StraightUp_OG Posted February 12, 2013 Author Share Posted February 12, 2013 A quick estimate looks like around 8 mins of cutting time at 10 IPM (15 lines at 5" long). Add in some rapids and other movement and you are at 10-12 mins. If you use a fixture in a vise looks like a 15 min job. Cool, I am going to write something and give it a go on some scrap stock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RIIID Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 30-45 minutes on a manual mill tops and another 10 to 15 minutes to do clean up with a hand file. Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StraightUp_OG Posted February 12, 2013 Author Share Posted February 12, 2013 30-45 minutes on a manual mill tops and another 10 to 15 minutes to do clean up with a hand file. Rich You do some smokin' work! Very nice indeed! It seems you have thrown down the gauntlet to see if CNC is faster than a master on a manual mill! :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taildraggerdave Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 Very nice work. Definitely motivational. Take care, Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fireant Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 Rich, I must be running everything in slow motion. My set up only takes a couple of minutes, but the cuts take for ever. How fast are you feeding the slide into the cutter? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RIIID Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 I don't know the feed rate by a number, there is no numbers on the power feed. I can't turn it by hand as slow and steady, I go by the chips and the sound of the mill/cutter. Some slides are harder than others so adjustments must be made for each one. I use the EGW cutter and set-up on the Plate fixture. Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panic Flinch Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 That's awesome. I really like to see folks who truly build something. It is like nails down a chalkboard when I hear someone say they "just built an AR" ...when actually they only assembled it!! In my mind there is a definite distinction between the two....and you can now properly claim to have actually buit your accomplishments. I'm envious and watch from the outside looking in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
latech15 Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 I think I speak for everyone here when I say, "please keep updating this thread". I love this stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jid2 Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 It is like nails down a chalkboard when I hear someone say they "just built an AR" ...when actually they only assembled it!! Good to know I'm not the only one. Getting ready to make the ramped barrel cuts in my frame. Gotta program the toolpaths and maybe do it this weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StraightUp_OG Posted February 14, 2013 Author Share Posted February 14, 2013 Thought you all might like this. http://www.m1911.org/M1911-A1_REDUX.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevinj308 Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 Duuuude, that's nice. Very nice. Thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadowrider Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 I checked out your thread on the other site and as a 20+ year CNC machinist/programmer (previous occupation) I have to say I am jealous. 'Cuz I ain't got no toys like this! I'll also add that I'm impressed. Great work on setting the machine up and you are off to a hell of a start at using it. I've been out of the industry for about 10 years. Are there any of these desktop CAM systems that will do simultaneous 4 or 5 axis machining? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jid2 Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 People try and build 5 axis machines out of the hobby grade benchtop stuff, but it's really not able to do what it needs to. 4th axis is working solid if done correctly, but with less than commercial grade resolution. The CAM software does exist to do 4th and 5th Axis simultaneous at semi-affordable cost, but it's not nearly as good as well, the good stuff. My day job is spent in Solidworks designing stuff, so I have a low tolerance for crappy CAM software and have pretty much gravitated to SolidCam and HSMworks, both of which cost north of $10K, which is more than the $8K I have into my machine. For now I use the free 2.5D version of HSMWorks, and am trying to get work to buy the full 3D version and a Haas MiniMill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadowrider Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 That's one of the reasons I've never tried to build one and I was wondering if it was worth a new look. I just don't trust stepper motors not to skip steps. And I want at least 4 axis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UW Mitch Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 That is way cool! I would have been skeptical that a tabletop mill would have the rigidity to do much gunsmith work, but I guess I'm wrong there. ~Mitch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StraightUp_OG Posted February 14, 2013 Author Share Posted February 14, 2013 That's one of the reasons I've never tried to build one and I was wondering if it was worth a new look. I just don't trust stepper motors not to skip steps. And I want at least 4 axis. This is a problem I am working through. I have had my speeds set to fast and I was losing steps. I had to slow things down quite a bit. Since this is just a hobby I don't mind it going slow as I learn but would love to get a bigger, faster more powerful machine once I have the hang of this. @jid2 how much better are the servo motors than the steppers at not losing steps? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sperman Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 Servo motors have encoders built in, so they never lose steps. If the motor stalls, the controller knows it. My Tormach uses stepper motors, and it is something I am concerned about, but as long as I don't take unreasonable cuts it is not a problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StraightUp_OG Posted February 14, 2013 Author Share Posted February 14, 2013 (edited) Servo motors have encoders built in, so they never lose steps. If the motor stalls, the controller knows it. My Tormach uses stepper motors, and it is something I am concerned about, but as long as I don't take unreasonable cuts it is not a problem. Thanks! ETA: Went looking and found this. http://www.cncroutersource.com/stepper-vs-servo.html Edited February 14, 2013 by StraightUp_OG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StraightUp_OG Posted February 16, 2013 Author Share Posted February 16, 2013 So this weekend's attempt is a AR lower. I just hope to get to the next setup. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevinj308 Posted February 16, 2013 Share Posted February 16, 2013 Nice! It may not be helpful for a cnc job, but I've used Ray-Vin's instructions for manually machining a casting. http://arlower.ray-vin.com/ar15/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StraightUp_OG Posted February 16, 2013 Author Share Posted February 16, 2013 Nice! It may not be helpful for a cnc job, but I've used Ray-Vin's instructions for manually machining a casting. http://arlower.ray-vin.com/ar15/ Cool! Thanks! It's a good reference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDF5186 Posted February 16, 2013 Share Posted February 16, 2013 Wow. I was just talking with a co worker about some to machine a bolt handle for me....so cool guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griz Posted February 16, 2013 Share Posted February 16, 2013 So this weekend's attempt is a AR lower. I just hope to get to the next setup. :-) Please forgive the dumb question, but why is your toolpath so pronounced? Are you using a ballend mill? Or is your head nodding? Or are the adjacent paths at different depths? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StraightUp_OG Posted February 16, 2013 Author Share Posted February 16, 2013 So this weekend's attempt is a AR lower. I just hope to get to the next setup. :-) Please forgive the dumb question, but why is your toolpath so pronounced? Are you using a ballend mill? Or is your head nodding? Or are the adjacent paths at different depths? Yeah ball end. This is my first try at a multi tool program and I thought I would do the roughing with a ball end. Since I am a beginner I don't know the rules yet! :-) Current progress: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Espresso Posted February 17, 2013 Share Posted February 17, 2013 Wow amazing! It would be so much fun to be able to do this kind of work for a hobby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now