To preface: I have absolutely NO idea what I'm doing when it comes to machining. Nothing. I have never even seen a machine shop. I have no idea about terminology, technique, or proper practices.
What I do have is an interest in learning a little bit, and figuring out how to adequately describe what I hope to accomplish at the end of all of this. And since I'm a complete and total newbie, I ask for a tad bit of forbearance and gentleness. I was reading on another forum (apparently for professional machinists, and they utterly reamed a guy to pieces for asking a simple question, and sadistically enjoyed doing it. That's just wrong, meanspirited, and uncalled for. We all were at a place once where we knew nothing, so please remember what that was like and remember that I don't already know what I'm doing. Thanks!
Now on to the fun part!
I am looking to describe two metal parts that I'd eventually like to get made, for a project I've been working on for a long time. Before I go any further, the nature of the project isn't relevant, nor is the final purpose for the metal parts relevant. The reason I state this up front is, I've found that every time I try to describe the end result I'm looking for, everyone always stops thinking outside the box, and tells me that they can't do it, it won't work, it isn't possible, or it doesn't exist. I have found that if I just describe a thing in terms of what it's generalities are, and only give specifics where needed, I always arrive at the exact result I'm looking for. Process isn't relevant. End results are. So, describing what it is, and what it's going to be used for will change the way everyone thinks, and will prevent finding an efficient and workable solution. I have a lifetime of experience watching this happen over and over, and can give real, specific examples if asked to.
If these two metal parts were to be made out of wood, plastic, or any other material other than metal, it would be a very simple matter to describe them in very simple terms, and an even more simple matter to produce them at home, in the sanctity of the garage. However, in my research on metalworking, I've discovered that there is a significantly-greater demand for near-inhuman levels of precision. A brief example: if someone were to say to me, "I need a 1/4" hole in this thing, right about there" I would go to my garage, get a 1/4" drill bit, and drill the hole. From what I've found in the machinist's world, the hole has to be described to 0.0001" of precision both in terms of center-position and diameter. (slight exaggeration of numbers, sorry!).
Let me state up front that this kind of precision simply is neither required, nor necessary. I'm not making rocket parts! In my world, and for the purposes of this project, 1/64" of an inch is close enough.
I have a need for two small pieces of flat steel bar. I know there are hundreds, if not thousands of different alloys of steel, so this is one complicating issue for me. I don't know enough about how to accurately and adequately describe all the alloys, what they do, their properties, or anything about them. What I would like is a cheap, regular, plain steel that anyone can pick up anywhere, can be welded to a section of steel pipe I already have, and wouldn't cost a great deal. It doesn't have to be high-quality, rare-alloy, super-duper steel, just regular, plain, run-of-the-mill steel. Sorry for my ignorance. That's why I am here.
These two pieces will end up being 3-1/2" long (remember that I'm not dealing with microscopic measurements here) and 1" wide. One of them will be 1/4" thick, with one flat side, and the other will be 3/8" thick, with a rounded "groove" on one side. On the reverse side of both pieces are lengthwise grooves. They both have a matching set of 1/2" holes in them. Again, microscopic measurements aren't required.
My concern is, I don't know, or understand metalworking/machining terminology well enough to even begin to describe or even draw these shapes in terms that a hobbyist or even a professional shop would understand, because NASA-level precision simply isn't required. I think in entirely different terms, and I'd like to learn enough to describe what I am looking for, in terms that are understandable in this world.
I have attached a very rough sketch of these shapes, which should make things much more simple, for the sake of discussion. There are no dimensions, or descriptions, just a drawing of the shapes. I hope this is an adequate starting point, for me to learn how to accurately describe them in terms understandable to a hobbyist.
My ultimate goal is to find someone who would be willing to make them, without me having to mortgage my house or sell my car to pay for them. I'm not Bill Gates.
Could I please start a discussion on how to detail these sketches to make them into drawings that could be used to actually make these pieces?
Thanks!
What I do have is an interest in learning a little bit, and figuring out how to adequately describe what I hope to accomplish at the end of all of this. And since I'm a complete and total newbie, I ask for a tad bit of forbearance and gentleness. I was reading on another forum (apparently for professional machinists, and they utterly reamed a guy to pieces for asking a simple question, and sadistically enjoyed doing it. That's just wrong, meanspirited, and uncalled for. We all were at a place once where we knew nothing, so please remember what that was like and remember that I don't already know what I'm doing. Thanks!
Now on to the fun part!
I am looking to describe two metal parts that I'd eventually like to get made, for a project I've been working on for a long time. Before I go any further, the nature of the project isn't relevant, nor is the final purpose for the metal parts relevant. The reason I state this up front is, I've found that every time I try to describe the end result I'm looking for, everyone always stops thinking outside the box, and tells me that they can't do it, it won't work, it isn't possible, or it doesn't exist. I have found that if I just describe a thing in terms of what it's generalities are, and only give specifics where needed, I always arrive at the exact result I'm looking for. Process isn't relevant. End results are. So, describing what it is, and what it's going to be used for will change the way everyone thinks, and will prevent finding an efficient and workable solution. I have a lifetime of experience watching this happen over and over, and can give real, specific examples if asked to.
If these two metal parts were to be made out of wood, plastic, or any other material other than metal, it would be a very simple matter to describe them in very simple terms, and an even more simple matter to produce them at home, in the sanctity of the garage. However, in my research on metalworking, I've discovered that there is a significantly-greater demand for near-inhuman levels of precision. A brief example: if someone were to say to me, "I need a 1/4" hole in this thing, right about there" I would go to my garage, get a 1/4" drill bit, and drill the hole. From what I've found in the machinist's world, the hole has to be described to 0.0001" of precision both in terms of center-position and diameter. (slight exaggeration of numbers, sorry!).
Let me state up front that this kind of precision simply is neither required, nor necessary. I'm not making rocket parts! In my world, and for the purposes of this project, 1/64" of an inch is close enough.
I have a need for two small pieces of flat steel bar. I know there are hundreds, if not thousands of different alloys of steel, so this is one complicating issue for me. I don't know enough about how to accurately and adequately describe all the alloys, what they do, their properties, or anything about them. What I would like is a cheap, regular, plain steel that anyone can pick up anywhere, can be welded to a section of steel pipe I already have, and wouldn't cost a great deal. It doesn't have to be high-quality, rare-alloy, super-duper steel, just regular, plain, run-of-the-mill steel. Sorry for my ignorance. That's why I am here.
These two pieces will end up being 3-1/2" long (remember that I'm not dealing with microscopic measurements here) and 1" wide. One of them will be 1/4" thick, with one flat side, and the other will be 3/8" thick, with a rounded "groove" on one side. On the reverse side of both pieces are lengthwise grooves. They both have a matching set of 1/2" holes in them. Again, microscopic measurements aren't required.
My concern is, I don't know, or understand metalworking/machining terminology well enough to even begin to describe or even draw these shapes in terms that a hobbyist or even a professional shop would understand, because NASA-level precision simply isn't required. I think in entirely different terms, and I'd like to learn enough to describe what I am looking for, in terms that are understandable in this world.
I have attached a very rough sketch of these shapes, which should make things much more simple, for the sake of discussion. There are no dimensions, or descriptions, just a drawing of the shapes. I hope this is an adequate starting point, for me to learn how to accurately describe them in terms understandable to a hobbyist.
My ultimate goal is to find someone who would be willing to make them, without me having to mortgage my house or sell my car to pay for them. I'm not Bill Gates.
Could I please start a discussion on how to detail these sketches to make them into drawings that could be used to actually make these pieces?
Thanks!