Thats a lot of holes; they are now drilled by my new 4 axis cnc mill/drill
looks way better



full length is just about 100mm

Hi Steve

That's superb! Is there a chance you could write a short Feature with some details details on how you set up a lathe and drill-press to produce such miniature beauties?

All the best

Rowan

No need to write much
You need 35 years of exeriance as a tool and diemaker; then be able to build machines like the photo; thats my home workshop

There is close to $7000 of control equipment under that bench; and 2 computers for commands; then another for editing the programs
control equipment photo below

dont forget the motors attached to the machines are not cheap also; each has to resolve to very tight movements; some as small as 0.00005"

Yikes! I guess I won't be doing that over the weekend. Awesome work Steve.

thanks god we have CNC machines in the factory where i work and thanks god too a very good friend in front of one who sometimes mill me barrels for my models when he has some time or in his pause

Hi Steve!!

I knew that the quality of your products must had a secret!! I just didn't knew how BIG the secret was!!!

Thank you for sharing your tools,

Skipper

Very very nice Steve, how about some 1/48 0.5" barrels and jackets, and some 0.30" as well. I have a B-24, B-17 and a lancaster pending :-)
Mal

Crikey Steve!

That's a incredible setup! How long does it take you to produce an item like the 50mm barrel - design, programming and execution? (Forget research, because we all know that's as long as a piece of string!)

All the best

Rowan

Thanks guys

Merlin
Well i usually do the research for the barrels; some comes from good customers who know what they want and supply ahead of the order; others i just have to dig it up

Once I have the info; i draw the barrels full size in CAD; the I can re-scale to any size needed; this can take 1/2hour to 2 hours depending on the complexaty of the barrel
The I manually make the program by typing in all the numbers for the CAD data; I could use an automatic program editor; but I find if you do; if there is a problem; it can take hours to find it; if you write it your self you know where it is right away
The Mauser barrel took about 12mins in the lathe; followed by another 4 min for the end cap (muzzle)
Onto the drill/mill; this program ran almost 15mins to drill all the holes
So I feel at $18 per copy; they are really a good deal
It will take quite some time to pay for all the tech that runs these machnes; and there are 3 more under construction
The next is a 3 axis mill; with 20" in X direction; 14" in Y direction; and 12 in Z direction; this will have a VSD spindle with a 15,000 rpm top speed
It will be used for more complex model parts; and help me make the new bigger lathe and a monster Mill; the big mill will have over 7 ft of travel in X and 30inch in Y and Z
This mill will be for mastering ship hulls up to 7ft long

Hi Skip; well of all; you would know the quality as you have some of my stuff

thanks for the info. great work, keep it on, hope to see more of your work