Re: compact 308 home shop build
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Hired Gun</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I may have to build a spider chuck just to try that out. I was afraid it wouldn't have enough traction and may try to slip or migrate during the time it was set up.
For the mill, I was hoping the way you had it configured you could still operate it manually. Fluting and brakes are two jobs that gain a lot of consistancy using the cnc option. Eventually I would do inletting via cnc the way Chad Dixon is doing it. It also eliminates the need to buy an engraver. If you didn't have your cnc how would you look to do your barrel engraving? </div></div>
all my cuts are very light when working on barrels. reaming of the chamber is the most demanding process and even then i take it easy. i think with the barrel being supported in eight places, it is still plenty spin resistant.
i have to give mr. dixon props for doing what he is doing with cnc. i agree with <span style="font-style: italic">most</span> of what he is doing with it, both on the lathe and vmc. i am really interested in truing actions vertically using a cnc mill. i also think that fitting a barrel on an accurate cnc lathe makes a lot of sense. for me, the threading cycles alone on cnc would be a huge plus. as long as all the attention to detail is maintained in the setup and quality control, i see no reason to not modernize rifle building.
that said, if i were buying tools initially to start working on rifles, i would most certainly start with a manual lathe and manual knee mill. cnc has it's place but the manual machines are still needed.
as far as marking barrels goes, i use my mill because that is what i have. if or when i decide to do this for profit, i'd probably be looking toward electro-chemical etching. set-up on the mill takes too long.
