I am using carbide insert tools. My parting tool, turning tool, and all of my boring bars (many different sizes) are all carbide inserts. I haven't tried HSS yet. I really need to take a day and learn about tooling, and more specifically, how the angles and "rakes" affect the overall machining experience.
I am still
super green with all of this stuff. I'm kinda surprised I've been able to actually make some usable parts since I first plugged this thing in almost 3 months ago!
I wanted a metal lathe because I am somewhat of an amateur gunsmith. I very much enjoy building my own form-1s, which I can only imagine how many machinists on this forum have or at one point had the same intentions. They are a blast to make! This is the first one I completed on my Grizzly. I finished it a few days ago. The cones are 7075, and the tube and end caps are 6061.
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This cone size is a little larger (1.145" OD), and will be for .223/556 supers. This is a tiny bit smaller than the more standard size of 1.5" OD / 1.355" ID or 1.372" ID. I chose this size because as many of you know, typical free-floating MLOK handguards have an interior diameter of (roughly) 1.35". So, unless you feel like doing some major modifications to a brand new handguard (I've done this way too many times!), the next logical application would be to build something that will just barely fit inside of most handguards. This way I can recess the can as far back into the rail as I want. This will most likely live on a standard carbine with a 16" barrel. Length will be 7.5".
The metal is pitted like that because my dumb ass decided to clean it up with a wire brush in my drill press.
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