"Must Have" Tools for Christmas

"Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired" wrote

Um, what is the
combination to the lock on your machine shop door?

You don't need a combination; only one of those gunbarrels, and umm, I would
say one projectile should do it! g
--
Jim in NC

You don't need a combination; only one of those gunbarrels, and umm, I
would
say one projectile should do it! g
--
Jim in NC

I'm doubting my equipment would be nearly as much fun after the projectile
hit.


Dave

Who once had the privilege of touring the USS Wisconsin before it was
decommissioned.

"LCT Paintball" wrote in message
news:Chlqf.667095$xm3.321689@attbi_s21...


You don't need a combination; only one of those gunbarrels, and umm, I
would
say one projectile should do it! g
--
Jim in NC

I'm doubting my equipment would be nearly as much fun after the projectile
hit.

Are you kidding? A Bridgeport would not even be scratched. I'm sure it
would take a several megaton explosion to even scorch the paint! vbg

Same goes with all of the other stuff you probably have in there.

One of these days, I'm going to get cozy with someone who really knows their
way around a machine shop. I'm a quick study for all things mechanical, and
would really like (and appreciate) the chance to learn how to do some stuff.

I've hacked around some of our equipment at our HS, but we don't teach
machining anymore, and there is not anyone who really knows how to use the
equipment. I am the closest thing to an authority, and that is sad. I
taught myself a few things, almost trial by error.

By the way, I'm officially envious. ;-))
--
Jim in NC

someone wrote:



One of these days, I'm going to get cozy with someone who really knows their
way around a machine shop.

Perhaps by being polite, even when disagreeing, you might one day obtain
such an invitation.

Jon (whose shop just acquired a new HAAS machining center to replace one
of the Bridgeport CNC mills) in California

Smitty Two wrote:
someone wrote:



One of these days, I'm going to get cozy with someone who really knows their
way around a machine shop.


Perhaps by being polite, even when disagreeing, you might one day obtain
such an invitation.

Jon (whose shop just acquired a new HAAS machining center to replace one
of the Bridgeport CNC mills) in California

So when are ya gonna get the good stuff like Central Machinery?
Y'know, I could get hurt asking questions like that

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired

In article UuAqf.67976$sg5.36718@dukeread12,
"Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired" wrote:



So when are ya gonna get the good stuff like Central Machinery?
Y'know, I could get hurt asking questions like that

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired

I really don't know anything about the hobby machines, but I've always
been curious. In many cases I'm sure I could live with some reduction of
power and precision, - at least for making airplane parts - but I'd
suffer without the automation.

When digital readouts came along, I thought we were in tall cotton. Then
we got the Bridgeport EZ traks (cnc) and we felt like we'd emerged from
the dark ages. I don't think I could dial off a bolt circle anymore, let
alone use a rotary table to make an arc. And I can't remember the last
time we rotated a rotating vise.

I don't think the machining center is going to have an advantage over
the EZ trak for making one or two parts, but it'll sure speed up
production work.

Anyway for now, I don't have room (or money) at home for a machine, so
I'll have to continue to make the 3 1/2 mile drive down to the shop when
something that can't wait til Monday needs more than a file or a hand
drill.

Smitty Two wrote:
In article UuAqf.67976$sg5.36718@dukeread12,
"Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired" wrote:



So when are ya gonna get the good stuff like Central Machinery?
Y'know, I could get hurt asking questions like that

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired


I really don't know anything about the hobby machines, but I've always
been curious. In many cases I'm sure I could live with some reduction of
power and precision, - at least for making airplane parts - but I'd
suffer without the automation.

When digital readouts came along, I thought we were in tall cotton. Then
we got the Bridgeport EZ traks (cnc) and we felt like we'd emerged from
the dark ages. I don't think I could dial off a bolt circle anymore, let
alone use a rotary table to make an arc. And I can't remember the last
time we rotated a rotating vise.

I don't think the machining center is going to have an advantage over
the EZ trak for making one or two parts, but it'll sure speed up
production work.

Anyway for now, I don't have room (or money) at home for a machine, so
I'll have to continue to make the 3 1/2 mile drive down to the shop when
something that can't wait til Monday needs more than a file or a hand
drill.


Hobby sized machines are not too shabby for one offs. If nothing
else it's good for keeping one's "feel." There's nothing they can do
that a full sized lathe can't do as well if not better. I sure wouldn't
use a home lathe to get four place precision. As for space I have mine
on a roll away cart.

I have tried CNC, it's really nice for production or complex parts. I
never do the former and rarely do the latter so I am doing alright.

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired

On Fri, 23 Dec 2005 12:02:34 -0800, Smitty Two
wrote:

In article UuAqf.67976$sg5.36718@dukeread12,
"Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired" wrote:



So when are ya gonna get the good stuff like Central Machinery?
Y'know, I could get hurt asking questions like that

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired

I really don't know anything about the hobby machines, but I've always
been curious. In many cases I'm sure I could live with some reduction of
power and precision, - at least for making airplane parts - but I'd
suffer without the automation.

When I studied that stuff we didn't have automation. No CNC, it was
set it up and one cut at a time, unless you had a turret and then you
*might* do up to 4 or 5. :-))

From what I've seen, for a "one off part, or even a couple, it was far
faster than setting up a CNC machine.


When digital readouts came along, I thought we were in tall cotton. Then
we got the Bridgeport EZ traks (cnc) and we felt like we'd emerged from
the dark ages. I don't think I could dial off a bolt circle anymore, let
alone use a rotary table to make an arc. And I can't remember the last
time we rotated a rotating vise.

The rotation isn't all that difficult, but cutting an arc with a
continuously varying radius is something else


I don't think the machining center is going to have an advantage over
the EZ trak for making one or two parts, but it'll sure speed up
production work.

That's where they really shine.


Anyway for now, I don't have room (or money) at home for a machine, so
I'll have to continue to make the 3 1/2 mile drive down to the shop when
something that can't wait til Monday needs more than a file or a hand
drill.

At least you have access to a shop. When I worked as a technician oh
so many years ago before going back to college (after 26 years) I
could us all the tools in the shop and I could get scrap metal from
the junk pile.

After going back to school I didn't have access to the shop, but I
also worked nearly 7 years with only 3 days off. I still managed to
fly abut 130 years, but the other stuff was put off until retirement.

I had the order made out to get both a precision lathe with a 50 some
inch bed and a good floor mill. I should have sent it right away as
the stock market tanked about two days before I was going to send it.
I was also set to purchase a new K1A5, 300 HP IO-540 Lycoming an one
of the custom shops was going to redo it for me. Unfortunately....
I now have a core in good shape to rebuild though :-))

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com