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-   -   Mill or Lathe... (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=86082)

Dick Linn 14-06-2010 15:30

Re: Mill or Lathe...
 
I would say it depends on the parts you intend to make.

I would also consider the budget. A relatively inexpensive lathe with minimal tooling will allow you to make parts if you learn to hand grind bits. A mill can require more expensive tooling to make it useful (collets, rotary table, boring head...). And don't expect to be taking big hogging cuts on a $400. mini-mill.

A lathe is a good place to start learning, IMHO.

Not2B 14-06-2010 22:29

Re: Mill or Lathe...
 
Without knowing if you have specific projects you want to work on, I'd have to say the lathe is more useful.

I have a small lathe and (CNC) mill in my home workshop, and I use the lathe about 10 times as much.

I'd recommend making a list of all the tasks you would like to do and can't, and see what fills up that list better.

(Besides, lathes are awesome!)

DonRotolo 16-06-2010 22:16

Re: Mill or Lathe...
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Jay H 237 (Post 966477)
Don, how does your team handle making custom brackets and such? Bandsaw and file/grind? I'm just curious as this is the first time I've heard of a team having the ability to mill and not taking advantage of it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by squirrel (Post 966515)
The way you get around not having a mill, is to actually design the parts.

squirrel answered for me; set up on the mill is a pain, and it's off site. We just design parts that use what we have or can get. Custom brackets are generally from extruded angle, or flat plate marked and bent. Our drivetrain doesn't use any brackets (but it uses a lot of axles and spacers...), and mechanisms just don't need milled parts.
Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesCH95 (Post 966544)
We would use milling for a couple important functions: boring holes for press-fit bearings, slotting mounting holes to tension chains, cutting key-ways in motor shafts on motors (that are no longer in the KOP), making custom gearboxes/transmissions in the days before they were available OTS, etc.

Boring holes: If we don't have the right reamer, we don't use that size bearing.
Slotting holes: Drill and hacksaw, followed by a file.
Keyways: In shafts, buy slotted shaft. In sprockets, use broaches. On Motors: use a D flat instead (precision dremel usage)
Custom gearboxes: Andymark, 100%.


On my lathe (a 60+ year old Atlas 618) I have a milling attachment that mounts to the cross slide; 2" holding capacity, about 4" movement up and down. That covers 98% of my milling needs.

Also, note that I do not advocate DRO or CNC machines for FIRST. Digital readOuts are evil, kids rely on them and assume they are as accurate as there are digits, never losing calibration. CNC doesn't teach anything about how to machine stuff. Not that I don't lust after a CNC X-Y Plasma cutter for up to 5/16" aluminum sheet, but just like knowing how to Add, Subtract, Multiply & Divide the "hard" way before getting to use a calculator.

Chattering a lathe bit by cutting too hard, using the wrong speed, or just using the wrong bit grind, teaches something. You (should) never see that in CNC, teachable moment lost.

But that's just me.


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