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Machining Parts at Home

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Winginit

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 12, 2016
Messages
811
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There are a lot of pros and cons as to what someone may want or need in their shop (assuming they have a shop).

You don't have to be a full fledged machinist to get some basic tools like a drill press and make some parts. Its inefficient usually, but people do it for the enjoyment of having made something on their own, something they can use. Sometimes they even save money...but thats often in how you look at things.

The point here is that if someone purchases a drill press, they should get one with adequate size and ridgidity as a basic requirement and then they can bolt or fasten other attachments to it. I would recommend a flat rectangular table most of the time, but it depends on what you may want to do with it. If it has slots for T shaped nuts, you can fasten things down solidly for machining. Thats why its sometimes better to move up to one of the small mill/drill machines. I DON'T recommend one of the machines that is both a mill and lathe. I haven't seen one yet that is worthwhile. (May be one, but I haven't seen it). One of the videos here shows how a guy converted a drill press with a milling table adapted to it. Pretty neat if you can get what you need. Of course the best situation is a full on milling machine because its much more ridgid, but most people don't want to spend that much money. Here is one thing to consider. Having a digital readout will enable you to make moves MUCH more easily than manually trying to measure your movements. Since most aren't going for a real milling machine with a digital readout, you will be much more limited in movement accuracy sometimes.

I'm attaching some videos that range from entertaining to informational. If you are inexperienced with machinery, take what is presented with a grain of salt, and just try to glean what you can from it. In all cases of trying to do this stuff you must be diligent about wearing safety glasses and any other needed safety gear....but ALWAYS wear safety glasses.


One of the best tools you can use in conjunction with a mill/drill is a rotary table. It will allow you to drill bolt patterns, machine holes of any reasonable size (up to maybe 6", or make the outer surface of something become round. Its all about familiarizing yourself with whats available and how you can adapt it to your needs. So hopefully people will see other good videos or present other good ideas here for using in your shop. Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIogUQB6SGo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuqTzOpDCEA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xY-wXcFhx5w


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzqcOuE7AJY
 
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