To keep this gun related check out this site: http://www.varmintal.com/ he does a lot with a lathe. The Harbor Freight units can be made to work. PM me if you have any questions.

 

[Sunray]

"...knowlege about how to use..." You can't learn how to use metal working machines from the internet or a book. Look into your local Community College's calendar for a machining course.

 

[lathedog]

I picked up a nice used, refurbished made-in-USA lathe and mill from a used tool dealer. These are compact but close to full size that I think came out of a high school machine shop. I'm in about $4k with some tooling.

If I had to buy new (if my area didn't offer a lot of opportunity for a used equipment buy), I'd check out one of the mini-lathes from Harbor Freight Tools. They used to ship for free if the purchase was over $50. For $400-ish you can get a nice little machine that will get you down the road.

Check out Varmint Al's website. Please Google it as I don't have the URL handy. He has a section on mini-mills, including mods and upgrades, and links to other good sites.

I see interesting stuff on Ebay all the time. It seems like the bigger machines go cheapest as few people have room for them. The nice compact machines in good shape get a lot of bid activity.

 

[Tinker2]

I am not sure how small of equipment you are looking
for, if it is the table top type.

This is table top equipment.
http://www.sherline.com/
http://www.micromark.com/

This is a good place to look and ask.
Both large and small equipment
http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/

I make some parts and things, some of it on table top
type equipment, some of it on full size equipment.

In my smaller tools I use Atlas, Sherline, Max, Prazi.
If I can help you I will be glad to.



Tinker2

 

[tallpaul]

I would stay away from the combination machines. Search around and most will recomend against them. They take time to set up between uses etc. Most are happier with the seperate lathe n mill. I had wanted a lathe/mill for a long time and every forum discussion said the seperate stuff would be better in the long run- unless ya get a super steal/deal on the combo- also usually there is less room on the combo's to work in compared to similar sized seperates I think I heard. I waited and last fall ended up on the tale end of an estate sale.

My neighbor knew a guy that was gonna sell him a big southbend in great shape for 500.00 . They had the deal for two years and the older guy called my neighbor and said "it was time" before he got there the old guy passed away. There were two full size mills and a even bigger lathe. The big stuff was gone when I went to help the neighbor move jis stuff but there were a lathe and a mill "in the basement" and not in the shop. I got an old craftsman/atlas lathe, a bench a bunch of tooling and a toolpost grinder for 550.00

I got a burke horizonal mill for 75.00 and a bunch of tooling for it There were a couple of drill presses one of which was a high speed drill made for the tiny drill bits. I did not want it but for 25.00 with tooling and bits for each ya just can't say no! I built a room in the garage for the stuff and need to pour a small section back in the floor and I can set it all up... I am lookin foward to gettin them all set up and learnin. The lathe works nice for what little I have played with it. I recomend keeping your eyes and ears open. The older bigger/non cnc stuff is usually as cheap or cheaper than the benchtop stuff or the 9X30" stuff because alot of guys don't think they want to move the big stuff. The mills my neighbor got were insane for four hundred a piece with tooling! He has already been makin stuff- nice stuff already. I am lucky that the big tools are only a short walk away if I want them. I am already followin a lead on a bridgeport but I am not sure of the details yet.

 

[zoom6zoom]

Check out www.smartflix.com for gunsmithing and metalworking related video rentals.

 

[Onmilo]

Four grand will get you a like new floor mount Bridgeport indexable head mill with accessories and tooling.
Two grand will get you a like new 36" South Bend lathe with accessories and tooling.

Mills and lathes are fairly inexpensive it is that tooling that can bust the bank in a hurry.

Check out Grizzly for some pretty decent inexpensive Mill/Lathe combo machines.
http://www.grizzly.com

 

[DeltaGunner]

Machines

Stand clear of the combo machines, they will work, but tear down and set up time is aggravating.
If you have no machining back ground hunt as well asup a community college.
I am a machinist, welder mechanic by trade with 34 years experience. Have done time in research and developement and design and drafting. So my transition into the gunsmith trade has been so far pretty easy.
I just swapped out a 1952 German Stienel mill and a 1950 Delta Rockwell 12"x 36" 3 phase lathe and went to Smithy for a stand alone mill and 12x40 lathe.
Both single phase.
Customer service is great, products are good. You will spend as much on tooling as the machines.
I'm retired so the worry of wearing out these machines is doubtful. They will not be running any 8 hr. production shifts.
I already had a ton of tooling.
It is fun to design and build gun accessories functional or just play pretties.
Figure $12,000.00 to get going.
You don't need to buy top pf the line tooling for part time use. Take for example a knurling tool from "Enco" $65.00 versuses a starret at $350.00, you'll never wear out the Enco.
Consider Gunsmith tools, here is where you can save some big $$$$, you'll be able to make your own.
I've paid for my mill in just making accessories in less than 6 months.
Be happy to post some pictures of my shop set up, just ask.

 

[tallpaul]

Ok delta- I am askin for the pics to be posted I Love shop and project pics!

 

[DeltaGunner]

Machines

TallPaul heres some pics of the machines and my air conditioned play room. They are jammed up in a small area but they work for me. I made a gas block,barrel shroud and a krink flash hider for an m-4 barrel they've been coated and baked, and have about 20 projects going, like an 03-A3 ready for bedding, test fire then putting the finish on the metal, and wood.








Anyway that's all the pic.'s I can load. If your into machining and smithing you can pm me and we'll swap up some e-mail address's and trade ideas 'n stuff.

 

[DeltaGunner]

Thoughts on choice

Well as I make decisions price falls into the category alot, aside from that I think the following were some of my major concerns of choice:
The Lathe: Size of through hole in the head. Are the parts I'm planning to make going to fit? Swing over bed. Ease of selecting threading feeds and speeds. Length of bed, will it hold a barrell or barrelled action.
The mill: length of travel and depth of travel of the bed. Maximim clearance between the head stock and bed.
I think my greates concern was the through hole on the lathe being large enough to hold a "Bull Barrell" I chose my lathe for the 1 1/2 inch through hole size, it came with the 40 inch length. The length I'll probably not use,
most of my work is done in the first 15 inches of the bed. I can how ever turn a contour barrel if I choose with this length. It has tail stock off set available and I did purchase a taper attachment with it.
On the mill think about the mill vise, it will take away available space between the head and bed, as will a drill chuck or even a boring head. the model I chose, unlike the one I sold has plenty of space, (so far).
Look into the future, as you gain experience and tooling, your projects may grow in size along with your knowledge.
Enjoy..