Gunsmithing machines and tools

[jester1]

Guys Ive been lurking here for while and Im totaly impressed with everything the Hide has and its members.

I have been wanting to ask this for a long while and figured it might be a good question.

What accuracy/precision are you able to attain with the lathes and mills you own and what brand/quality measuring tools are used to get there?

 

[sandwarrior]

Re: machines and tools

What I'm on at school right now? A '70's LeBlonde Lathe, -+ .002". The Haas Mill I will eventually get to work on -+ .0001"

 

[oldolds442]

Re: machines and tools

mitutoyo makes good stuff...Starrett, too

 

[300sniper]

Re: machines and tools

i hold tolerances to -/+.00001" all day long, when i do my part

...we <span style="font-style: italic">are</span> on the hide, right.

 

[RADcustom]

Re: machines and tools

I just eyeball it to -/+ .0001 on the lathe I got from Harbor Freight.

 

[-Snyper-]

Re: machines and tools

I've got old Kalamazoo and Grizzly that holds great to 0.0001. The only problem i've ran into is the sensor went out on my y axis accu-rite digital gage. As far as hand tools, starrett all the way.

 

[300sniper]

Re: machines and tools

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: snyper</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I've got old Kalamazoo and Grizzly that holds great to 0.0001. The only problem i've ran into is the sensor went out on my y axis accu-rite digital gage. As far as hand tools, starrett all the way. </div></div>

you can hold what to .0001"? diameter? is that what the resolution of your dro is or can you bring a diameter from say 1.0626" to 1.0625"?

 

[GasLight]

Re: machines and tools

He's doin his part 300sniper

 

[SDWhirlwind]

Re: machines and tools

I can type the correct number of 0's when I make a post on machining if my keyboard does its part and not add more than I thought I needed!!!!

 

[jester1]

Re: machines and tools

LOL I thought this thread wouldnt get any hits.
Seems like starret and mito. come on top.
You guys think that the fowler gauges can hold the number as advertized?

 

[jester1]

Re: machines and tools

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 300sniper</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: snyper</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I've got old Kalamazoo and Grizzly that holds great to 0.0001. The only problem i've ran into is the sensor went out on my y axis accu-rite digital gage. As far as hand tools, starrett all the way. </div></div>

you can hold what to .0001"? diameter? is that what the resolution of your dro is or can you bring a diameter from say 1.0626" to 1.0625"? </div></div>

x2 excellent question

 

[jasonixo]

Re: machines and tools

I am happy with my Mitutoyo instruments. My favorites are my new and old Swiss-made Brown and Sharpes. New Starrett is not the same quality as old Starrett.

Swiss B&S, Tesa, Etalon are up around the top of the heap regarding quality.

Long Island Indicator is a good resource to read about measuring instruments.

 

[Glen Seekins]

Re: machines and tools

My Hardinge tool room lathe still impresses me and its well over 60 years old.

I buy most of my Mitutoyo stuff from ebay. Lots of good deals. With measuring equip you DO get what you pay for. Make sure you have some gauges to make sure your equip is in calibration.

 

[gregt]

Re: machines and tools

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: snyper</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I've got old Kalamazoo and Grizzly that holds great to 0.0001. The only problem i've ran into is the sensor went out on my y axis accu-rite digital gage. As far as hand tools, starrett all the way. </div></div>

Wanna swap? I've got a Colchester lathe that will only work to 10 times that tolerance.. on a good day.. when I do my part.. etc..

I just read what I wrote, must clarify that it's 10 times <span style="font-weight: bold">larger</span> than that tolerance, or around a thou.

 

[LRI]

Re: machines and tools

Doosan Mecatec slantbed turning center, Haas vmc, brown and sharp grinder, sunnen hone, and a prazi lathe for my equipment.

Considering a Kitamura vmc right now too.

Mitutoyo mics, brown/sharp height stand, starret gauging, and spi holders for me.

I think so long as you don't buy your stuff from H.F. your prolly ok.

.0001" is tough to get on anything short of a grinder. Your mill/lathe may be able to position to that, but tool holders and inserts are a whole other ball of wax. Wear compensation, holder runout, cutter harmonics, surface finish, and tool deflection makes that kind kind of tolerancing very chalenging and expensive. The further to the right you go on a value the further left you go on the cost.

C.

 

[Mike308Bell]

Re: machines and tools

At the shop, we have a Kia 100 somthing CNC lathe that most of my stuff I can hold to +/-.0005 (but it is all small parts) We have two other lathes another older Kia and a Hardinge. For Mills we have four Hardinge/Brigports, four Supermax Rebels, a Fadal, a Viper, and two others I forget what they are...I dont run them. Oh and we just got a Sharp last week.

For measuring. we have alot of...Mitutoyo..brown and Sharps....Foweler...and some cheap stuff from MSC we use around the band saws.

We make after market car shifters and some gunsmithing type of stuff. Plus we are an OEM parts supplier for alot of other gun related companies. if anybody is intrested in see what I do everyday... http://www.mgwltd.com/firearms.shtml (gun stuff is the under contract manufacting page thats hard to find because the boss is into cars...not guns

)
WARNING: GUN PAGE IS OLD AND has not been updated in years

 

[Cheech]

Re: machines and tools

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: J.Nixon</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I am happy with my Mitutoyo instruments. My favorites are my new and old Swiss-made Brown and Sharpes. New Starrett is not the same quality as old Starrett.

Swiss B&S, Tesa, Etalon are up around the top of the heap regarding quality.

<span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-weight: bold">Long Island Indicator is a good resource to read about measuring instruments.</span></span></span> </div></div>

It will suprise you.