Machining Discussion-Lathes, Mills, CNC.

[freakray]

Originally Posted by PlutoniumDan

Asking any Mods, can this thread be posted into the machining forum

More than happy to move it

[cinqster]

Wow, that's very impressive Dan!

Hope you don't mind me asking, but how much does it stand you at so far, and did you have to import it to the UK?

[gionc]

I'll like to know more, since I'm updating my mill to CNC. The result is neat.

Also I like a lot the different viewpoint: at last mill down a prototype or a mold is almost the same (if you own some mold SW tools..) but you'll have all the copy needed without less quality cloning....... great..

[PlutoniumDan]

I bought the machine from the RolandDG UK distributor, I get my tools from http://www.bitsbits.net/ very good solid carbide cutters in the US. To complement the machine and expand what I could do I got silicone RTV, machinable blue wax and polyurethane resin so I could machine patterns and make moulds and then cast my own parts. I still have to get more stuff to make casting easier and better quality, my little setup is probably more dear than a cnc sherline mill and lathe setup, but I can also scan and scale components and make copies so I am happy with what I have.

To go with the machine I also have a 3D solid modeling cad program called Alibre Design to feed the milling software my designs

here are a few links to RolandDG milling machines

in the US
http://www.rolanddg.com/product/3d/3...plication.html

in the UK
http://www.rolanddg.co.uk/public/por...x?id=54&type=1

http://www.techsoftuk.co.uk/modela.htm

[Jamme]

Originally Posted by gionc

Bad news: rotating table (very little table..) well from the begin I've got a problem with those, a sort of wrong alignement, every time I note a strange thing, like if the rot.table put my piece not at 90°. If I try to touch the piece with the mill-end and turn the table, somewhere I have a gap, somewhere the bit touch the piece. I try a lot of time with various pece, every the same, every the same angle, the piece isn't parallel to the mill z-axis.

Idea! I try to unmount my table! Well at least I discover the bug, probably the black ring nut wasn't perfectly orizontal...
Well now I'm not able to re-mount, I need a cylinder like a spark-plug key, well is better to me if I ask some advice to you before I've an hammer in the hand, some pics:

Hello Gio,
I have the same turntable. (It's the Proxxon one, no?) and I should say mine is perfect.
Interesting pictures, anyway, so, if I want to open it, I can do it now.
Cheers,

Jamme

[cinqster]

Sieg X2 mill ordered and on it's way - oh yeeaaahhhh baby!

[drnitrus]

Hello Everyone
Ive been thinking about getting a lathe for a little while now, so all the info in this area is very helpful. I didnt want to start a new topic so I think my question should be ok in here.
Ive been looking at the more expensive machines as well as the least expensive machines to try and figure which route I should take considering the investment. I havent really dug too deep to try and get the best deal yet. I am basiclly trying to compare setup to setup.
I took a look at the sherline site today. i am trying to get a lathe that I can set up with the milling attachments as well. This is what I came up with
4000/4100c 3.5 x 8 lathe package
3050/3053 vertical mill column
3700 rotary table
Some of the guys in here can give me some insight if this is the right combination...

ive been trying to put together the same setup from harbor freight but I cant seem to find the milling attachment for the 7x10 mini lathe. I was pretty sure I saw one before but maybe I am mistaken. I have a list of parts to go with the harbor frieght lathe already but its pretty long cause i dont think they sell everyhting in a package.

I guess what I am asking is can the harbor frieght unit be used as a mill like the sherline?
If so, could someone help me with a part number and any essential accessories to make it work.

[MPWR]

Originally Posted by drnitrus

I didnt want to start a new topic so I think my question should be ok in here.

Ask it as a new topic in a new thread, please.

We have a whole new forum here so every topic can get it's own due discussion and answers, and we don't have do deal with long, multiple topic threads like this one.