Machine Shop Class Projects..... (My New Lathes.....)

[darkzero]

Well on Saturdays anyway. :nana: :laughing:

That's my little brother on the Rockford.

I've only used the Le Blonds & Rockford so far. There's also a couple of Logans, a Hardinge, & a couple others I don't recall the names/aren't familiar with. There's also a bunch of Bridgeports that I get to play with later.

Gives a new perspective to my mini lathe now!

 

[wquiles]

Re: My New Lathes.....

Cool - is it a class/course you are taking?

Will

 

[KC2IXE]

Re: My New Lathes.....

first time you dial in, say a .125 cut on some 12L14 or something, and watch the lathe grunt slightly, and peal off the cut like it was nothing, THAT is when you really get perspective on the difference between say the LeBlond and a Mini-lathe.

There is one huge problem - you get used to being able to reduce a part .250 diameter at a time, and you go back to the mini-lathe, and you go nuts "Gahhh - I have to take 3-5 passes"

 

[wquiles]

Re: My New Lathes.....

That is exactly the problem I have today - I don't know how could I ever go back to a small lathe, and I only have a 12x lathe, nothing as big/sturdy as the lathes in his picture above!

 

[darkzero]

Re: My New Lathes.....

Cool - is it a class/course you are taking?

Will

Yes. My little brother needed a techinical credit for high school so he choose to take this class at the local CC. I decided to join him, plus I'm his ride.

first time you dial in, say a .125 cut on some 12L14 or something, and watch the lathe grunt slightly, and peal off the cut like it was nothing, THAT is when you really get perspective on the difference between say the LeBlond and a Mini-lathe.

There is one huge problem - you get used to being able to reduce a part .250 diameter at a time, and you go back to the mini-lathe, and you go nuts "Gahhh - I have to take 3-5 passes"

Tell me about. I pushed to see how deep of a cut it could take. I can believe how big the chips were when I was making roughing cuts on my hammer handle as I'm not used to seeing chips that big.

 

[Rothrandir]

Re: My New Lathes.....

Please post pictures of the things you make in class!

 

[KC2IXE]

Re: My New Lathes.....

I only have a little Atlas 12" - I know I'm really working the lathe when I hear it slow down when the cut engages. Rare I have to take that much of a cut, but there are times

I really do want a better lathe, but...

 

[darkzero]

Re: My New Lathes.....

Please post pictures of the things you make in class!

Will do. Our first project is a ball peen hammer, aluminum handle with a brass head that threads onto the handle. It's pretty cool, I've got the prints if anyone is interested in making one.

I only have a little Atlas 12" - I know I'm really working the lathe when I hear it slow down when the cut engages. Rare I have to take that much of a cut, but there are times

I really do want a better lathe, but...

I took some 0.010< passes @ 1200 rpms the other day on my mini lathe & I could hear my motor struggle a bit. What a baby! :laughing: :candle:

 

[darkzero]

Re: My New Lathes.....

Please post pictures of the things you make in class!

The handle for my hammer which teaches that basics. Knurling is not all that great, used a really old Armstrong knurler but it's very coarse which is perfect for a grippy handle. Need to finish the brass head which is done on a 5C collect & a mill. The handle was turned between centers.

I see why the hammer is perfect for thefirs project. It really teaches a lot about basic operations. One thing I learned making this was turning a long taper which I have never done before (well I'm not capable of doing so with my 8x14). Also got very comfortable at threading now. Before turning the taper the plans have you do practice threading on that area with 14 tpi before doing the actual 1/4-20 thread at the head. The rest of the operations I have already "explored" on my lathe.

 

[Torque1st]

Re: My New Lathes.....

first time you dial in, say a .125 cut on some 12L14 or something, and watch the lathe grunt slightly, and peal off the cut like it was nothing, THAT is when you really get perspective on the difference between say the LeBlond and a Mini-lathe.

There is one huge problem - you get used to being able to reduce a part .250 diameter at a time, and you go back to the mini-lathe, and you go nuts "Gahhh - I have to take 3-5 passes"

Try going from a lathe that will reduce a 20"dia chunk of 4140 down to 19" in one pass down to a mini...:mecry:

When I was in school we made a steel handle and bored it out and made a threaded cap to hold a center punch and chisel inside.

 

[greenpea76]

Re: My New Lathes.....

Hey darkzero,

Where is this class or CC located at? I might be interested in a Saturday class when one comes up. I'm down in LA area towards SGV.

 

[darkzero]

Re: My New Lathes.....

We finished our hammers today. The head was finsihed on the mill. First time I ever used a Bridgeport & I was confused as hell with all the different levers it has. :laughing:

The hammer was not hard especially for you pros but I'm very proud of it & I think it's beautiful!

Next up is a C clamp which I'm excited about so I will really get to learn the Bridgeport & other full size mills. I'll change the thread title since I will be posting all the projects here. Damn, now I have to go & buy me a mill now. What did I get myself into!

 

[olrac]

Nice work Will! Look forward to your next posting.

 

[big vin]

how much for that hammer

 

[wquiles]

Great work Will - looks awesome!

 

[precisionworks]

now I have to go & buy me a mill

No matter what you do, don't use the surface grinder or that will also go on the list.

Very nice work on the hammer. The taper on the handle really sets it off :twothumbs

 

[PEU]

very nice hammer, now I want to make one too


Pablo

 

[mossyoak]

awesome, im taking a four semester program at the local CC for machining, and CNC machining the final two semesters, its very fun, but five days a week in the shop 730-300 is pretty damn demanding, nice job on the ball pein, i have to make on for my next project, brass turns for nicely.

 

[Rothrandir]

That hammer turned out beautifully! I really want to make one now too...

 

[Mirage_Man]

Re: My New Lathes.....

Very nice Will! Those are beautiful. How did you do the radius on the one end of the head?