Ok, I am a newbie to machining. I have done a little bit while at school but have always had the equipment provided and a lot of the time the set-up has been done for me (as class projects). I am now nearing the completion of my cnc retrofit and it is time to start buying tooling. I do have some items already but i would like to generate a list of important tooling to have for the beginner so that it would not only help me, but other newbies like me.
What I would like to do is generate a categorized list and just have everyone add to the list (just cut and paste into your reply).
Categories:

Set-up/inspection


Work Holding


Tool Holding


Preferred Vendors

What you need will be rather dependent on the machines your using, scale of the parts, type of parts... You will have to supply more details before you can get very meaningful help.
That said.

Inspection
calipers (digital), micrometers, granite surface plate, gage blocks, pin gage sets, digital height gage, CMM
-You do get what you pay for, but do not buy more precision than what is required.
If they are not well maintained even top end equipment will perform like the cheap chinese stuff.

Workholding
http://www.miteebite.com/ has some nice products.

I will mostly be doing prototyping on a 3 axis mill. budget is very tight so looking towards the essentials.

dpuch said it right, what tooling you will need depends on what your making, if you are looking to buy only what you need, you need to provide more information on what you are making, how tight your tolerances are, how big of parts. Things like that.
kling

Surely there are basic machine tool accessories that every shop needs? For instance, I know I need a mill vise. I know I need an indicator to set up the vise, but do I get a dial test indicator, do I get horizontal style, vertical style? Is there a specific mount to put it onto one of my tool holders to indicate off the quill, or is a magnetic base plate adequate? Are there other general set up tools I should get other that in indicator? What would be the bare minimum?

I am not looking to get every little tool that may cover every job, but surely there are certain items that every machinist has in their shop and/or toolbox that they use on a pretty regular basis?


Maybe it will help to list what I have so far and you can suggest items to augment. I will be making simple parts that require the basic operations.

For set-up, I have a dial test indicator, a couple of regular 1" dial indicators and a magnetic base. I have a vise on order, a 6" rotary table an 8" super spacer and a clamp down set. I have 2 pairs of 1-2-3 blocks. I have a 6" digital caliper. For tool holders I have a variety of 30 taper end mill holders, a 2-3 inch (haven't measured it) indexable face mill, a boring head and drill chucks.

What I know I need: parallels (how big of a set do I need) more clamping kits, angle plates, end mills (which I will purchase as needed), drill bits and reamers(also purchase as needed).

So what am I missing from the basic machinist's set?

I don't think there is a basic set. Maybe a starter set with calipers, 1-3 mics, scale, coffee, etc, but it's all dependent on the work type. The fact you have to even ask really means your over your head already to make a business out of it IMO.

OK, a 30 taper CNC vertical mill. Vice and rotary table setups. I'll assume custom fixtures as needed also.

Still it would help to know what type of parts your looking to make. While I'm sure it will be what ever you can manage to, you will need decide what you want to focus on for this budget. Things to consider are number of pieces (1, 10, 100, 1000), hold down complexity (simple blocks to complex castings), use (drilling holes, simple blocks and brackets, repair work, multi sided operations), tolerances. Is this for hobby work or are you looking for this to be a business?

Another thing to remember is that the more creative you are, the less you CAN get away with. This usually translates to how long it takes to do something though.

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Enough of that.

Setup:
Edge finder (poor) better would be a 3d probe or a touch probe of some sort.

Inspection:
depends on your part. If you machine it, you will want a way to make sure you made it right. Again creativity can be a key.

work holding:
I would get a set of vice parallels, and/or a vice jaw set. I'm assuming you have something similar to a 6-8" kurt angle lock vice?
There will be a lot of stuff that you can make yourself, and can be good practice. Brackets and spacers, vice stop, custom fixtures things like that. Just check the price for the retail stuff before you decide to make it. A lot of the cheap chinese stuff will work as well or better than it is worth making yourself. Mainly because of hardening and grinding operations.

Tooling:
Carbide tools are better, and for that you should have collet holders. But perhaps that will be a future upgrade, or unnecessary for what your making.
End mill, Drill, tap and dowel ream sets. Beyond that most cutting tools will probably be ordered as needed.

I don't think there is a basic set. Maybe a starter set with calipers, 1-3 mics, scale, coffee, etc, but it's all dependent on the work type. The fact you have to even ask really means your over your head already to make a business out of it IMO.

Actually I am trying to pare down the list of wants versus immediate needs. Asking for help is also a way for me to bounce things off more experienced people and possibly get some ideas for something I may have missed. This is starting mainly as a hobby and not as a source of income, my day job provides a pretty good source...

OK, a 30 taper CNC vertical mill. Vice and rotary table setups. I'll assume custom fixtures as needed also.

Still it would help to know what type of parts your looking to make. While I'm sure it will be what ever you can manage to, you will need decide what you want to focus on for this budget. Things to consider are number of pieces (1, 10, 100, 1000), hold down complexity (simple blocks to complex castings), use (drilling holes, simple blocks and brackets, repair work, multi sided operations), tolerances. Is this for hobby work or are you looking for this to be a business?

Another thing to remember is that the more creative you are, the less you CAN get away with. This usually translates to how long it takes to do something though.

------------------
Enough of that.

Setup:
Edge finder (poor) better would be a 3d probe or a touch probe of some sort.

Inspection:
depends on your part. If you machine it, you will want a way to make sure you made it right. Again creativity can be a key.

work holding:
I would get a set of vice parallels, and/or a vice jaw set. I'm assuming you have something similar to a 6-8" kurt angle lock vice?
There will be a lot of stuff that you can make yourself, and can be good practice. Brackets and spacers, vice stop, custom fixtures things like that. Just check the price for the retail stuff before you decide to make it. A lot of the cheap chinese stuff will work as well or better than it is worth making yourself. Mainly because of hardening and grinding operations.

Tooling:
Carbide tools are better, and for that you should have collet holders. But perhaps that will be a future upgrade, or unnecessary for what your making.
End mill, Drill, tap and dowel ream sets. Beyond that most cutting tools will probably be ordered as needed.

Thanks, that is helpful.