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tool advice request

I plan to learn how to machine and am setting up a shop I am ordering the machines below what I would like to know is what would be a good assortment of cutting tools to get started? keeping in mind that I have already stretched my budget rather thin I had about $8000.00 to spend the mill and lathe with freight are going to cost $6190.00 I got a MIG welder and shop saw for about $1200 plus some odds and ends so I don't have much left lets say $500.00 or so I would like to machine some aluminum, mild steel and maybe a little stainless

I also plan to order Machine Shop Practice - Vol. 1 and Vol. 2

I have never ran either a mill or lathe and am just looking for some good advice

thanks

James Schenck Egraph Design Inc. (870)857-3287 snipped-for-privacy@egraphdesign.com

Grizzly G3617 Horizontal / Vertical Mill

Specifications:

a.. Spindle tapers: R-8 b.. Spindle travel: 4-7/8" c.. Table size: 9-1/2" x 39-3/8" d.. Table travel (longitudinal): 21-7/8" e.. Table travel (cross): 9-1/4" f.. Knee travel (vertical): 13-1/2" g.. Max. dist. spindle to column: 26-1/2" h.. Max. dist. spindle to table: 13-1/2" i.. Max. dist. horizontal spindle center to table: 11-1/4" j.. Vertical head tilt: 90° left and right k.. Turret or column swivel: 90° left and right l.. T-slots: 5/8" slots on 2-3/8" centers m.. Vertical spindle speeds: 9 n.. Range of speeds: 270, 390, 490, 615, 860, 930, 1600, 1960 and 2950 RPM o.. Horizontal spindle speeds: 8 p.. Range of speeds: 72, 170, 210, 240, 290, 550, 830 and 1300 RPM q.. Horizontal arbor sizes: 1" & 1-1/4" r.. Motors: TEFC capacitor start induction s.. Voltage: 220V t.. Amps: 25/12.5 u.. Phase: Single phase v.. Horsepower (vertical motor): 2 w.. Horsepower (horizontal motor): 1-1/2 x.. RPM (each motor): 1725 y.. Power Transfer: V-Belt z.. Overall Height: 80-5/16" aa.. Shipping weight approx.: 2360 lbs

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and a Grizzly G4016

13-1/2" x 40" Gear Head Lathe With Stand

Standard Equipment:

a.. 6" 3-Jaw chuck b.. 8" 4-Jaw chuck c.. Steady rest d.. Follow rest e.. 4-Way turret tool post f.. Live center g.. 2 #3 MT dead centers h.. Threading dial i.. Stand j.. Chip pan k.. Splash guard l.. Jog button and emergency stop Specifications:

a.. Swing over bed: 13-1/2" b.. Swing over gap: 19" c.. Swing over cross slide: 8" d.. Distance between centers: 40" e.. Bed width: 7-3/8" f.. Spindle bore: 1-7/16" g.. Spindle nose: D1-4 Camlock h.. Taper in spindle nose: MT#5 i.. Maximum carriage travel: 35" j.. Cross slide travel: 6-1/4" k.. Compound travel: 2-7/8" l.. Maximum tool size: 1/2" x 1/2" m.. Feed rod diameter: 3/4" n.. Leadscrew: 7/8" x 8" TPI o.. Range of longitudinal feeds (inches/rev.): .0036"-.1005" p.. Range of cross feeds (inches/rev.): .00123"-.0345" q.. Tailstock barrel taper: MT#3 r.. Tailstock barrel travel: 3-1/2" s.. Number of speeds: 8 t.. Range of speeds: 78, 128, 210, 330, 510, 830, 1360, 2100 RPM u.. Feed rate range: 40 @ .0036"-.1005" v.. Thread range (inches): 40 @ 4 TPI-112 TPI w.. Thread range (metric): 40 @ .25mm-6mm x.. Motor: 2 HP, Single Phase, TEFC, 220V, 11.9 Amps, 60 Hz, 1750 RPM y.. Overall length: 71-1/2" z.. Overall width: 26" aa.. Height with stand: 52-1/2" ab.. Height of center line: 45-1/2" ac.. Net weight: 1325 lbs. ad.. Approx. shipping weight: 1410 lbs.

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Reply to
James Schenck
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Greetings James, Your best bet is to read the books ordered first. Start looking at catalogs from J&L and MSC. Both these tool suppliers can be found on the web if googled. There are many others but these two, especially MSC, have a huge selection of machine shop needs. Another book you should get is Machinery's Handbook. The latest edition will set you back about $70.00. But older editions are fine. I have the 1915 edition, 1980, and the latest. There is stuff in the latest that is in the 1915 edition. The newest advances in carbide and CNC will not apply to you at first, if ever. Avoid tools made in India. Drills, cutters and other HSS tools that are really cheap often perform so bad that they are worse than useless. I do this (machining) for a living and so have a different outlook than some of the folks here that do it as a hobby. But just because someone is a hobbiest at this don't make the mistake of thinking that what they do is of lower quality than someone doing this for a living. Their advice, especially if self taught, might be best for you. And to reiterate: read those books first before you start buying cutters. You can get a lot for your $500.00 if you know what you want. Cheers, Eric R Snow, E T Precision Machine

Reply to
Eric R Snow

You might check out reliabletools on eBay. I bought a bunch of stuff from him as "reliableendmill" a few years ago, and he was a REALLY reputable seller. I got excellent small endmills, in cobalt and carbide from him. Watch out for the Chinese junk in blue tubes with rubber stamped size markings. These are the worst crap I've ever seen. The cutting edges are clearly free-hand sharpened, and the edges are not even - not even close!

As for the lathe, I'd get a piston-type quick-change toolpost. I have the Phase-II, and it is very good. Then, get the 5-piece indexable carbide toolholder set, like Enco and everybody else sells, and a box of extra inserts. That will pretty much do any turning you need.

Jon

Reply to
Jon Elson

Adding to Eric's good advice, you can get a bunch of stuff for $500. You did not mention measuring tools. If you are not in a rush, look for estate sales. I have gotten things from a couple of those for probably $500 dollars total that would amaze you. One was stuff that had belonged to a tool & die maker that included a Kennedy chest with 2 drawer base that looked like they just came out of the box. No chips in the felt, but there were some Starrett OD mics, depth mic, ID mic, surface finish reference gage, and more, lots more. The little paper cert of accuracy was even in each box for each mic.

Maybe you could consider getting some used equipment instead of the Grizzly units. Used machine tools are a real bargain these days, you could easily get beefier equipment for the same or less money.

mj

Reply to
michael

Thanks for the advice I think I will go with a small assortment of cutting tools and some measuring tools and read the books (which I should have already done) and then order more thanks again

Reply to
James Schenck

"James Schenck" wrote

I would suggest taking a night course at a local community college in machining. You can save a lot of time. A lot of machining knowledge can not be gotten out of a book.

Good luck,

Mark

Reply to
M

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