@cogtag29DOM Compressors are dangerous for such tasks... I suggest a conventional shop vac style dust collector. Flood coolant supply would wash the chips away as well, just be sure your table can handle the flow through the drains, or mount an appliance pan under your mill just in case. ;-)
wow thats awsome. How much did the machine cost and how does it know the path it has to cut. was this made just for ar-15 lowers or did you use a computer?
What was the total cycle time for all of your operations? I am planning on beginning a similar project and am trying to get an idea of how much time I will have to commit to it.
@cody13969 For the actual milling time, I'd estimate somewhere around 8 hours. I probably could have gone faster but had no reason to push the machine too hard. The real time was actually spent in the CAM work. I'm new to all of this and doing the CAM took an enormous amount of time / simulation to get perfect.
@kingjamez80 Thanks! I am also relatively new to the world of CNC and CAD/CAM but I have a few pretty good pieces of software that should make my project go much faster than i had previously anticipated. You have a pretty interesting design, you might actually want to consider obtaining an FFL license and selling these and any other designs you might have. I particularly liked your extension of the magwell, it's a unique feature and ergonomically makes alot of sense.
@kingjamez80 What Vice are you using? I though I read somewhere that you were using a 4" vice. If so how did you clamp the oversized workpiece? I am thinking about investing in a similar setup to support my firearms hobby (addiction)!
@44bgood I am using the precision Shars 4" vise. It can clamp a much larger (10" I think) piece if you move the vise jaws to the outside positions.
For the X3, I wouldn't recommend anything larger as the 4" feels just about right. I had a 5" when I started but it was just a little too large in my opinion.
@kingjamez80 Cool man looking forward to it. I would really like to machine one of these on my machine. I have an RF45CNC conversion. Looks like you got yours working well.. Peace
@kingjamez80 ohh i was just curious man.i wasn't saying you paid more for it or anything. this is really cool btw. if you're into fabrication you should check out the 2 videos i uploaded that I found of a guy building a vacuum tube by hand. It's pretty incredible. He fabs everything. Even molds the plastic bases for the pins. I have an awesome design idea for a charging handle. You should build it for me :)
@mikeymike4g63 No worries. You are right though, 7075 ain't cheap. Actually, on the charging handle thing, I'm planning on doing a side charging AR eventually :-)
@kingjamez80 I have a brilliant idea that allows the use of a regular AR upper but still allow a forward-located side-charing ability merely by changing the handle. I really really wish I could make this idea but i have no way of ever doing it haha.
@luckynmb13x It's an X3 (the details are in the description). All up the entire package used to do the work runs ~$6000.00 including software, computer, mill, CNC kit, tools, etc.
I like the "Don't tread on me." Nice work
semperfi0202 22 hours ago
what mill is that?
thmsvrgs 2 weeks ago
you should use an ir compressor and just blow away the extra aluminum, just a suggestion :)
cogtag29DOM 1 month ago
@cogtag29DOM I'm building a mister right now that will help blow the chips away. I hope it will let me leave the machine while it works.
kingjamez80 1 month ago
@cogtag29DOM Compressors are dangerous for such tasks... I suggest a conventional shop vac style dust collector. Flood coolant supply would wash the chips away as well, just be sure your table can handle the flow through the drains, or mount an appliance pan under your mill just in case. ;-)
Orionblade2003 4 weeks ago
what size aluminum block is that and where can i purchase a block that size
flrescue33 1 month ago in playlist Uploaded videos
Hi, nice video! Are the files for this available to anyone? Because that would be really cool. Thanks
ductape95 5 months ago
@danohpsp I am running at the fastest RPM available on the X3. In stock form it is limited to 2000RPM.
kingjamez80 5 months ago
Unfortunately your RPM is WAY to slow for this material and cutter. You should be running as fast as the machine can go.
danohpsp 5 months ago
wow thats awsome. How much did the machine cost and how does it know the path it has to cut. was this made just for ar-15 lowers or did you use a computer?
twpbaseball10 8 months ago
@TheAmazingdano: I started with a block of the minimum dimensions that allowed me to make the part and hold onto the part while I milled it.
kingjamez80 8 months ago
why did you start with such a big block?
TheAmazingdano 8 months ago
What was the total cycle time for all of your operations? I am planning on beginning a similar project and am trying to get an idea of how much time I will have to commit to it.
cody13969 11 months ago
@cody13969 For the actual milling time, I'd estimate somewhere around 8 hours. I probably could have gone faster but had no reason to push the machine too hard. The real time was actually spent in the CAM work. I'm new to all of this and doing the CAM took an enormous amount of time / simulation to get perfect.
kingjamez80 11 months ago
@kingjamez80 Thanks! I am also relatively new to the world of CNC and CAD/CAM but I have a few pretty good pieces of software that should make my project go much faster than i had previously anticipated. You have a pretty interesting design, you might actually want to consider obtaining an FFL license and selling these and any other designs you might have. I particularly liked your extension of the magwell, it's a unique feature and ergonomically makes alot of sense.
cody13969 11 months ago
Comment removed
44bgood 11 months ago
Comment removed
44bgood 11 months ago
do you think the X2 could do the same job?
dimitriosart 11 months ago
@dimitriosart It probably could be made to work, but the lower is 4.25" in the Y-Axis as I cut it, which is more travel than an X2 has in the Y-Axis.
kingjamez80 11 months ago
@kingjamez80 What Vice are you using? I though I read somewhere that you were using a 4" vice. If so how did you clamp the oversized workpiece? I am thinking about investing in a similar setup to support my firearms hobby (addiction)!
44bgood 11 months ago
@44bgood I am using the precision Shars 4" vise. It can clamp a much larger (10" I think) piece if you move the vise jaws to the outside positions.
For the X3, I wouldn't recommend anything larger as the 4" feels just about right. I had a 5" when I started but it was just a little too large in my opinion.
kingjamez80 11 months ago
Well this is all very entertaining but where is the video of you actually shooting this thing!! NIce work on the machining tho... peace
Pete
PetefromTn 1 year ago
@PetefromTn Hi Pete, just been side tracked lately. I'll get the shooting video done soon.
kingjamez80 11 months ago
@kingjamez80 Cool man looking forward to it. I would really like to machine one of these on my machine. I have an RF45CNC conversion. Looks like you got yours working well.. Peace
Pete
PetefromTn 11 months ago
okay here's the real question..... how much did that billet of 7 series aluminum billet cost you? hahaha
mikeymike4g63 1 year ago
@mikeymike4g63 No more than a forged AR lower. I'm not doing this to save money. I spent more in cutting tools than a run of the mill lower.
kingjamez80 1 year ago
@kingjamez80 ohh i was just curious man.i wasn't saying you paid more for it or anything. this is really cool btw. if you're into fabrication you should check out the 2 videos i uploaded that I found of a guy building a vacuum tube by hand. It's pretty incredible. He fabs everything. Even molds the plastic bases for the pins. I have an awesome design idea for a charging handle. You should build it for me :)
mikeymike4g63 1 year ago
@mikeymike4g63 No worries. You are right though, 7075 ain't cheap. Actually, on the charging handle thing, I'm planning on doing a side charging AR eventually :-)
kingjamez80 1 year ago
@kingjamez80 I have a brilliant idea that allows the use of a regular AR upper but still allow a forward-located side-charing ability merely by changing the handle. I really really wish I could make this idea but i have no way of ever doing it haha.
mikeymike4g63 1 year ago
What kind of milling machine is that and how much did it cost you? what did you use to program it?
luckynmb13x 1 year ago
@luckynmb13x It's an X3 (the details are in the description). All up the entire package used to do the work runs ~$6000.00 including software, computer, mill, CNC kit, tools, etc.
kingjamez80 1 year ago
upload the next part!
TMHonfire102 1 year ago