I really want to get into more small to medium scale fabrication and one-off parts, and want to learn how to use a lathe and a mill…I’d also like to purchase both items, but feel I should know how to use them first so I will know what to look for in a machine when shopping around.
Does anyone here have either/both and interested in showing a newb the ropes and giving some advice on what to shop for? (I would be shopping used equipment).
I looked into night classes for adults at boces, but you have to take machinist classes in sequence and spend like $1200 on classes over a 9-12 month period before even getting to run a machine…
Without actually going to school for it, its going to be tough unless you can find someone in their garage that does the stuff. I went to boces in high school for machining, but I basically taught myself CNC because the teacher knew nothing about it (there’s a new teacher now). I tried about a year ago to apprentice with a friend that works for a local machine shop, and the company wouldn’t let it fly.
This is a VERY expensive hobby and you should be prepared for that. Go take a look at some of the tooling and fixture costs at places like ENCO. The $1200 in classes from boces could LITERALLY save you from breaking hundreds worth of tooling. A friend of mine is in that program now-- I could let you talk to him if you have any questions about it.
I have a small CNC mill, but I am by no means a professional machinist. I can work my way around the machine and making stuff, but there is a LOT that I dont know, and im sure theres a lot of stuff that someone with experience could do better/more efficiently. What size/complexity pieces are you thinking you will make-- or should I say, what size machines do you plan to buy? Manual or CNC? My biggest limiting factor for parts I want to make is my machine size. Buy the biggest you can afford.
^cool stuff man. I used to know how to write CNC code on MasterCAM and did a few cool things with wood including a guitar body back in high school but haven’t used anything since. I think I’d want to go with manual machines for now and obviously would buy the biggest I can afford…there is a guy in Rochester that has a southbend 10x24 lathe and a bridgeport (no idea on model) mill asking $1800 for both…which sounds like a steel but if I don’t know what to look for I could get boned if I bought them. If I can’t connect with anyone that hobbies in this stuff that is willing to let me hang out and show me how to do some stuff I guess I’ll take a look at the classes more seriously in the spring and ask for a tour of the facilities at boces.
as far as what I want to do with it…I’d like to make some parts for motorcycles and have the ability to make just about any bracket or do-hicky I could need for any of my whacked out projects with the cars/bikes.
I think you will be fine if you were to just buy a machine and run with it. It really isnt rocket science to get parts made, but it will probably take time to make them look pretty. You clearly aren’t retarded and know how to pay attention to detail-- A lot of it is just having common sense. Im not kidding when I tell you that im 100% self taught when it comes to CNC, so its not a stretch for you to just pick up a machine and learn as you go-- just be aware that youre going to break tools and its going to cost some $$. CNCzone is a great resource with a TON of information on every type of machine. Probably worth reading a bit over there.
The issue with old lathes (im not sure if mills have the same issue, but I would assume they do) is that the beds wear out if they were beat on for years. There’s some videos on youtube that show you how to determine if this is the case. Bridgeport and southbend are going to be the main brands you will see. You can do google searches and be able to tell if they are decent models. Thats about the extent of my knowledge in terms of larger manual machines.
I’m sure we could arrange something if you wanted to come and play. As I said, I’m definitely not a professional but if you cant find anything better…
I bet a small machine shop wont take on the responsibility for eating up parts, tooling, or machine time.
BUT do go to said machine shop and offer to pay someone $100 to go with you to look over the machines you want to buy. If you have the money, space, and proper electricity there shouldn’t be anything holding you back, then just jump on youtube/forums and start making chips.
bump…been doing some research and I’m deathly afraid of spending in the ballpark of $800-1000 for an older american made lathe and it be worn out…further internet searches yielded GLOWING reviews for this company’s products…
For just under $1200, I can be the proud owner of a BRAND NEW 8x14 metal turning lathe, and for $just over $1500 could own a quite capable mini milling machine.
Even still, would really like some exposure to both a lathe and a mill before more seriously shopping for them. Might make a CL ad to see if I can drum up someone willing to spend some time with me.
In my experience the smaller lathes and mills aren’t worth the price savings. But you have to start somewhere I guess. I’d be worried about resale value and the ability to get parts. The older ones were much much more stout than the new chinese junk.
Even a worn out old one is better than a new chinese one.
I use to run a small hartage lathe when I worked at novatech. I loved that thing. It was old as fuck though but it ran great. It did run a little bit of a taper if you were running a long part but once I got use to it I could work around it. That thing had a shit ton of power too I never did look to see what was the output was but I am sure if could wreck your day in the blink of a eye
edit: I took a semester of machine tool at ECC and it was a great course. I finished all the projects WAYYYY in advance so the teacher got me a job where he worked ( novatech) and let me build stuff for my turbo SHO during class.
