Hybrid CNC/Manual Lathe

[butchlambert]

You could always set up an adjustable16C collet system on a full on CNC lathe with a way to hold the muzzle. The issue is changing back and forth between fixtures. Burns a lot of time. Many ways to shorten the time required on a manual machine. The first thing is don't over think everything. I know one action Mfg./ rifle builder who did everything up to running the finish reamer in on a Mazak. Then they would go to a manual machine and use a steady rest to put the finished chamber in.

I never chambered a thousand barrels in a year. Probably came close a couple of years. Those days are gone. Just piddling around now making walking around money.

That is the reason for my rest top business! It is to support my bad habits.

 

[X Count]

That's a rabbit hole you don't want to go down.

How so?

 

[cb186]

The thing is, I plan to have a CNC mill and CNC lathe for my side business. I’m looking into used but not abused Haas stuff. Thinking a VF1 or 2 with a rotary 4th axis or a Mini Mill that’s loaded with a rotary. For lathes I’m looking at ST10/20s. My plan would be to keep those running my parts and setup for production at all times. My goal is for them to pay for themselves and eventually start making me money to dump back into the business and/or my hobby. A new truck is $70k+, about the price of a brand new Haas or a couple used ones. Not that big of a deal when you think of it like that.

Then I’d have a lathe just for chambering, tinkering, and making fixtures. With a CNC setup for chambering, I could get everything touched off and setup, hit “cycle start” and just bounce between all 3 machines checking on things and keeping stuff going. All this being done after my real job and on weekends. With a manual lathe, I would either be stopping to tend to the CNCs or just not run production and focus on chambering for a few hours. For right now, I don’t think I do enough chambering to justify a CNC, but I like to think long term. A manual will work for me now, but I may revisit the topic if I start doing more barrels one day.

Buy a VF2(SS if possible) with a 24 pocket side mount tool changer. You need 3 phase though. VF1 is the same size box, so it doesn't make sense to limit the travel.

 

[Jud96]

Buy a VF2(SS if possible) with a 24 pocket side mount tool changer. You need 3 phase though. VF1 is the same size box, so it doesn't make sense to limit the travel.

I’m planning on getting a big phase converter to run everything off of. I’ll probably end up getting a VF2, not buying brand new so I’ll have to see what I find used that’s not too whooped.

 

[cb186]

I’m planning on getting a big phase converter to run everything off of. I’ll probably end up getting a VF2, not buying brand new so I’ll have to see what I find used that’s not too whooped.

The great thing about VF's, especially 2's, is that they're plentiful on the used market!

 

[Will Henry]

Just a quick read through on this thread and I realize nobody has even mentioned some of those time wasters that we more mature gunsmiths deal with. On the usual barrel job, dialing in takes no time at all except for the time I spend going over to pick up the gauge. On the trip over, I'm likely to notice the headspace gauge I left lying on the toolbox, next to the dial. I go to put the HS gauge away. Once there I notice the reamer out of its tube. I put it away and make a half-assed attempt at organizing the reamers. I return to the lathe and realize I still don't have the dial gauge. I get the gauge. I'm ready to dial in but don't know where I put the chuck wrench, which I had in my hand when I first went to get the dial. I finally find the chuck wrench in the drawer with the headspace gauges. I pick up the chuck wrench and wander back over to the lathe. It occurs to me that I'm feeling a little empty, so I decide to go up and have a piece of cake and a cup of coffee. While drinking my coffee, I open my laptop and blow twenty minutes reading stuff on this site, then another twenty watching an episode of Nick's Dyno. I head back down to the shop. On the way I notice a bunch of Ravens and a couple eagles out in the field. I get my binoculars to check them out. Can't see real well so I dig out the spotting scope, which is in my backpack. Having identified the remains of a deer, likely a coyote kill, I put the scope back in the pack. I finally spend five minutes dialing in the barrel. Total elapsed time? About three hours. WH

 

[jackieschmidt]

Just a quick read through on this thread and I realize nobody has even mentioned some of those time wasters that we more mature gunsmiths deal with. On the usual barrel job, dialing in takes no time at all except for the time I spend going over to pick up the gauge. On the trip over, I'm likely to notice the headspace gauge I left lying on the toolbox, next to the dial. I go to put the HS gauge away. Once there I notice the reamer out of its tube. I put it away and make a half-assed attempt at organizing the reamers. I return to the lathe and realize I still don't have the dial gauge. I get the gauge. I'm ready to dial in but don't know where I put the chuck wrench, which I had in my hand when I first went to get the dial. I finally find the chuck wrench in the drawer with the headspace gauges. I pick up the chuck wrench and wander back over to the lathe. It occurs to me that I'm feeling a little empty, so I decide to go up and have a piece of cake and a cup of coffee. While drinking my coffee, I open my laptop and blow twenty minutes reading stuff on this site, then another twenty watching an episode of Nick's Dyno. I head back down to the shop. On the way I notice a bunch of Ravens and a couple eagles out in the field. I get my binoculars to check them out. Can't see real well so I dig out the spotting scope, which is in my backpack. Having identified the remains of a deer, likely a coyote kill, I put the scope back in the pack. I finally spend five minutes dialing in the barrel. Total elapsed time? About three hours. WH

Will, you tell it like it is
I might add taking a break every ten minutes or so to play with the Dachshund .

 

[butchlambert]

Will, you tell it like it is
I might add taking a break every ten minutes or so to play with the Dachshund .

I know that. Jackie, I would like to come by and set in your recliner, sip one of your cold ones, and love on your dog!

 

[Jud96]

Well I bit the bullet and bought a CNC. I got a 2011 Prototrak 1630SX lathe. I’ll be using this machine for prototyping my own parts and gunsmithing. I attached some pictures of the lathe and tooling that comes with it. It came with a large amount of tool holders, inserts, tools, a 6 jaw Bison Set Tru, 3 jaw Bison Set Tru, 4 jaw chuck, a manual 5C collet closer, and Dunham pneumatic 5C collet closer.

I had the lathe professionally inspected and the X and Z backlash was .0001 and the backlash compensation was .0006 in X and .0007 in Z. The machine appears to be a good one. I’m looking forward to using it.

I’ll be making a separate post after the machine is delivered and setup.

 

[ELR LVR]

Well I bit the bullet and bought a CNC. I got a 2011 Prototrak 1630SX lathe. I’ll be using this machine for prototyping my own parts and gunsmithing. I attached some pictures of the lathe and tooling that comes with it. It came with a large amount of tool holders, inserts, tools, a 6 jaw Bison Set Tru, 3 jaw Bison Set Tru, 4 jaw chuck, a manual 5C collet closer, and Dunham pneumatic 5C collet closer.

I had the lathe professionally inspected and the X and Z backlash was .0001 and the backlash compensation was .0006 in X and .0007 in Z. The machine appears to be a good one. I’m looking forward to using it.

I’ll be making a separate post after the machine is delivered and setup.

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NICE!
The tooling is most of the cost
Looks like you're well set
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The biggest time saver in my opinion
would be a good flush system so you don't have to peck chamber by pulling out ever .040"
then clean, and re-oil like us Home Smiths do
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You might look into a Deublin Rotary Union

 

[X Count]

Really nice! All that tooling you can put it to work straight away

I'd love a protrak or Haas lathe and mill