![]() |
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. |
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!) |
Re: Mill or Lathe...
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
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. |
| All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:15. |
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2017, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © Chief Delphi