New Machine Shop

[protoserge]

Glacern vises go on sale in November. I love mine.

If you're set on Kurt, buy from Enco on sale if they are covered. There are occasionally 20% sales. There is a 25% off and free shipping (not sure if it applies OCONUS) sale every once in a while. I haven't been on their mailing list long enough to know the pattern. Since you're in Hawaii I don't think their March Machinery Madness sale will be of benefit for free shipping.

I got the team to buy one of the Shars 4" for the small Emco FB mill we have. It is a great vise and the 6" opening is great.

What is wrong with a edge finder like this? I can't see spending a lot on something like this.

Don't get an abrasive cutoff saw if you primarily work aluminum. You can explode the blade cutting aluminum.

[InFlight]

Machine tools are only useful if you have experienced mentors to train students how to safely use them each year. The need for multiple machine tools also assumes your team has enough experienced students to accurately produce parts on them.

Given your current list of equipment, I would add a decent grinder first. (Baldor or similar).

I assume your Jet Mills takes an R8 collets.

I have ordered tooling from use.enco.com. They have a good range of products and manufactures.

If you have one full size lathe, I'm not sure the need for multiple bench lathes. I could see maybe one second smaller one setup with a four chuck for convenience. The small lathe would need separate AXA sized tooling then your existing lathe.

I've always used mechanical edge and center finders. They're simple and a lot less expensive than a digital unit (that can break).

A 2 inch dial indicator would be a good addition to your existing lathe. It makes locating shaft features fairly easy.

How are you machining parts now if you don't already have an assortment of dial indicators and digital calibers? Given the abuse these might take on an FRC team I wouldn't buy top of the line here. The Harbor Freight specials would have more than enough accuracy for most FRC uses, and the're cheap enough to keep a lot around.

[ttakashima]

@Cory, ill look at purchasing a compressor of that type.

@Protoserge, we will probably purchase a compound miter saw with non ferrous blade as we wont be doing any steel cuts.

@InFlight, We will have multiple mentors (college and professional) trained on these machine tools, training the students wont take much time and we will have from August till December to do it. Most of the robotics kids on our 16-17 roster will be taking our robotics and engineering 2 course which will have a shop aspect attached (Use of the milling machines, lathe, CNC etc.).

As it stands we will offer 5 robotics courses in the fall, 6th grade (LEGO), 7th grade(VEX IQ), 8th grade(VEX), 9-11th Engineering and Robotics 1 (FTC), 10-12th Engineering and Robotics 2 (FRC Final project). The additional small machines will be primarily used to complete in class projects and to make small parts for FRC.

We have two dial indicators for the mills and lathe. Yes our mills are R8.

[ctt956]

We have a Delta Shopmaster chop saw, as well as a horizontal bandsaw. I'm a rookie this year, but from what I've seen so far, I would say go with a chop saw before a bandsaw. Our bandsaw can be a bit slow and it doesn't always cut straight. The chop saw, which almost everyone on the team seems to prefer, always cuts straight, quickly and easily. I've seen it slice through wood, PVC pipe, a solid round PVC roller thing, and an aluminum pipe. It went through all of that like a hot knife through a stick of butter. You just have to be careful when cutting something too small to clamp one side down, as that piece can(and will!) go flying. As for calipers, from my limited experience with them, I prefer the dial type. Having used both, digital ones are hard to use, IMO.

[snoman]

Originally Posted by ttakashima

@snoman

Would you be willing to share the details on cost/table size that you purchased?

See attached

[sanddrag]

Originally Posted by snoman

See attached

That's not bad. Does it work well for you? We're pretty happy with our PlasmaCAM, but oh man I wish we had a water table. People will tell you a plasma makes smoke without one, but you have no idea.... It's so bad. Trust me, you want a water table.

[dkavanagh]

You're all making me drool! We're getting by with so much less. Trying to get a mini-mill or even an X-Y table for a drill press is a challenge. Guess it's time to focus on sponsorship in the off-season!

[protoserge]

Originally Posted by ctt956

We have a Delta Shopmaster chop saw, as well as a horizontal bandsaw. I'm a rookie this year, but from what I've seen so far, I would say go with a chop saw before a bandsaw. Our bandsaw can be a bit slow and it doesn't always cut straight. The chop saw, which almost everyone on the team seems to prefer, always cuts straight, quickly and easily. I've seen it slice through wood, PVC pipe, a solid round PVC roller thing, and an aluminum pipe. It went through all of that like a hot knife through a stick of butter. You just have to be careful when cutting something too small to clamp one side down, as that piece can(and will!) go flying. As for calipers, from my limited experience with them, I prefer the dial type. Having used both, digital ones are hard to use, IMO.

If your bandsaw isn't cutting straight, you need to adjust the guides and bearings. Look up how to properly set it up. I'm sure your team will get good results!

[ctt956]

Originally Posted by protoserge

If your bandsaw isn't cutting straight, you need to adjust the guides and bearings. Look up how to properly set it up. I'm sure your team will get good results!

I think some people have made some minor adjustments, not sure. I'll try to see if we can get it to cut straight again, though I think part of the problem is Harbor Freight's "high quality" Chinese engineering. Though the vertical bandsaws are great!

[protoserge]

Originally Posted by sanddrag

That's not bad. Does it work well for you? We're pretty happy with our PlasmaCAM, but oh man I wish we had a water table. People will tell you a plasma makes smoke without one, but you have no idea.... It's so bad. Trust me, you want a water table.

Make sure this danger is understood: http://www.esabna.com/us/en/educatio...ater-table.cfm
QUOTE=ctt956;1537521]I think some people have made some minor adjustments, not sure. I'll try to see if we can get it to cut straight again, though I think part of the problem is Harbor Freight's "high quality" Chinese engineering. Though the vertical bandsaws are great![/quote]

There is a large following for the 4"x6" bandsaw. You should easily find the adjustment methods. It takes about an hour from what I gathered. Also run a nice bi-metal blade. I wish our team had one. Maybe next year.