pic: Team 696 Teaser #2

[R.C.]

Originally Posted by DampRobot

You would need some sort of clever jig for machining the hexes on a manual mill though.

You could use a 5c indexer or a 5c collet block.

Originally Posted by DampRobot

You would need some sort of clever jig for machining the hexes on a manual mill though.

Put round shaft on mill, flatten one side, turn 120 degrees, repeat.

[Cory]

Originally Posted by DampRobot

You would need some sort of clever jig for machining the hexes on a manual mill though.

http://www.amazon.com/5C-CB-5C-Colle.../dp/B0007Q1Q50

[Chris is me]

Originally Posted by Andrew Lawrence

Put round shaft on mill, flatten one side, turn 120 degrees, repeat.

Yeah, making a 120 degree turn without aforementioned "clever jig" isn't exactly easy to do precisely? You need the 5C collet to do it right.

[sanddrag]

The part is definitely possible with a manual mill and lathe. It would just take some time, a decent machine, and someone who knows what they're doing.

[AdamHeard]

Originally Posted by Chris is me

Yeah, making a 120 degree turn without aforementioned "clever jig" isn't exactly easy to do precisely? You need the 5C collet to do it right.

If you really wanted to get around that it wouldn't be that crazy to tilt the head for one pass to get the process rolling.

Buying the $20 collet holder or using a dividing head (which is a fairly standard piece of manual equipment) is certainly easier though.

A basic milling machine w/ no extras can do a lot of things many people assume aren't possible if some basic math is used (which people often overlook and consider cleverness).