Patriot mills for gunsmithing?

[butchlambert]

Ray,
As far as I know all homes have 220 single phase service. Your various phase converters and VFD units convert it to 3 phase.

 

[Raythemanroe]

I know, most of the lathes and mills at the auction were 440 0r 480 to I would need some help with but not that it can't be done like you said..

Ray

 

[medic727]

No one has yet brought up, what I think, is more important than what brand of machine to buy. Just from the OP's asking about Patriot mills I get the strong suspicion that the OP might not have the requisite experience and/or knowledge to start up his venture. Methinks the OP figures that with a program for a CNC machine that parts will be produced, to spec, without any human intervention. I'm not sure, but if you want to mfg gun parts, the BATFE more than likely require a certain level of security. Especially if suppressors are in the mix.

Just out of curiosity, would the OP be willing to provide a little more background? Machining is just one, small part of any form of mfg. Tooling, fixturing, material traceability, gaging, quality and inspection criteria, failure analysis, traceability, calibration, and the documentation necessary to cover liability issues.

I helped with a firearms mfg startup 35 years ago. For all intents and purposes the biz went down the tubes due to a lack of a strong and independent quality and inspection program.

It's a lot harder to mfg firearms components than looking for investors or loans.

 

[TAJ45]

I can appreciate the OP's entrepreneurial spirit and admire his end goals. Having birthed a biz and bought one, brought it back from the dead, sold it, reacquired it and rebirthed that one, allow me to suggest this:

Start with the smaller bolt on, add on pieces with an eye to establishing a name. You will learn more things than anyone can begin to mention or that you can absorb on this forum - especially if you don't have multiple years in the machining trade or programming experience. Speeds, feeds, material, general machining principles etc. Then machine repair, hydraulic, mech and elex.

One thing that wasn't quickly picked up on was wgt/rigidity of the equipment. That goes hand in hand with precision - a prerequisite along with tolerance holding ability. When you buy a level for setting your equipment, get one that does better than .010" per ft.

War chest? You will need to be able to keep the home fires burning for a good year if not 2 w/o having to depend on profit. By starting with the smaller, non gov't reg'd items, you are lessening the pressures not directly associated with manufacturing. Less paperwork, fees, liability - fewer fronts to do battle on. Hitler took on the world then went to Russia while he was "on a roll". Conquer one at a time, build your foundation, buisiness reputation and personal knowledge. Slow but steady wins this game.

I have a bit of insight as a bud at church is now up to 11 machines, lathes & mills. He started with 1 ea but had 20 years experience in his Dad's shop, is an absolute wizard at programming/fixturing and he still had plenty of ups and downs and the downs were tuff and long. I helped out on occasion so have some insight from his perspective.

Many ideas for a start up are good, workable but are slain from over extending before the foundations of finances, knowledge and skill are established. The more time you spend walking to the goal early on . . . . .

We wish you total success but pay close attention to what the guys have said. Many good insights. Especially the gaging and calibrating. They do NOT come cheap. Do some recon work on that alone just for gen'l knowledge.

 

[butchlambert]

Remember the items that you mention are being done by every Tom, Dick, and Harry. The field is too crowded.

 

[TAJ45]

My Bud I mentioned was doing picatinny rails for Brass Stackers. I asked how in the world he was deburring them. He said he was able to do a lot with the programming. Like I said, he is a programmer's programmer.

 

[butchlambert]

We need to bookmark this thread and check back in in about a year.