Machining Projects

I am sure that this has been asked before, I have done some searching here and out on the web, cannot really find what I am looking for.

Is there a site either free or pay, that has machining projects, starting out easy and progressing to more difficult that will assist me in learning how to be a better machinist?

I am hoping to find a site that also includes the best way to accomplish a given task that includes techniques.

Thanks

Joe

if you have not seen this mans video series, i would highly recommend watching.

Joe, there are tons of sites and books that will detail projects that you can do ... but they assume you know how to drill, screw cut, bore and do all the stuff you need to complete the job. I may be wrong but I know of no source that teaches you how to do these things in order to complete the project, at least not at the level of detail that you seem to be searching for.

I have a suggestion that you might consider; its the approach I took at the beginning and continue to use today. Figure out a tool or accessory you need. Design it and then figure out what you need to build it - materials, order of operations, skills and everything that is required to make it. Then acquire those things you need, especially the skills.

In the beginning, even the simplest of projects require a wide range of skills that you may not have right now but learning them will serve you well. An example of this might be a solid, nonadjustable tool height setting gauge that sits on top of your cross slide bed or on your compound if it is flat. Just a solid chunk of metal that happens to require you to learn to turn accurately, possibly between two shoulders, with one of those shoulders at the exact centerline of your lathe spindle. My first one took me a full day to figure out what I needed and even longer to learn the skills to make it; my last one took all of 20 minutes to conceive and complete. You learn how the material you choose likes to cut, how to grind or choose the tools you need, feeds and speeds, measuring accurately and so on. Everything you do will be used time and time again, and the only way you gain this knowledge is by doing it.

Today, the learning curve has been drastically shortened by the net and YouTube but you still need to learn to use your head and your hands. Good luck - its a great ride!

Thanks Doctor, I will check them out.

Joe

Thanks mikey, This sounds like not only a good approach but a fun approach, not just following someone's instructions to make something you might not need, but design and build something that you do need and getting the skills in the process.

Joe

I’ll second mikey’s suggestion. My first “real” project was a case neck expanding die for my other hobby, reloading. It took me 3 tries to do it right, but while I was butchering some perfectly good raw material, I learned a ton about turning, threading, cutting a taper and knurling. And the sense of accomplishment was astounding.

The video series that UD linked to are very good at getting down to details of not only how, but why, things are done the way they are. I like that. Enjoy!

Tom

If you aren't afraid to spend some money, check out your local community college. They likely have a "manufacturing processes" course. I took one quite a few years before I bought any equipment and actually with no intention of buying any either. Our project was a drill press vise that used all the various tools: lathe, vertical mill, horizontal mill, surface grinder and taught the basics of learning to establish reference surfaces from a casting.


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higgite said:

...but while I was butchering some perfectly good raw material...

Click to expand...

Tom, I can totally relate to that!

Thanks Tom and Mike, yes mikey gives good advise.

Joe

Hi Joe,

I know of no references that walk you thru a build in enough detail for a beginner. Most references are either "project based" or "skill based" not both.
But that just means you get to view twice as many!

I cannot point you to a web site, but YouTube has many great videos. Check out
Tubal Cain (aka Mr. Pete, aka ....) here's a list of his videos: http://neme-s.org/Tubalcain/machine_shop_tips.htm
Keith Rucker https://www.youtube.com/user/ksruckerowwm
Keith Fenner https://www.youtube.com/user/KEF791
that lazy machinist was already mentioned above.

I have also seen some good books and videos. A couple books I like are:
"Metalwork and Machining Hints and Tips" by Ian Bradley
"Dave Gingery's Shop Note Book" by Dave Gingery
I am still working my way thru the first book in the "Home Shop Machinist Projects" series (https://secure.villagepress.com/store/items/detail/item/1667)
Also Guy Lautard's three book series "The Machinst's Bedside Reader"

and for videos:

MIT did a series of videos on basic machine shop equipment and techniques:
http://www.machinistblog.com/mit-techtv-machine-shop-videos

Darrell Holland does videos about milling and lathe work that are informative.
Unfortunately those courses are prohibitively expensive, but perhaps you could find them at a library, trade school or borrow from a friend.
http://machineshopcourse.com/letter/

Hey I just found a link that Nels put up for renting them on smartflix (whatever that is!):
http://hobby-machinist.com/threads/darrell-holland-agi-videos.6/

-brino