Postie -- Please help on a lathe question

alvin · 10-18-2009, 03:48 PM

My friend saw my miniature Flatside C96, and told me it's very easy to make via a CNC (computer controlled lathe?), with regular milling bits.

I knew that you have been in this profession in your career. I remembered that you did not play CNC at home, but you must know this thing. So, what's the real advantage of CNC in making pistols? You input some instructions, putting a chunk of steel from one side, and gun parts coming out from other side?

Talking about computer, I don't know much. I am trying to think it's God, but my laptop crashes everyday, so there must be something that computer cannot do?

sheepherder · 10-18-2009, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alvin

So, what's the real advantage of CNC in making pistols?

Precision. When properly set up, there is no need for "tolerances". CNC will crank out same size part every time (if bits are cared for/new).

Quote:

You input some instructions, putting a chunk of steel from one side, and gun parts coming out from other side?

Pretty much. High cutting speed; low amount of cut; unattended operation. Roderus has an interesting (but long) thread of a guy who CNC'd his own AR-15 lower receiver from a chunk of aluminum...

http://www.homegunsmith.com/cgi-bin/...ST;f=11;t=6103

Lots of home gunsmithing stuff there...

http://www.homegunsmith.com/

You might need to join to view...

CNC workstation costs as much as a small house...and it requires CAD/CAM knowledge to code programs...

I don't have $$$ or knowledge...too old; too poor...

alvin · 10-18-2009, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by postino

CNC workstation costs as much as a small house...and it requires CAD/CAM knowledge to code programs...

I have no money either, and worse, don't know how to code my TV remote. But it's good to know. Thanks!

sheepherder · 10-18-2009, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alvin

I have no money either, and worse, don't know how to code my TV remote. But it's good to know. Thanks!

Your Community College or BOCES might offer programs on CAD/CAM...big drawback is getting time on the workcenter...they cost so much that the shops owning them must keep them in operation full-time to recoup their money...

sheepherder · 10-18-2009, 08:27 PM

A place where CNC guys hang out and share projects/ask questions is -

http://www.cncguns.com/forum/index.php

...and they have some CAD programs already worked out...

http://www.cncguns.com/

Roderus is more garage-workshop guys (ex. Bridgeport Mill, South Bend Lathe) where CNCGuns is...well, CNC workcenters...but CNCGuns also has many smaller workshop guys (like me!) too...

10-18-2009, 03:48 PM	#1
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	Postie -- Please help on a lathe question My friend saw my miniature Flatside C96, and told me it's very easy to make via a CNC (computer controlled lathe?), with regular milling bits. I knew that you have been in this profession in your career. I remembered that you did not play CNC at home, but you must know this thing. So, what's the real advantage of CNC in making pistols? You input some instructions, putting a chunk of steel from one side, and gun parts coming out from other side? Talking about computer, I don't know much. I am trying to think it's God, but my laptop crashes everyday, so there must be something that computer cannot do?

10-18-2009, 08:27 PM	#5
sheepherder Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: ...on the 'ol Erie Canal... Posts: 8,183 Thanks: 1,400 Thanked 4,442 Times in 2,330 Posts	A place where CNC guys hang out and share projects/ask questions is - http://www.cncguns.com/forum/index.php ...and they have some CAD programs already worked out... http://www.cncguns.com/ Roderus is more garage-workshop guys (ex. Bridgeport Mill, South Bend Lathe) where CNCGuns is...well, CNC workcenters...but CNCGuns also has many smaller workshop guys (like me!) too...