sgort87 wrote:I planned on making my own tools on my grinder. I'll really only be working with plastics, so I'm not too concerned about the mill's sturdiness or collecting expensive tools for it. Though, I still have to sharpen my tools every month or so, so maybe carbide is the way to go.
I wasn't expecting to use the mill part too much, but after seeing your suggestion list, it seems there's a bit more I can do with it than I had thought about.
I especially like that barrel support idea. What would you suggest as a method for making them easily?
If your mainly working with plastics then making your own tools won't be extremely time consuming. I work with (often extremely hard) metals a lot- particularly stainless, hardened and low grade high speed steels. For a lot of the exotic materials, only carbide will cut it. I tried using a HSS toolbit to clear the chrome plating from the outside of a hydraulic ram. It dulled in millimeters. With carbide it was running fast enough the chips were burning and the toolbit still made a good finish and didn't dull at all. If you choose carbide, keep a HSS blank or two (I have some 1/4" ones for final cuts and finishing). Also, being able to make the exact profile you need is often useful.
Well..the barrel supports. Start off with your plastic sheet in the appropriate thickness. Then I guess make a jig from card (or draw it in ACAD or similar) and lay it out onto the sheet. Endmills to do the flat sides (even that relatively small mill, even with cheap HSS bits will machine plastic with extreme ease). To do the radii of the barrel/chamber you could use a boring head or simply work the two feeds at once using an endmill. As a boring head is often extremely expensive you could probably use a fly cutter instead. They're dirt cheap. You could even make one easily.
@ Tech..I'm not sure I can wholeheartedly agree on that..I machine nylon extremely regularly and teflon or delrin occasionally..I have only experienced it moving in the chuck once while taking a far too deep facing cut too far away from the chuck (it was also a rectangular bar in a 3 jaw chuck- don't ask). But, it would be good to err on the side of caution.
Also..
Machined grips/carry handles..enclosures for ignition, mounts for fuel tanks and meters, custom chamber venting valves (like the one you use in the combustions you sell)..clean custom pilot valves..magazines.. With a lathe, your options are large. With a mill they multiply out exponentially (I wish I had a dedicated mill, I have to use a vertical mount that bolts to my lathe carriage..it suffers from sturdiness issues bigtime).
I quite like the thought of mounting rails such as picatinny, weaver, dovetails etc. I think a lot of (Americans) people would like the thought of being able to use the same grips, stocks, sights and lights they use on their AR15's and the like on the spudgun they purchase..
Throw me all your ideas. I can't wait to put this to your challenges!
