Eyeball Engineering

[Duuuuuuuude]

Thanks. It was certainly a learning experience. I found several things I did wrong. I also did some reading here...

Fly Cutters

Which brings me to version 2.

I took a big chunk of square aluminum (I know...it was all I had on hand), made it round, and milled it out for a 5/16 cutter instead of the 3/16 I used on the first one. This one works much better. Ran it @ 800 rpm and roughly 6 in/min feed.








Aluminum



Delrin...1200 rpm with the same feed.

[Crawling Calvin]

Looks good. Check your heads "tram" (left to right and front to back squareness) since when you see one set of lines that usually means 'out of tram.'

[Duuuuuuuude]

Originally Posted by Crawling Calvin

Looks good. Check your heads "tram" (left to right and front to back squareness) since when you see one set of lines that usually means 'out of tram.'

There is no tram adjustment on my mill. If its out of whack, you unbolt the column and shim it accordingly.

From what I've read, you only want one set of lines, and that is from the leading edge as it cuts. Some will even set the tram off of level to accomplish this.

[Crawling Calvin]

Originally Posted by Duuuuuuuude

There is no tram adjustment on my mill. If its out of whack, you unbolt the column and shim it accordingly.

From what I've read, you only want one set of lines, and that is from the leading edge as it cuts. Some will even set the tram off of level to accomplish this.

From what ive read that can cause issues with a ) shape in the part... that said for home shop work nothing big to worry about

[Duuuuuuuude]

Originally Posted by Crawling Calvin

From what ive read that can cause issues with a ) shape in the part... that said for home shop work nothing big to worry about

So don't set it at 45*.

I don't think they meant to offset it much. I think mine is off by about .0005", and with a nice clean cut there is no mark from the back swing.

But yeah, we aren't making aerospace parts here.

[Crawling Calvin]

Originally Posted by Duuuuuuuude

So don't set it at 45*.

I don't think they meant to offset it much. I think mine is off by about .0005", and with a nice clean cut there is no mark from the back swing.

But yeah, we aren't making aerospace parts here.

Lol long as your parts turn out fine that's all that matters. I was taught differently but hey, i like the back swing lines

[Duuuuuuuude]

Originally Posted by Crawling Calvin

Lol long as your parts turn out fine that's all that matters. I was taught differently but hey, i like the back swing lines

If I take a deep enough cut and run the table so that the higher swing cuts first, the lower swing will make a second, smoother cut. I guess it all depends on how you shape your cutter, but that second go-round is more of a burnish than it is a cut.

[Duuuuuuuude]

Last night I spent some time working on the cutting edge. Its working waaaaaay better than before.



Single pass on aluminum.



Single pass on delrin.

[Duuuuuuuude]

The UPS man brought me some tooly goodness today.

First, some real, honest to goodness fly cutters. Now I can retire my whirling blades of death.

Second is a center locator. Not too exciting. Now that I've got it I'm not entirely sure I'll use it much.

What I was really looking forward to was the new 1/32"-3/8" keyless drill chuck and R8 adapter. For $30 it was worth a shot, and it looks like I got a pretty good score. Looks nice, works nice, and I may pick up another to replace the old and sloppy 3/4" keyed chuck I've been using.

Tools4cheap LLC Online Machine Shop Tooling Store: Keyless 3/8" Drill Chuck,Drill Chucks

[rob_b]

That's a crazy price. Have you checked the runout yet?

[Duuuuuuuude]

Originally Posted by rob_b

That's a crazy price. Have you checked the runout yet?

Yep. Only problem is that I don't know how to read my test indicator.

[CREEPERBOB]

Put a short ( straight ) rod in the chuck and measue about half way down it's length.
Oil it up well and let it spin it all over and it should last a while.

[Slowkrawl]

Once again RCC helps me to make bad financial decisions, this thread got me thinking about a lathe and a mill again and I went ahead and ordered them, should be here next week. Thanks for the thread of cool projects, it kind of inspired me to get into it myself.

[Duuuuuuuude]

Originally Posted by CREEPERBOB

Put a short ( straight ) rod in the chuck and measue about half way down it's length.
Oil it up well and let it spin it all over and it should last a while.

I went ahead and edumacated myself last night. If I'm reading the indicator right, there is about .003" of runout. Not super precise, but good enough for what I'm doing.

[Duuuuuuuude]

Originally Posted by Slowkrawl

Once again RCC helps me to make bad financial decisions, this thread got me thinking about a lathe and a mill again and I went ahead and ordered them, should be here next week. Thanks for the thread of cool projects, it kind of inspired me to get into it myself.

Ain't it a bitch? First you get addicted to the toys, then you spend tons of money and time on tools to make parts for the toys.

[rob_b]

I always say that its better to spend all the time and money in the garage rather than down at the pub.


Also, .003", or better, was exactly what I was hoping for. I might have to try a few of those. You might check the runout of your spindle taper too now that you're an expert indicator reader.

[Duuuuuuuude]

Originally Posted by rob_b

You might check the runout of your spindle taper too now that you're an expert indicator reader.

I don't think I want to know.

[BigSki]

Originally Posted by Duuuuuuuude

Yep. Only problem is that I don't know how to read my test indicator.

post a pic of the indicator face, we will chime in and help you learn to read it, everyone had to be taught at one point.

[Duuuuuuuude]

Originally Posted by BigSki

post a pic of the indicator face, we will chime in and help you learn to read it, everyone had to be taught at one point.

I think I've got it, but what the hell, never hurts to double check.

I'm assuming that every mark is .0005?

[rob_b]

Yes sir.