ltdmstr Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 Wouldn't it be the other way around? Prototype on 3D and manufacture on CNC? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sperman Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 3d-printing has it's place in manufacturing, but like Jared said, the materials used aren't that strong, and in my experience, get brittle with time. His plastic parts would cost about $0.10 a piece if made on an injection molding machine, but that's AFTER you pay several thousand dollars for the mold. CNC manufacturing ends up being the default process for low volume runs (and in the world of injection molding, they want tens if not hundreds of thousands of parts to justify the expense of the molds.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toolguy Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 (edited) I make prototypes like that for a full time job. That one is very well done. I bet it would sell like crazy. I normally use Delrin (homopolymer) or Acetal (copolymer). These are very similar. I prefer the copolymer because it has greater resistance to weak acids and chlorine. They are both very tough and machine beautifully. The only suggestion I have is to make the top tabs on the black part and the sides next to it on the white part beefier. You could just make the black tabs go further down in the white part. It will take more abuse that way. I have been keeping track of the 3D printing stuff, thinking about adding that to the shop. Right now there is no good way to print that part for production short of spending $400,000 to $700,000 for the printer. A couiple of injection molds would be way cheaper at around $50,000 to $100,000. Edited March 5, 2014 by Toolguy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loves2Shoot Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 It is hard to make a ELS replacement product without going injection and make it profitable at any scale. You need to be able to sell the unit to distribution for about $8.50, so your base cost needs to be in the $2-3 range. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick romero Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 another awesome job designing Jared! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t1nm4n Posted March 8, 2014 Share Posted March 8, 2014 I'm still drooling at all the pictures, and all the Win in the topic. So many choices and so many possibilities. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClintDismore Posted March 8, 2014 Share Posted March 8, 2014 This thread makes me jealous that I have no machining skills to speak of. Wish I did after looking through here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StraightUp_OG Posted March 11, 2014 Author Share Posted March 11, 2014 (edited) I am cross posting this since the gun used was built in this thread. Not one hiccup only the one between my ears! 2014 WSSSC https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3M5WEBRUk9KVGxQc0pNdy1QMXc/edit?usp=sharing Edited March 11, 2014 by StraightUp_OG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmiller Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 That was a fun video to watch! Thanks for posting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heavyopp Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 Nice vid -- Some nice stages there -- Now I have to go back thru this thread and find the gun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cundiff5535 Posted March 14, 2014 Share Posted March 14, 2014 What a sweet thread.... I wish I was capable or doing some of this stuff.... Good work and compliments to everyone who can do this stuff! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmiller Posted March 16, 2014 Share Posted March 16, 2014 Does anyone have any experience with the cnc masters cnc mills? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jid2 Posted March 17, 2014 Share Posted March 17, 2014 I've only had experience reading threads on the CNC forum about guys having problems with them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmiller Posted March 17, 2014 Share Posted March 17, 2014 Good to know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abunchahicks Posted March 18, 2014 Share Posted March 18, 2014 (edited) I've just spent most of the day reading this entire thread, and I must say it's a good one. I've been doing some research on buying a used Bridgeport or clone for a while now and found this thread. This will not be used for production but for personal pistol smithing and other small hobby work. Until now I had thought and was being told to buy the biggest heaviest mil that I can afford (hence the reason I was looking at Bridgeports). I do not plan to go the CNC route for a long time and would just like to perform manual operations for now. I guess I was under the impression that I would not be able to perform the milling operations without investing in a much larger machine, but you guys have pretty much changed that outlook for me. So my question is what can I not do with these smaller machines that I would be able to do with the larger? Pros and cons I guess? Edited March 18, 2014 by Abunchahicks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StraightUp_OG Posted March 18, 2014 Author Share Posted March 18, 2014 You can work on just about any material relative to the mill size. I have been able to make chips out of everything I wanted that would fit the travel of my little mill. The larger machines allow you to increase your speeds & feeds to a point and make some setups easier. Do I wish I had a slightly bigger machine, yes. Is it preventing me from doing anything I want, no. It is a great place to start and learn on the cheap and it gives you the possibility of CNC conversion. Also, understand that converting to CNC does not mean you MUST learn GCode. It only means that you can now control the machine with the computer rather than crank the handle, not that there is anything wrong with that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadowrider Posted March 19, 2014 Share Posted March 19, 2014 I'm already booked for IMTS, super excited. IMTS is badass! You're gonna have a blast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jid2 Posted March 19, 2014 Share Posted March 19, 2014 I also thought a bridgeport was my only option until I discovered these square column benchtop type machine.I always wanted cnc, but didnt have bridgeport sized room in my garage, so what I did was ideal. If you never plan to go cnc a bridgeport will be a better manual machine for the money if you can score a decent used one for under $3k or something. If you plan to do a cnc conversion a bridgeport is a bad choice as knee mills are poor cnc machines from a basic system layout. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmiller Posted March 19, 2014 Share Posted March 19, 2014 It is possible to have as accurate of cuts with a grizzly 704 or 759 as a Bridgeport ? That new 759 with dro does look sweet. Mill deflection would just be a function of feed speed an depth of cut? I have been looking for an old Bridgeport , but all I have found are ones that are beat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spence1300 Posted March 19, 2014 Share Posted March 19, 2014 I just bought the G0759 myself. After using different machines at work I knew I'd regret it if I didn't get the DRO's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmiller Posted March 19, 2014 Share Posted March 19, 2014 I just bought the G0759 myself. After using different machines at work I knew I'd regret it if I didn't get the DRO's. How do you like it? Does the DRO have a lot of bells and whistles? Does it do calculations for finding center, and bolt spacing on a hub? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abunchahicks Posted March 19, 2014 Share Posted March 19, 2014 Thanks for the input. I'm also interested in the G0759. With the LMS Mini mil is there enough room to use a rotary table or 4th axis setup if I ever go CNC to do front strap checkering? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianATL Posted March 19, 2014 Share Posted March 19, 2014 Is the G0759 the same mill as the G0704 with a DRO added ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StraightUp_OG Posted March 19, 2014 Author Share Posted March 19, 2014 With the LMS Mini mil is there enough room to use a rotary table or 4th axis setup if I ever go CNC to do front strap checkering? So yes and no. There is a 4th axis setup but it would be very hard to setup to do a front strap. You guys with all this talk of the BF20 have me thinking about an upgrade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmiller Posted March 19, 2014 Share Posted March 19, 2014 What is your next project O.G.? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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