Home made tools?

[ericjon262]

anyone ever make their own tools? Right now, I'm turning an old drill press into a 3 axis mill.



not done yet, but please share your homemade equipment with us!

[robertisaar]

i need a mill.

i did make a few of my own tools before, including a ~10 pound hammer with interchangable heads with a nice knurled grip... unfortunately it was lost or stolen, i don't know which.

i'd really like to make a small CNC mill though, i've seen some interesting plans on the tubez before, but the build seems like the easy part, it's the software control that seems to be the limiting factor.

[JerryRigg]

Good luck with your spindle bearings!!

What are you doing for the ways - how will the table slide? I need a machine for face milling simple inline-4 intake manifolds, and I'm a bit stuck on what style ways to use.

I made these crankshaft tools to secure the crank while removing the main crank bolt (Mazda engine)



I've made all manner of small specialty tools but I don't have too many pictures of them

[TGP37]

Made a slide hammer once with 2 crow bars, some duct tape and a lead weight, lol.

Now that I have a Tig welder, I need a collection of raw Tool Steel.

[pocket-rocket]

i need a mill.

i did make a few of my own tools before, including a ~10 pound hammer with interchangable heads with a nice knurled grip... unfortunately it was lost or stolen, i don't know which.

i'd really like to make a small CNC mill though, i've seen some interesting plans on the tubez before, but the build seems like the easy part, it's the software control that seems to be the limiting factor.

http://www.instructables.com/pages/search/search.jsp?cx=partner-pub-1783560022203827%3Anpr2q7v5m6t&cof=FORID%3A11&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=cnc+machine

[alpinestar10]

Not a tool but im making a hot tank to clean grime and hopfully rust off my engine, 55 gallon drum heating element from a hot water heater and a thermostat from one also and yeah simple. dont have a clue what im using to clean all with.

[robertisaar]

http://www.instructables.com/pages/s...&q=cnc+machine

wee bit too small for what i have in mind.... X and Y travel are probably sufficient, but i think i'll be needing more than 4" of Z, and that's what all of the ones i read were claiming...

Not a tool but im making a hot tank to clean grime and hopfully rust off my engine, 55 gallon drum heating element from a hot water heater and a thermostat from one also and yeah simple. dont have a clue what im using to clean all with.

reminds me, i'm getting back into the "electrify everything" stage in life, so electrolytic rust removal and electroplating are once again churning in my head.

[alpinestar10]

I could have EASLIY gone that route but i hear that with that you can destroy a engine since it makes parts move

[ericjon262]

Good luck with your spindle bearings!!

What are you doing for the ways - how will the table slide? I need a machine for face milling simple inline-4 intake manifolds, and I'm a bit stuck on what style ways to use.

I made these crankshaft tools to secure the crank while removing the main crank bolt (Mazda engine)

I've made all manner of small specialty tools but I don't have too many pictures of them

I'm most likely going to replace the spindle bearings soon either way, but it's going to be a light duty machine and won't see too much hard sideloads.

for the slides, I'm using heavy duty ball bearing drawer slides

Not a tool but im making a hot tank to clean grime and hopfully rust off my engine, 55 gallon drum heating element from a hot water heater and a thermostat from one also and yeah simple. dont have a clue what im using to clean all with.

that's one of my next projects, I am going to try to find a used commercial dishwasher instead of a drum though.

reminds me, i'm getting back into the "electrify everything" stage in life, so electrolytic rust removal and electroplating are once again churning in my head.

I like the was you think!, might be a bit of a plan there!

[ericjon262]

got the x axis almost finished, need a few bearings, at least one, maybe three more crossbeams, and some gussets to keep it square. total travel is approx. 11 inches.



here's the result of the first test of the x axis

[alpinestar10]

that's one of my next projects, I am going to try to find a used commercial dishwasher instead of a drum though

The only reason i like it this way is since i can be assured it cleaning all the inside, What are you thinking of using for chemicals?

[ericjon262]

The only reason i like it this way is since i can be assured it cleaning all the inside, What are you thinking of using for chemicals?

didn't think of that. good point, I was thinking of using vinegar, me and my buddy tested it on a cylinder head without any heat, and it worked great, cheap too.

[ericjon262]

x axis is finished, Y is started!

[ericjon262]

it lives...

http://youtu.be/sRBgCXiKzNM