The Offcial Machinist Thread: Revised 01/04/2014

grumpyoldman · Mon Apr 28, 2014 3:09 pm

wyz2285 wrote:Just noticed now as you spoke of an screen (so I saw the pc next to your sieg x1 mill).
Did you converted it to a 3 axis CNC!? Oh fap fap fap...
Now I'm very attempted to buy one of these and convert mine... Can you post some detailed photos of yours?

Jack's right. If you're going to be making a lot of different things with it, converting to CNC would be a waste of money. I'm planning on making a lot of the same parts for my hoped for t-shirt launcher business. So I'll be using it more for a production type thing instead of a lot of one offs.

I haven't done much with it yet. Still learning how to work it. I got it free from my nephew who bought a bigger and better mill. It's a bit beat up, old and rusty but it still works. (Kind of like me.) It's good enough for a beginner. Below are some close ups.

: Photo_1.jpg (27.69 KiB) Viewed 5543 times

: Photo_2.jpg (31.16 KiB) Viewed 5543 times

: Photo_3.jpg (28.91 KiB) Viewed 5543 times

: Photo_4.jpg (30.52 KiB) Viewed 5543 times

: Photo_5.jpg (30.4 KiB) Viewed 5543 times

wyz2285 · Mon Apr 28, 2014 3:16 pm

Yeah I know, I sort of convinced my parents to buy me this but if I can afford a conversion for much cheaper I'd rather not ask them more money.
I'm spending much more time on PC drawing parts than actually making them, specially I found a low cost CNC factory. I designed a new valve housing+core for WE GBB rifles so I no longer need their magazines for modification. I'd left mass production for the CNC manufacture as the price is damn cheap if you buy in quantity but I do want to be able to produce accurate prototype at home.
Edit: Is it just me or the step motors are zip tied

grumpyoldman · Mon Apr 28, 2014 3:37 pm

wyz2285 wrote:Yeah I know, I sort of convinced my parents to buy me this but if I can afford a conversion for much cheaper I'd rather not ask them more money.

A conversion would be cheaper. That's a pricey toy at that link. You should probably hold off a while before you buy anything. You might decide on something else.

wyz2285 wrote:Edit: Is it just me or the step motors are zip tied

Yep, the step motors are zip tied. There's nothing better than good ol' American engineering!

wyz2285 · Mon Apr 28, 2014 3:46 pm

You should probably hold off a while before you buy anything. You might decide on something else.

Yap, lesson learnt from my not so satisfactory acquisition of my lathe and mill, should have saved the money for a 4 axis mill.
Anyway, a CNC mill even like yours opens a door to A LOT of possibilities and you can left it to do messy hard work while you can go for a coffee.

grumpyoldman · Mon Apr 28, 2014 3:58 pm

you can left it to do messy hard work while you can go for a coffee

Or a beer.

wyz2285 · Mon Apr 28, 2014 4:02 pm

Or a beer.

Right now I'm on a quite terrible hangover so anything that contains alcohol is out of my mind

grumpyoldman · Mon Apr 28, 2014 4:19 pm

wyz2285 wrote:Right now I'm on a quite terrible hangover so anything that contains alcohol is out of my mind

We've all been there. One day you'll learn not to get hangovers. No more than 4 beers or two mixed drinks. I'm probably sounding like your parents. Now I'll shut up and get my beer.

wyz2285 · Mon Apr 28, 2014 4:39 pm

I'm probably sounding like your parents. Now I'll shut up and get my beer.

My parents

? They don't really care much, all they tell me is to arrive home in acceptable condition (does not lost any limbs or personal item, lost my watch once but they were ok about it though).
I think I'll get the conversion kit as I've just sold another custom rifle right now

grumpyoldman · Mon Apr 28, 2014 4:45 pm

wyz2285 wrote:I've just sold another custom rifle right now

Good for you!

wyz2285 wrote:I think I'll get the conversion kit

If you sell enough, you'll be able to buy lots of goodies.

wyz2285 · Mon Apr 28, 2014 5:00 pm

If you sell enough, you'll be able to buy lots of goodies.

And these goodies will help me sell even more, that's the plan

grumpyoldman · Mon Apr 28, 2014 5:25 pm

wyz2285 wrote:
If you sell enough, you'll be able to buy lots of goodies.
And these goodies will help me sell even more, that's the plan

You sound like a capitalist.

wyz2285 · Mon Apr 28, 2014 5:31 pm

You sound like a capitalist.

And I am

soon me and my friend will make our brand official and I will be a young employer

grumpyoldman · Mon Apr 28, 2014 6:15 pm

wyz2285 wrote:soon me and my friend will make our brand official and I will be a young employer

I think you'll do good. Now I'm going to take my nap. Take care and watch out for those hangovers. Later.

wyz2285 · Mon Apr 28, 2014 6:19 pm

Later

Now a question for those pro machinists: How do you make threads in Autodesk inventor professional (2010 and later version)??
I do not mean the thread making tool in the graphic option, I need to know how to make real threads that will show up in DWG format and the CNC center recognize there is a thread to make.
Please help!

fenrir · Fri Jul 04, 2014 7:04 pm

I was trying to remove the trigger pin from a crosman mark 2, but I broke the sear. Anyone have an idea where to get another one? Would it be cheaper for someone to machine it for me?
Edit: I'm going to tediously apply jb weld.