Russel
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Oct 19, 2009
- Messages
- 108
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It seems that I'm getting a little faster...it hasn't been a year since the last part and I've machined something else for the radial!
Anyway, I started today with the nut blanks (as I call them) and a little arbor that I made to hold them for machining the flats.
The first thing that I needed to do was thread the nut blanks (refer to photos) Then I cut a screw driver slot in the arbor lock nut so that I could tighten it easily.
Finally, I zeroed the DRO to the circumference of the nut blank, which is parted off from .250 round stock, and decided on a .250 mill bit. So, I moved the mill bit +.125 on the Y axis, to where mill bit is just about touching the nut blank, then moved in .030 for a rough cut, then a .0015 finish cut. I used an index block in the mill vice so after cutting each side I just removed it, turned it one facet, and put it back in the vice to machine the next facet.
It worked out pretty well, I just need to polish the sides of the nuts a little.
On a side note: I ran out of Protap oil and opened the spare container that I had. I was surprise when the oil came out clear, so I checked the part number and found it to be the same. I was pleased to find that the new formula works better than the old dark Protap that I just used up.
Anyway, I started today with the nut blanks (as I call them) and a little arbor that I made to hold them for machining the flats.
The first thing that I needed to do was thread the nut blanks (refer to photos) Then I cut a screw driver slot in the arbor lock nut so that I could tighten it easily.
Finally, I zeroed the DRO to the circumference of the nut blank, which is parted off from .250 round stock, and decided on a .250 mill bit. So, I moved the mill bit +.125 on the Y axis, to where mill bit is just about touching the nut blank, then moved in .030 for a rough cut, then a .0015 finish cut. I used an index block in the mill vice so after cutting each side I just removed it, turned it one facet, and put it back in the vice to machine the next facet.
It worked out pretty well, I just need to polish the sides of the nuts a little.
On a side note: I ran out of Protap oil and opened the spare container that I had. I was surprise when the oil came out clear, so I checked the part number and found it to be the same. I was pleased to find that the new formula works better than the old dark Protap that I just used up.
