It'll all be worth it when its done.

Hey Ed,
I'm starting to like this machining with no shop cleaning  to do when your done. I think they call it "arm chair machinist".  Guess it's time to find the test material and try out some of the 3D cutting.

Here is a look at the top of half of the barrel. I will probably try it a few different ways. Funny thing about the  barrel is that other than the top of the bridge / ramp there is not a straight / non tapered line on it. Realy suck's to model it.......

RICH

Rich. Lookin good, gotta give you credit, a full size is a bitch, you know what I mean.
Bigger would be easier...lol
Keep it up bud.

Ed

Still fooling with the software to fine tune the machining. The attached pic shows the barrel partially machined.
To cheap to buy machinable wax, have Delrin pieces, but, a friend told me to try a cutting board and that's what i used for testing
the machine paths.  3 bucks for a 12 x 12 x 1/2" thick board. The stuff machines great and to dimension.
MODIFIED: The cutting board material seems to have a "grain" depending on what part of the board it came from.
 
You don't realize size until you hold it in you hand.  I still need to add some contour machining since what is shown was only two sided and the piece
will need to be machined on all four sides or even additional angles.

RICH

I was asked how long it takes to machine the barrel and said I would post some info here.
In a way it's a loaded question. One must realize that it will be machined  in Al and then done in SS.
To machine the barrel to a fine tolerance / finish you need to adjust the cutting stepover. The piece is totaly tapered
except for the front sight and top ramp. Time is dependant on feedrate and the number of moves but also on appropriate feeds for the cutter.
IE; ROUGH:  1/8" ball mill /  four flute / at 12000 - 18000 RPM and max depth at .050" and leave say max
                    .010" for a finish cut......will be about 6 -7 hours for the roughing.
The finish cuts will be at least twice that...so another 14 hours.
Then comes some detail work with a 1/64 end mill and smaller cutter. So another 3 or 4  hours.
So the total comes to about 25 hours of machine time. I want to make more than one as trying to put the engraving
 on the sides of the barrel should be an interesting challenge. Add it all up.....think i will change how long this model is going to take.
RICH

Most don't realize how much precision machining goes into a revolver, or any other gun for that matter, but scaling down is another ball game.
Your doing good Rich, take your time and don't mess it up..LOL.

Ed

I will not be using ammo made in certain parts of the world. Had to post as it's a S&W 44 MAG......
RICH

Nuttin' a lil bita duct tape caint fix.

WOW that must have hurt

Marcel

Perhaps you'd be better off using the Classic Hunter barrel with the full lug underneath, you'd have something to grip onto at least. I had a (blued) 29 classic hunter, it was an awesome old hogleg and great fun to shoot with full power train-stopper loads. Details aside, awesome project ... tiny stuff like this is very demanding work.