Any machinists/HSM's around?

[TMM]

Hey all...

i've been getting into metal milling/lathing etc... i have a machine shop class i'm taking (i'm majoring in mechanical engineering in college) that is giving me some fundamentals in machining, and i'd love to tinker more. i was kicking around the idea of getting a cross-slide vise like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Grizzly-G1064-Cross-Sliding-Vise/dp/B0000DD0C7/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1256241567&sr=1-10

or this:

http://www.amazon.com/Shop-Fox-D2731-4-Inch-Sliding/dp/B0000DD1S8/ref=sr_1_25?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1256241830&sr=1-25

for my drill press so i can tinker in my workshop at home. yea, i know, a real milling machine would be great, but i don't have the money or space for a real milling machine (yet!). my drill press is a 500-3100rpm infinitely variable speed benchtop Delta. i also have an unassembled Craftsman of some sort but i think it's single-speed or stepped-pulley(haven't even taken it out of the box yet).

anyway. i'd like some input/opinions etc. on my idea and vise selections. i'd like a vise with a decent measurement gradients (doubt my tolerances will need to be very fine, but in an ideal world it would be marked every 0.010" or so. i'm a perfectionist.), preferrably $100 or less (any more and i might as well buy a small milling machine from harbor freight).

what say you?

thanks

TMM

[Nick1911]

what say you?

Drill press bearings aren't designed to handle side loads.  You'll very quickly damage the spindle bearings by trying to mill using a drill press.  :|

Harbor freight has some mills in the 3-400 dollar price range which would be infinity better suited for the purpose.

[Gewehr98]

Nick beat me to the punch.

A drill press is not a mill, not by a long shot.

[TMM]

ah, yea, i feared that. i don't suppose it's at all feasable to replace the bearings?

3-400 isn't too bad for a small mill, at all, but i'd rather spend $75 than $400, and have space in my already small shop.

tmm

[zahc]

It's not just that you'll wear the bearings. They just aren't designed for milling and if you try there will be so much flex and tool grab that it will suck and possibly be dangerous anyway.

[Nick1911]

ah, yea, i feared that. i don't suppose it's at all feasable to replace the bearings?

I wouldn't.  The rest of the structure has a lot of flex in it too.  Who knows if the castings will take that abuse, or just crack.  With a cracked casting, that endmill might end up milling flesh and bone instead of metal!

These are known to be passable for limited space light duty work:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=47158
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=44991

3-400 isn't too bad for a small mill, at all, but i'd rather spend $75 than $400, and have space in my already small shop.

Question:

How big of work are you planning on working with?
And of what materials?

[Boomhauer]

TMM- you need to haunt estate sales/auctions and the like. We've gotten all sorts of stuff for a fraction of what new would cost (or brought stuff that simply isn't available these days).

Go forth and find!

[TMM]

ah, figured it was too good to be true.

I'm in no rush to get one, i'm sure i'll find one at some point - i'm not a fan of buying new.

nick1911: i wasn't planning anything much larger than, say, 6-10 inches, out of steel, brass, aluminum, maybe wood.

thanks for the advice,

tmm

[Jim147]

On top of the other problems already mentioned you might find your 500 RPM min spindle speed a little surprising on some metals.

It will work in a pinch. As it will work as a mini lathe if you hold the bit in the vise and move it in slowly. But I've never tried it.

If your every in the area let me know. I'll give you a vise. I have three for some reason.

jim

[Balog]

Craig's List has some amazing bargains.

[TMM]

If your every in the area let me know. I'll give you a vise. I have three for some reason.

jim

thanks much for the offer! what area are you in, though? i couldn't find it myself.

balrog, craigslist is a good idea... i'll check now.

tmm

[Jim147]

I'm about an hour south of Kansas City.

One of these days I'll go in and fill out my profile.

jim

[TMM]

ah, kansas city is just a few miles too far away from connecticut....

i might be interested in buying one from you depending on the price, though. shipping could be interesting for a 20 pound piece of cast iron...


looked at craigslist... found a bunch of b'ports for good prices... too bad i don't have the time or ability to transport it, or the money and space...

tmm