Recommended Tools and Machinery for Your Team's Machine Shop

[Bill_Hancoc]

Originally Posted by sanddrag

Is this Harbor Freight model actually a Rong Fu? http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=33686 Looks similar. I can get this one for $720 new.

i agree with the person above me on this one. I dont know brands off hand but i do shop @ harbor frieght often <happy>they just opened one 15 mins from my house</happy> and they are great for small tools and other hand tools for the team but large tools that would be used often and take much "abuse" (not in a negative way but just use) will wear out quickly. So stick to a more reputable brand what ever you choose.

[Kingofl337]

We make mills and lathes for educational purposes. We use the Prolight 3000 and 1000 with out first team.


http://www.intelitek.com/products/menu.asp?cid=1&pid=2

[petek]

Originally Posted by DeepWater

do you have any opinions on the JET line of these benchtop mill/drills and lathes. Are they good quality or in the cheap knock-off category?

I can't speak for their metal working tools, but I have their JWBS-14MW 14 in wood/metal (3-speed) bandsaw and am quite satisfied with the quality of the machine. It compares well with the better Delta machines. The castings are solid and true, and the adjustments are easy to use and stay set pretty well. The included accessories (fence, square) are cheap, though.

[Tatsu]

Our team went through this with $4000. we ended up buying a bridgeport.. but here are the other options we considered

1. Sieg X2 http://www.grizzly.com/products/G8689
2. Sieg X3 http://www.grizzly.com/products/G0463
3. ZAY http://www.lathemaster.com/HEAVYDUTY...E%207045FG.htm
4. IH Mill. http://www.industrialhobbies.com/
5. Used bridgeport www.craigslist.com

We went with 5, why? we found a great deal for a very un-worn bridgeport (nearly pristine) with a good DRO, power feed, full set of precision collets. With a vari-speed head.
IMO the X2 has serious rigidity issues, but its good for whatever work FIRST requires (+-2~3 mil) and you can take it to regionals (reasonably)
X3 is much better, more rigid, and people have supposedly held mil tolerance.. so I guess its pretty good there
the ZAY and IH are by the same manufacturer, the IH is just HUGE and has hardened gears, as well as a CNC option. the free shipping also makes it worth it... we were about to go with the IH mill when we found the bridgeport deal.

Honestly, just pick a dovetail column mill, its more rigid, doesnt need re-center every time z is changed... or a knee mill (better, but more expensive).

Also, I'm not sure if used equipment is the best way to go.. fixing the machine can be as much of a challenge in and of itself..

Tatsu

[Alan Ing]

Hi All,

As you know, the first Hawaii regional will be held next year. In preparation for the event, we are investigating what it would take to build a mobile machine shop. While we can always use the College of Engineering's machine shop, a mobile shop at the venue would be a lot more convenient for the teams. With that said, does anyone have any suggestions for equipment?

I figure we need at least the following:

1. Drill Press
2. Band Saw
3. Bench Lathe (9"x20", 12"x24")
4. Bench Mill (Round or Square Column with DRO)
5. Welder (TIG, Mig or do we need both?)

Also, could someone from team 254 give me some insight about the NASA Ames Mobile shop? perhaps some pictures. How about other mobile shops? Have these machine shops been able to serve most teams needs? For example, I think the Ames shop has a 9" x 20" Jet bench lathe. Looks a little small, but if it provides what teams need at the event, then small is good since this will be a mobile shop.

Model numbers and where to buy would be greatly appreciated.

[sanddrag]

Make sure a good arbor press and keyway broach set is on that list.

[Cory]

Originally Posted by Alan Ing

Hi All,

As you know, the first Hawaii regional will be held next year. In preparation for the event, we are investigating what it would take to build a mobile machine shop. While we can always use the College of Engineering's machine shop, a mobile shop at the venue would be a lot more convenient for the teams. With that said, does anyone have any suggestions for equipment?

I figure we need at least the following:

1. Drill Press
2. Band Saw
3. Bench Lathe (9"x20", 12"x24")
4. Bench Mill (Round or Square Column with DRO)
5. Welder (TIG, Mig or do we need both?)

Also, could someone from team 254 give me some insight about the NASA Ames Mobile shop? perhaps some pictures. How about other mobile shops? Have these machine shops been able to serve most teams needs? For example, I think the Ames shop has a 9" x 20" Jet bench lathe. Looks a little small, but if it provides what teams need at the event, then small is good since this will be a mobile shop.

Model numbers and where to buy would be greatly appreciated.

I'll bring my camera to work on monday and take some pictures of the inside of the trailer so you can see exactly what's there/how it's laid out.

off the top of my head, here are most of the tools inside--

Delta 10" Bandsaw
8" Delta Bench Grinder (might be 6")
Delta Belt/Disc Sander
12" Delta Drill Press
JET 9x20 belt drive bench lathe The machinist who runs the lathe in the trailer at the events has mentioned that he wished the lathe was a little bigger, but there isn't much between a 9x20 and 13x40 (which is way too big for a trailer).
Rong Fu RF-45 Square Column Mill/Drill(We used to have the JET JMD-18 in the trailer, and the RF-45 is MUCH nicer. Round column mill drills are much more of a pain to use, and the RF-45 just feels more well built. It's definitely worth the extra money. Whatever you get, you should get a DRO for the x and y axes.)

Power tools:

DeWalt 14.4V Cordless Drill
DeWalt XRP 18V Cordless Reciprocating Saw
DeWalt XRP 18V Cordless Jigsaw

Husky 2.0 HP 26 Gal. Vertical Air Compressor
Various air tools:die grinder, air drill, 3" cut off saw

TIG welder

Arbor Press

Other various hand tools, and complete tooling sets for above machines.

[yodameister]

I happened to have a few pics to get you through...

[Alan Ing]

Sanddrag, good suggestion about the press and broach set. Don't see how I missed that one, especially when it gets used a lot in our school shop.

Cory, thank you for the detailed list. Yes, I certainly would appreciate some additional pictures. Would be great to show the rest of the Regional Planning Committee. At this point, I think your shop is the best model we can follow. Could you also take a picture of the outside of the trailer? I guess the square column dovetail mill drill is the way to go. You're right, not too many lathes in between 9" and 13". Grizzly has a few, so I'll take a closer look at these.

Yodameister, thanks for the headstart.

I'm really pushing hard for a mobile shop so your suggestions are greatly appreciated. Like I said, we can always use the University's shop for harder fixes, but there is nothing like having some machining capabilities in the venue itself.

[yodameister]

I have one of these as well

[Dick Linn]

There are several import lathes that are slightly larger than the typical "9 x 19" pattern, and probably better. There are 10", 11" and 12" models with beds of 22" to 26". Weights range from 400 to 1,000 pounds. Check www.Grizzly.com. If you can find a decent older American bench lathe, so much the better. I have an old Clausing 12" x 24" that weighs in at 1,100 pounds or so. It is also available in a 36" model. It's pretty big. South Bend and others like it are pretty nice.

The Rong Fu RF45 and ZAY7045 mills (clones) are not bad from what I hear. They are about 600 to 700 pounds or so.

[adengler]

Hi Cory,
Your mill (Rong Fu RF-45 Square Column Mill/Drill) appears to require 220V, 3 phase. Can you describe briefly how the trailer is set-up for power?

[Cory]

Originally Posted by adengler

Hi Cory,
Your mill (Rong Fu RF-45 Square Column Mill/Drill) appears to require 220V, 3 phase. Can you describe briefly how the trailer is set-up for power?

You can get the same mill in single phase as well. It just costs about $500 more.

I think ours is single phase, but I've never checked, so I'm not entirely sure.

[Dan Richardson]

We are also in the process of working on a mobile machine shop trailer/box truck style set up to present to some of our sponsors. I will post a tentative write up of our proposal soon, its very basic and informal, partially because most of us ( On Team 1902 ) are relatively new to machining, and partially because formality isn't as important right now as getting down to brass tacks.

Could you also give an update about how far you've come with your experience in making the mobile machine shop so far? Also what decisions have you made so far and why?

Hopefully we can help each other out a bit here.

[Protronie]

If it was my choice I'd be looking for a 26 foot sea container for the shop.
You could set it in the back lot of where you build your robot.. then just pick it up with a roll back to bring it where you want it.

Either a sea container or a small pup trailer (short road trailer) I'm sure some trucking company could be talked into hauling it where you want it to go.