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Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Machining the compass inserts
« on: February 18, 2007, 06:30:07 PM »
I documented how I make the compass inserts (look at the Travel Pen version 2 post if you do not know what these are). I am sure I violated every good machining practice know to the modern world. So no laughing or scolding!
First I needed to figure out a cheap way to re-sharpen the carbide engraving cutters. I know you should use a diamond wheel but like I don't have a diamond wheel, so anyhow I made a fixture to grind the engraving cutters using a linear slide and a dremel:
Here is a better picture of the linear slide. I mount the cutter in the dremel turn it on low and move the slide into the grinding wheel. A few sparks later and the cutter is sharp.
I start out by mounting a lathe chuck and putting a wood post in the chuck that is the same diameter as the 3/4" sterling silver disks. I face the wood off to ensure it is flat. I use maple which is hard and somewhat durable.
I then super glue the sterling silver disk to the wood post and indicate the disk to find center. I also take a cut around the outside of the disk with the cutter in the mill. This cleans up the outside since they are punched out and ensures that everything is on center.
Here is a screen shot of the Mach3 program with the compass that is to be machined. We're ready to rock n roll!
I then put in the engraving cutter and start the program. This is a shot with my miniature high tech coolant system running:
As an aside here is my miniature high tech gravity feed cooling system. Note the gravity feed is located conveniently on a near shelf. The source container doubles as a high tech misting system I bought at Wal-mart. The precise diameter flexible tubing (I am told it is also used on aquariums) runs to an extruded square brass tube that is held to the machine head with an indicator clamp. If you look real close to the left of the coolant source container you can also see my high tech air pump I use when I cut wood (I am told is is also used in aquariums!)
And of course you need a high tech recovery system, no waste here!
Here is the disk after the first pass;
This is how I remove the disk after the machining is complete. I use a sheet rock knife and wedge it between the disk and wood and it comes off easily.
This is a picture of the finished piece. The flat one closest to you is the one that was cut I tweaked the image a bit from the last one. I then take the wood block and aluminum shaft and bend the disk to the proper curve. Once that is done I then enamel the engraving as you can see as the blue curved compass. This one has not been buffed so it has a mat finish.
The last image it the cutter after the engraving is complete. Not much of the point is lost.
Any comments let me know. Thanks for looking.
Dan.
First I needed to figure out a cheap way to re-sharpen the carbide engraving cutters. I know you should use a diamond wheel but like I don't have a diamond wheel, so anyhow I made a fixture to grind the engraving cutters using a linear slide and a dremel:
Here is a better picture of the linear slide. I mount the cutter in the dremel turn it on low and move the slide into the grinding wheel. A few sparks later and the cutter is sharp.
I start out by mounting a lathe chuck and putting a wood post in the chuck that is the same diameter as the 3/4" sterling silver disks. I face the wood off to ensure it is flat. I use maple which is hard and somewhat durable.
I then super glue the sterling silver disk to the wood post and indicate the disk to find center. I also take a cut around the outside of the disk with the cutter in the mill. This cleans up the outside since they are punched out and ensures that everything is on center.
Here is a screen shot of the Mach3 program with the compass that is to be machined. We're ready to rock n roll!
I then put in the engraving cutter and start the program. This is a shot with my miniature high tech coolant system running:
As an aside here is my miniature high tech gravity feed cooling system. Note the gravity feed is located conveniently on a near shelf. The source container doubles as a high tech misting system I bought at Wal-mart. The precise diameter flexible tubing (I am told it is also used on aquariums) runs to an extruded square brass tube that is held to the machine head with an indicator clamp. If you look real close to the left of the coolant source container you can also see my high tech air pump I use when I cut wood (I am told is is also used in aquariums!)
And of course you need a high tech recovery system, no waste here!
Here is the disk after the first pass;
This is how I remove the disk after the machining is complete. I use a sheet rock knife and wedge it between the disk and wood and it comes off easily.
This is a picture of the finished piece. The flat one closest to you is the one that was cut I tweaked the image a bit from the last one. I then take the wood block and aluminum shaft and bend the disk to the proper curve. Once that is done I then enamel the engraving as you can see as the blue curved compass. This one has not been buffed so it has a mat finish.
The last image it the cutter after the engraving is complete. Not much of the point is lost.
Any comments let me know. Thanks for looking.
Dan.
