ADA: Ask Doc Anything!

[mustangii]

how long is shipping from Alaska to Missouri? just a joke. bought some vm-68 side rails from you on ebay, lol
edm

[Walker]

Similar setup, but different distances.

[Loophole]

Doc,

What barrel threads are these?


Found on:

Looks the exact same as my mini-buzzard! Doc is currently making me a freak bored barrel for mine... I'm curious if it would fit yours without modification!


Here's a photo of the threads.

[DocsMachine]

One addendum: I started this whole biz with a badly worn-out JET mill-drill, and a Grizzly 9x20 lathe. And look at the stuff YouTuber Clickspring makes with a Sherline lathe, and a... I think it's a "Busy Bee" Chinese lathe, I think about one step smaller than even a 9x20.

A patient craftsman can do pretty good work even with just mediocre tools.

Doc.

[Walker]

Doc,

What barrel threads are these?


Found on:

[Walker]

The only thing I've found local (used) is this:


The guy bought it from an estate sale and WYSIWYG for $1050.... No tooling, no chucks, just as seen (amid the other clutter).

[Walker]

Thanks Doc......

[DocsMachine]

I'd lean toward the Grizzly stuff, as I've generally had pretty good luck with those. Griz also has better warranty and product support than, say, Harbor Freight.

Another good one is Little Machine Shop. Basically the same stuff, might be a touch cheaper, and they generally also carry both repair parts and upgrades.

You'd need to talk to somebody with direct experience with particular models, I only know secondhand info on most of them.

I'd get the biggest model of each that I could afford- and fit into my workspace. It's easy to do small parts on a big lathe, it's not so easy to do big parts on a small one.

Doc.

[Walker]

Doc,

Can you recommend a mini mill and lathe for a beginner on a budget?

Working with brass and/or aluminum, nothing large, small pieces for PB gun repairs and such, and to keep my hands busy.

Thanks in advance,


Walker

[infamoussmiley]

I got your earlier messages Smiley, and I've been meaning to get back to you. I'd love to give that a try, but right at the moment, I'm not really the guy to ask about complex CAD work.

Generally speaking, if you can fully model it in something like F360 or Solidworks, any decent CNC shop should be able to quote on that. BUT... you'll probably also have a hard time finding a shop that'll even talk to you for less than about 5,000 units.

I've got a lot on my plates right now, hit me up in a month or so, if you haven't found other options, and maybe I can take another crack at it.

Doc.

Thank you, Doc.


Best,

Smiley

[XEMON]

Unfortunately, i don't have the room to move it, and code doesn't allow me to enclose the overhang ...
Both machines are now dripping in way oil and ATF .😋

[DocsMachine]

Sorry X, if I had that kind of thing happening to my machines, I'd move. Or set up a better shop.

What's the chances of putting up something like a garden shed, that can be closed, insulated and set up with a small heater or dehumidifier?

Doc.

[DocsMachine]

I got your earlier messages Smiley, and I've been meaning to get back to you. I'd love to give that a try, but right at the moment, I'm not really the guy to ask about complex CAD work.

Generally speaking, if you can fully model it in something like F360 or Solidworks, any decent CNC shop should be able to quote on that. BUT... you'll probably also have a hard time finding a shop that'll even talk to you for less than about 5,000 units.

I've got a lot on my plates right now, hit me up in a month or so, if you haven't found other options, and maybe I can take another crack at it.

Doc.

[XEMON]

The recent cold wave brought temperature changes, and the fellow's shop wasn't well insulated. The cold machines condensed the humidity, and he had open water literally running off of them.

[...]

Doc.

that's how much condensation I had on my lathe chuck yesterday 😣

[infamoussmiley]

3357 cylinders in aluminum


Hello Doc

I am a long time fan... Like 20+ for years.

I have some rough cad files for 3357 cylinders. The pawls are correct. We've done 3D printing with the cylinders and with a little tweaking by dremel, they work but do not last long. I do have a prototype cylinder in aluminum. Where it sits on the spindle, it needs work. I do not have any CAD skills and would need to outsource the work. To finalize the drawings so that I can take the files to a CNC machinist, what do I need to do?

Best,

Smiley