Quote:
Originally Posted by pmrid
This is where I get to make you all laugh - I was so inspired by this discussion that I went and ordered a Sieg M1 - a mini-lathe/milling/drilling machine. It is the absolute entry-level machine which is very appropriate since I know absolutely nothing about metalwork. My brother (who has passed on some months ago) was a genius with this stuff but he got all the machinery genes in our family. Now that I have to do my own astro projects, I figured it was time I learnt.
Can one of you more experienced types tell me what accessories I should b getting - milling bits, chucks, collets (When I first heard word, I thought they were something to eat, like collards and Chitlins) and so forth?
Peter
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Hi Peter
There really is no end to the bits you can buy. For basic setup on the lathe you will need a set of cutting tools (left/right cutters, facing and a parting tool as well as a boring bar) in either HSS or carbide depending on your wallet. A live centre is useful as are fixed and travelling steadies. A good set of cobalt drill bits are also worth the money as well as a quick change tool post and some various sized centre drills. Nb buy your first drill set depending on what standard you intend to work with most ie metric or imperial as they are expensive but last a very very long time between sharpening if made of cobalt steel.That would be my minimum and there are lots of bits you can make with these such a centre height adjuster and die carrier for threading and so on. Other tools could include a independent 4 jaw chuck, a face plate and thread cutting tools.
For the mill the sky is the limit really. A good quality collet chuck and collet set are a must (don't use the drill chuck supplied, they come loose and damage cutting tips let alone safety) and you will only need HSS mill bits as your machine will not rev hard enough to warrant carbide and will last ages if you work smart. Three good quality vices are also useful, one that spins 360 degrees, one that lets you set angles in 3D and a good quality tool makers vice and a clamping kit is also essential. That will get you started but you will also need basic hand tools such as squares, punches, rules, verniers, scribes and so on. After that it gets a little crazy. I have face mills, end mills, slotting drills, counter bore cutters, ball mills, T slot and dove tail cutters, fly cutters, gear cutters, reamers, a boring head, dividing head, rotary table, micrometres, slitting saws, arbors, parallels, sin bar, angle plates, V blocks, several different dial gauges and magnetic stands, drill sleeves, edge and center finders, a DRO and the list goes on. That's the fun about metal machining, there is so much out there. I also found the workshop practice series (small books) very useful when starting out and have since bought fitting and turning books used to train apprentices which I have read cover to cover. There are also some great youtube videos and I found videos by Tubal Cain (an old American metal work teacher with a very dry sense of humour) very informative (see link below). He has done a whole series on just about anything to do with metal, just subscribe or go into his video vault (238 vids) to see them. You thought astronomy was a money pit, wait until you get stuck into this
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojjdR...eature=related
Mark
