Metal Shop
Metal Shop | |
Members with Knowledge | |
Lilith Specht
Roger Pflug Suraj | |
Slack channel: #metalworking |
The Metal Shop allows people to create a wide range of items and to work on projects using various tools and equipment specialized for metalworking.
Contents
How Do I....
We get asked all the time if we can give a quick overview of <operation or process on machine tool>. Although we're happy to help, there's a lot of great info available online. See the following link to an article compiled by FamiLAB member Nick Polanoski. So please - before you ask- look at this article and see if there's a video or description of the process.
Equipment
Equipment List and Required Training
- CNC Machines
- HAAS VF-1 CNC Mill - 3-axis CNC milling machine. Training Required
- Comet Mill - 3-axis CNC milling machine. Training Required
- Taig CNC Micro Mill - small 3-axis (4-axis available) CNC milling machine. Training Required
- CAD/CAM Software - For designing parts and programming CNC machinery
- Manual Lathes and Mills - Machine Shop 101 attendance required before use.
- Enco 100-1588 Manual Knee Mill - Machine Shop 101 attendance required before use.
- JET 1024 Lathe
- Sherline Mini Lathe
- Boyar-Schultz 6-12 Surface Grinder - For grinding ferrous metals ONLY. Training Required
- Drill Presses - For drilling holes. No training required. Clamp your work!
- Bandsaws - For breaking down stock and other cutoff tasks. Contact @npolanosky or other expert for instruction.
- Hydraulic Press - For squishing things, pressing bearings into place, unsticking things, and general shenanigans. Contact @cualer or @npolanosky for training.
- Sandblaster - Great for stripping paint, rust, and other coatings off of metal. Training not required.
- Bench Grinders - For grinding ferrous metals ONLY. Training is not mandatory, but watching the Machine Shop Training Videos is recommended. WEAR SAFETY GLASSES.
Stock Rack
The stock rack is the shelf oposite the main machine area. Please try to keep material types together. There are also vertical racks to the right for particularly long pieces of stock. Anything without a name on it is fair game for use, but please contribute to it as well - If you take a piece, please leave equivalent-ish stock next time you have some scrap.
If you have something that does not fit in your bin that you would like to store there but retain ownership of, please put your name on it in multiple places. Make sure it is clean of oil and debris before doing this as cutting fluids do a great job of dissolving sharpie.
Last but not least, if it is not something standard (1018 or A36 steel, 6061 aluminum) please label it. For example, if someone goes to cut some "mild steel" and it is actually 4140, they're going to (a) have a bad time and (b) use a MUCH more expensive material than they intended. Stainless, superalloys, tool steel, aerospace grade aluminum (2024/7075/etc) are all included in this, among others.
Thanks!
Etiquette - How Not to Be a Jerk
- WEAR SAFETY GLASSES
- Clean up after yourself.
- Put tools back where you found them. If they were not in their home, put them there.
- If you're not sure about something, ask or look it up.
- If someone is machining/using tools, don't talk to them. Wait until they are at a stopping point. These tools are dangerous and distractions can cause injury, ruined workpieces, and damaged tools.
- Label your tools and material. If you don't, don't be upset if they are used. Likewise, if you aren't sure if something is available for community use, ask.
- Keep up to date in #metalworking and keep others up to date as well.
- Sweep the floor once in a while.
- You're awesome, remind others of this too!
Experts and References
Experts
- User:spazzikarp - Shop Czar.
- User:Npolanosky
- User:Cualer
- User:Chorca
Internal Links
External Links
- Metalworking slack channel for FamiLAB.
- 10 Shop Do's and Don'ts.
- Taig Micro Mill manufacturer web page.
- Grizzly G8689 Mini Milling Machine manufacturer web page.
- Grizzly G8688 7"x12" Mini Metal Lathe manufacturer web page.
- Jet 1024 Lathe manual photos.
- Drill presses document from UC Davis.
Books on Metalworking
- Machinery's Handbook by Erik Oberg.
- Mechanical Trades Handbook.