Machine Tools

[427sharpe]

I am curious as to what machine tools you guys have found the most helpful....
I have been using my bandsaw a lot (imagine that!) but I also have found my small lathe and mid-mill pretty handy. I finished my english wheel about 2 months ago, and am actually getting pretty good at bending aluminum. the key word with the wheel is P-A-T-I-E-N-C-E!!! Oh...and you will learn to be wary of the wheels...if your fingers go in between (and they will..at least once) it's like hitting your finger with a hammer...except the hammer doesn't get off! I have added shorties to a few sites I have found VERY helpful....

www.tinmantech.com

www.mini-lathe.com

www.metalshapers.org

[trularin]

Drill press
10 x 54 lathe
20 ton press
glass beeder
arc welder
gas welder

I would like to get the lather rebult and a good bridgeport, but $$$$$ make that a dream.

[DAVID GAGNARD]

Between my shop and my cousin's shop 5 minutes away that I can use anytime,we are pretty well equiped,he has the big stuff,I have the little stuff.......

drill press-----3
arc welder---3
mig welder
broach
large bridgeport mill
lathe 18x84
large bead blast cabinet----2
out door sand blaster----2
complete vavle grinder machine-setup---2
machine to re-surface heads and other large similar objects
large electric band saw for cutting metal
12 ton press
large assorted of tools,most made for a specific job
4 air compressors,3 electric,one gas portable........

I'd guess the mig welder/mill/lathe get the most use....

and the knowledge to use most of the stuff without inflicting serouis injury to the operater or any innocent bystanders

David

[blykins]

Acetylene torch, mig welder, tig welder, stick welder, 12-ton press (probably use that the most), drill press, horizontal band saw, small 3' bed lathe, engine hoist, engine stand.

One of the small tools that I find very handy is a heat gun for doing electrical work.

I'd say the mig machine and the press get used the most...Past times when I've rebuilt trannies and setup rearends for myself and others....that press has been invaluable.

[mloy]

Guys,

Mig Welder - no explanation necessary.

Press Brake (289 Leaf Spring Chassis has a TON of bent metal parts.)

I bought plans off of eBay for the press brake and had my machinist friend make one for me as well as himself. It is the cats a$$!!!!! Could not live without it.

Drill Press - without question a must have.

Vernier Caliper - must have.

Steel Ruler in 32nd's and 100th's - must have.

Metal Band Saw - makes work so much easier than a saws-all.

Plumb-bob - old school but it works.

Bench sander - beats filing.

Good mind to come up with jigs - priceless.

Happy Fourth! - now back to the adult beverages.

[427sharpe]

David;
Bridgeport...Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[rob frink]

A high quality, high performance belt grinder!






I use it for light deburring....to very heavy hogging...also coping tubing, polishing, finishing......etc.

It is used more than anything in the shop.

[DAVID GAGNARD]

Robert;

I guess that's what most people call them( I just call it a big a$$ mill)???? Not sure of the actual brand name,but it is a big unit and one that I'm fairly handy using,I usually do not use the lathe as it is too easy to destroy something including the lathe gears,so my cousin/machinest does all the lathe work,but he lets me have my run with the mill............they are not that expensive,this was bought about 5 to 8 years ago in excellent used condition for less than 2k,with some tooling,now the real money is in tooling,probably another 1500 to 2k in tooling thru the years........

the lathe was also bought used in poor looking condition,but good working order out of an old sawmill,took about 6 months to take it completely apart and go thru it and replace a couple of worn gears and re-assemble.......

You would not believe the things that can be done on a mill...........

David (amature machinest)

[Aussie Mike]

I agree on the linisher, I use mine all the time.

I've got a Multitool linisher atachemnt for my 8" Bench grinder. The stone on the other end is a fine abrasive for sharpeining tool steel for the lathe.

Here's the Multitool web page: Multitool

The other tool I bought recently is a 40Amp plasma cutter. This thing is awesome. It cuts through 10mm steel plate no trouble and goes through 6mm plate like a hot knife through butter. when cutting sheet metal it cuts as fast as you can move the torch. In sheet it cuts nearly as clean as a hacksaw, No distortion and hardly any Heat Affected Zone around the cut.

Works on steel Stainless and aluminium too.

First time I fired it up I was giggling like a maniac and thinking about throwing my angle grinder cutting discs away.

Cheers

[alfy65]

Here is a nice site for small lathe info...http://bedair.org/9x20.html
Glad to see the tool listing as to what we have to beg, borrow or make.I made a small bender attachment for 20 ton press ( see gallery) works great for 11 gauge brackets.
Al

[mickmate]

I have a new motor coming for my disc/belt sander I feel like I'm working one handed without it. Between that and the plasma cutter I can make a lot of sparks! I have been using the drill press alot beyond it's capability but if you cut two pieces at a time by tacking them both to a plate or doing two ends at once I can swing a 4" holesaw for the fishmouths etc. A 14" chopsaw works well also if you do two cuts about 17 degrees to the centre of a tube it makes a nice fishmouth that needs minor or no grinding depending on weld method. I like the Pferd brand of grinding and cut off wheels, they seem to remove quite a bit of stock without vanishing themselves. Good thread! Know where the extinguisher is and keep looking up if you're working by yourself. It's a good excuse for a sip of something anyway

[scottj]

Haas VF-6 with Trunnion 210 5th axis
Haas VF-0 with 210 Rotary 4th axis
Solidworks Modeling software
Surfcam CAM software
Mazak Quick Turn lathe
Bridgeports
plunge EDMs
8' brake, 6' brake, 4" shear
surface grinder, disc grinder, belt sander, drill press, press, MIG, TIG, bead blaster

The kicker is that the machines are too busy to do my racecar stuff so I design it and then have to sub-contract all of the machine work.

[427sharpe]

Believe me David, I can imagine what a Bridgeport can do! My mill is a mid-size, but when the new shop gets built and I have ROOM I am going to go on a serious hunt for a Bridgeport or a clone. My mill uses the R8 tooling, so I am all set for the step up! I have a lot of fun on the machining aspects. I use my mill and lathe a lot now..just finished a set of steering hub adapters. It's a lot more fun to MAKE rather than BUY, even if you have to make a couple of false starts before you get it right.
I have been surprised how fast the inverter welders have caught on (and gotten cheaper!). I bought one for the TIG capability, and it has been great even though it cost me less than $300. I want to try some aluminum sheet to see if it brittles the metal like my large TIG. I hope that the small will create less problems and be faster to weld a body together when the time comes.
I am also right there with Mick...BUY A PLASMA CUTTER! I have a 36 amp, and it is FANTASTIC. Cuts fab time at least in half!
If only I could talk the wife into a WaterJet!

[Three Peaks]

What are you guys using to fishmouth the smaller pieces, like the 3/4" tubing for the birdcage and other pieces?
Seems like a 3/4" round cutter in a mill could be run in perpendicular to the end and get a good clean cut if fed properly. I'm getting tired of replacing holesaws for these small pieces. They just seem to tear the teeth right off them.

[mickmate]

Just go with a mill if there's a lot of holes the same size to be done. A Jancy cutter or annular cutter like they use in the Hougen Broach and Porta mag drills are also good. The other option is straight cutting on an angle and cutting halfway across from the other side on the same angle. As far as the plasma cutter goes I use the flat edge of a framing square as a torch guide for a straight line, I can usually clamp it in place with the ground clamp on shorter cuts. A trammel tool is also very useful for arcs and circles. Don't forget everyones favourite tool the Sharpie!

[427sharpe]

As Mick stated, I use the milling machine. Put in a 3/4" roughing bit and feed it to half the diameter and you have a perfect joint for welding IF you have the angle right. I usually measure the set up angle as it will be on the car, than when I mount the vise into the mill bed I use a protractor to set the angle. It gets tougher when you have a compound angle, but the principles are the same except you must use a sine vise to get the compound correct. I have found titanium coated bits as large as 3" that fit my mill (R8 tooling) and I use them on everything. If shoppong for a mill, make sure you get one w/ R8 tooling...it is the spec used by Bridgeport (the main industrial brand) so there are tons of mills and holders available. If true R8, it will also have a 7/16 drawbar...I have seen some sell stuff using a metric thread, which means you would have to buy their bar or make your own.