So is it as easy as it looks? Making a piece
Doing Home shop maching is a fun hobby. Being able to make and create things is a lot of fun. My machines are small and sometimes you have to get creative in making them work for what you want.
Often some people look at a piece and say…” That is not hard, it is only a piece of metal with some holes in it”. And while this is true it is also true there is more then one way of making a piece. One way is just dive in and drill holes and cutting and the other is with precise measuring and removal of metal.
These are the support plate for the butt plates I am making for the “Wokbut” it might look like a small piece of metal with some holes in it but I will break it down on how they are being made. I do this because some people do not work with metal or wood and they like to see the process. So here goes….
First I go out and buy 24′ of 1/4″ x 1″ aluminum. In a horizontal band saw I cut multiple piece to approximate length. I then gather these pieces together and move them to the next stage.
On the mill I take 4 pieces at a time and stack them togther. I then mill one end making all for pieces even on one side. I then use this side as a standard and mill the piece to size.
Each piece is marked and measured for the center and locations of holes. Each hole has to be exactly in center of the piece and a certain distance for each other. Then each hole location is center drilled. Center drilling is done with a short fat bit which insure the drill bit used will not wander or walk away from where you want the hole. The center drill does not make the hole, it is the step done so you can make a hole properly. Now, I am working on 20 pieces so you get want to make sure each piece is a similar as possible.
That is the start of the support piece. It still has to be drilled and then tapped and cutting bevels on each corner. Then deburred on all edges and on the holes. It will them be sanded on each surface an then put into a tumbler for a couple of days to give it a matte finish.
Here is a couple of picts 8 pieces are in the tumbler right now. These still need more work
I am no machinist but I like playing on in the garage.
After all that they still look like just pieces of aluminum with holes in it…lol
😆
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I would love to see a pic of your mill! Her is a pic of the model I am using here in the shop.
Mike http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r294/mlovett_photo/G3102mill.jpg?t=1201951647
Whom are you speaking of in concern to the crosman forum? I stop in there from time to time.
practice makes perfect
looking great man, toss me on the waiting list if there is one
Here some work I have done on the shoulder plate. That is 20 pieces with a 30* bevel cut on each side. The kicker is if it is off a bit on one side, I got the opportunity to do it again and again and again…lol
So far, So good
Take one part and 50 people, there will be 50 ways to make the same part, just depends on your experience and what one has to work with.
Be surprised what someone can do with a file. 😀
Have you seen what the guy on crosman forum has done with a file and simple tools on his 1377. Pretty impressive.
Making parts to some is an easy task, to others it’s like magic.
Take one part and 50 people, there will be 50 ways to make the same part, just depends on your experience and what one has to work with.
Be surprised what someone can do with a file. 😀
Thanks Walter,
What I have been doing it using the side of the vise jaws and indexing the edge of the piece against that. Then I drill, remove, replace, drill, remove, relace etc….lol
Necessary but not as fun as making one creation at a time. But it does move along the work when multiple pieces are needed.
I have a project on the go that requires similar repetitive drilling.
I made a steel ‘master’ that I am able to clamp to the piece. Drill all my pilot holes through the master on the drill press and gives me enough accuracy for the intended enduse.
Good project you have going on here.
Good advice Rhoderman I’ll try and apply that method keep it in mind for sure.
Walter….
Rhoder,
Yep, I do that when making a large run. I indexed off of the vise jaws and drilled away.
Sometimes I get a part started and then someone wants another one and so on. Well, when it is obvious I need to stop making a piece at a time I do the assembly line method…..which I am doing now…lol
Fixturing is the way to go Adam.
Mark one piece and call it the master.
Clamp a stop block to one side of your vise. Once you get the hole lined up, drill all 20 with the starting bit, then change to the final bit and bore that hole 20 times. Then shift your bed over and do the next set of holes, starting bit, then final bit again. Eventually, you’ll have all of them done.
Then, for the bevels, come up with a way to clamp the piece the same every time, and do one cut per piece again.
It may seem to take longer than doing one at a time, but it will actually save you a lot of time.
Looks like a lot of fun to me! Wishing I had a milling machine at home…
Jim
I know what you mean to some small degree. Have gained a interest in metal working since joining this mob. No, its not as easy as it looks. I’ve heard the same about grip making. I have made my own grip anchor, as i lost my previous one. Took 3 attempts to get it right. You are working with a jig, yes? I have also tried to make a trigger shoe and botched it, don’t know why but it doesn’t stay fixed to the trigger bar. To much slop or tabs to thick to clamp??? I have also incorporated some ali work into a stock which was not as easy as it looks. Pic soon on that, as i added some extra round stock into the foregrip as well.
Keep up the good work, at least you can work in a production like manner. The grips are one by one. Which sucks as setting up each piece of equipment takes time. Nice when you can run 10 pieces through one setting and then move to the next step. Not saying its easy, but just as efficent as possible. Can’t hardly wait for my own, thanks for the work.
Looks like you got a handle on it there Adam! Keep us posted. Love watching a build project!!! Mike
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You guys and your lathes and mills make me drool. Is it better to purchase seperately or are the lathe/mills a good choice? A local store near me has one of those mini yellow Clark lathes for $499, good price or not?