RunRyder - Manual milling machine, need some tips.

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CAD - Engineering - Technical > Manual milling machine, need some tips.

Disciple4123
Veteran
Location: Waynesboro, VA USA

I am looking into a long term project of perhaps making my own giant camera heli, I have manufactured a good number of parts to my current Vario Acrobatic Twin ( http://www.aerialphotographyservices.com/twin ) with a router, X-Y table on a drill press, fiberglass, and CAD paper templating. But there are limitations with that setup.

Unless advised otherwise, I am leaning toward a Smithy Granite Mill/Lathe with DRO, and without any CAD mechanisms. What is the climate of opinion on Smithy? Is such a mill/lathe combo well equipped to make for example rotorhead centers, blade grips, etc.? Would manually machining, rather than CAD, simplify the process by not having to learn CAM and not having to watch it waste stock as it cuts in the wrong directions, etc as I'd learn? Is there a lost capability/accuracy in manually maching for example a 45 degree curve with just the X-Y wheels (turning both wheels by hand at the same speed), or this sort of issue more easily overcome with a rotating fixture?

I appreciate any advise on the topic, most of the posts I've read seem to offer a lot in the CAD CAM area, but I'd like to try manual first.

Eric

10-10-2007 04:40 AM

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jester4
Veteran
Location: Brampton, Ontario

I think it all depends on how nice you want your parts to look. You can pretty much make anything with a manual machine, but it does have limitations as you said. Do you want to make rounded parts, or are you happy with just straight cuts? A cnc mill will also require slightly less tooling, as you can use a smaller end mill to make almost any type of cut whereas you would need the approprite sized cutter for any radiuses you want to make. Don't me intimidated with CAD/CAM. There is a slight learnig curve, but nothing that requires a science degree

I looked at the Smithy combo a while back, and it looks OK, but I opted to go with the Taig CNC mill, and may look at getting the Taig lathe also. They are both good quality hobby machines that won't dissapoint. I have some reservations about a Mill/Lathe combo. I think eventually it's limitations may show up...

10-10-2007 03:16 PM

davezoom

Heliman - Location: Gloucester England -

Hi.. I bought a small manual lathe and mill as seperate items a couple of years ago , they were not expensive but work reasonably well with a reasonable accuracy.I expect the smithy granite are in the same catergory.
In that time Ive learnt alot as Ive attempted to make my own aluminium upgrades for my helicopters. To make nice pieces manually is very rewarding and if you are prepared to learn from reading articles , asking questions and trying things out yourself Id throughly reccomend a manual lathe and mill. Ive made boom supports , elevator crank set , pitch slider , swashplate , brass ball connectors , tail rotor assembley , belt drive pulleys the list goes on.
You will no doubt find that you will need alot more kit in addition to the mil/lathe ie vice, clamps, rotary table , cutters etc but you will be in a position to make your own tooling also.
Anyway good luck........

10-10-2007 09:33 PM

Disciple4123
Veteran
Location: Waynesboro, VA USA

Thanks for the guidance. I have another specific question: The G230RC gasoline engines use a round taper lock design that bites into a collet. My application calls for me making a 4mm taller collet to accomodate a wider belt pulley. Is making a collet such as that possible with a lathe, or is a special cutter required? I assume there is some sort of geared feature where you tell it to move outward 1 unit for every 10 units travelled lengthwise, etc? Or does it rely on hand turning knobs which would be innacurate for a collet?

Eric

10-11-2007 11:32 AM

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umdpru
Elite Veteran
Location: Massachusetts

there is no gearing like that, its up to you to set it up correctly to get the cut you want.

10-12-2007 06:03 PM

jester4
Veteran
Location: Brampton, Ontario

Are you asking about cutting a taper? The tool rest on most machines (that are worth anything anyways) can cut a taper using the smaller dial on it. You adjust the rest to the degrees that you want and then use the knob to turn it in by hand. I'm not sure if this is what you were asking...

10-12-2007 06:56 PM

umdpru
Elite Veteran
Location: Massachusetts

jester4, that, from what I can tell, is what he was asking.

A CNC lathe would make a much easier job of any cutting operation, including a tapering cut.

10-12-2007 07:15 PM

jester4
Veteran
Location: Brampton, Ontario

Quote
A CNC lathe would make a much easier job of any cutting operation, including a tapering cut.

Absolutely...a CNC is better for making a smoother/faster cut, but a manual machine for making a taper is more than adequate. The question is how much do you want to spend. There are not many CNC Hobby lathes on the market.

10-13-2007 04:54 AM

Disciple4123
Veteran
Location: Waynesboro, VA USA

http://us.vario-helicopter.biz/shop...oducts_id=33645

I am just trying to make a longer one of the item above, to make it work with a heavier duty "L" belt rather than the stock "XL" belt. It must be about 3mm taller. The inner bore has a taper identical to the shown external taper, I don't know the degree angle or industrial standard on the taper if there is such.

Of course there are other projects later on that a lathe-mill would help me with, this is just one project that I am rather ignorant on; taper milling.

Thanks,

Eric

10-13-2007 05:31 AM

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tonybraz
Heliman
Location: Herne Bay. England

Discilpe 4123 do you have the original to make a copy from.If you hold it in the chuck with the small end pointing out you can move the topslide around and run a clock along the taper to give you the correct angle.

Tony

10-13-2007 10:12 PM

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CAD - Engineering - Technical > Manual milling machine, need some tips.

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