For FRC Student Machinists

[Veselin Kolev]

I started FIRST a while back not knowing CAD or machining. My tolerance was jigsaw and +- 0.050

Then I got some experience, made some plates and learned to mill on a junky benchtop mill. Tolerance +- 0.010

Later as a student mentor I got into shifting gearboxes, press fit bearings, the works. Used a Bridgeport with a DRO / rotary table / boring head. Tolerance +- 0.001

Then came hydraulic valving in college, grinding, precision cnc, etc. Tolerance +- 0.0005.

Now... microfluidic valving. Tolerance? Hah! +- 0.00004

The more you learn, the more awesome the stuff you work with becomes.

[comphappy]

While i love doing CNC work, days like today when i spend 4 hours trying to get one part made because he CNC is having issues, really makes me hate them. Today I ended up saying forget the CNC and when over to the bandsaw, drill press, and grinder and did it by hand. Tomorrow with a new bit we shall see.

[AdamHeard]

Through robotics I've learned to run a mill, lathe and now (through school and inspired by robotics) CNCs.

I mainly want this information to expand my knowledge and skill set for mechanical engineering, I don't want to become a machinists by trade.

But, I must admit; finishing parts with decent tolerances is very satisfying.

[JagWire]

Hey! It's my kind of thread! As a junior mechanical engineering major, I can attest to the immense help that knowing how to use machines and tools to make things has been. It's not just about knowing EXACTLY how to use this tool, or that one, it's also about having enough practical experience and knowledge that you can make things up on the fly, and figure out a way to use the limited number of tools you're given to make a finished product.

I've found that my background in machining, manual mill and Cadillac lathe, and Haas CNC VF2 mill and SL-20 lathe ( with live tooling!! ), have even improved my skills at everyday engineering problems. From the sense of touch, to just being able to understand how pieces of metal are coming together, I wind up often leading my peers in all sorts of tasks. The phrase my dad taught me is that "you just have to know how to use the proper application of force" to make things work. The more time I've spent building things, the more I realize what he was talking about. Tight tolerances aren't always about beating the sprockets on to the shaft with a hammer... but removing the small bur on the keyway so it slides on perfectly by hand. Rock on!

[keen101]

I like working on the lathe. I must admit that I'm not too accurate, when in hurry though. I'm not going to claim to be an expert at it, but it's fun. I hope to pick it up as a hobby.

[Otaku]

Mmmm. Give me a pair of calipers, a square, some stuff to lathe, bits, a lathe, safety glasses and a hair tie (and a measurement to get the piece to) and I'll be happy for ~30mins or so. I've actually been known to find things that need machining to calm myself down or entertain myself. Music is usually nice too, but the whir of the mill/lathe and the sound of the bit cleaving the metal and removing small, almost uniform chips is definitely a sound worth hearing.