advise for tiny stainless steel parts

[jason_l]

In the near future I'm going to be looking for a desktop machine to make small parts for watches. Nothing more then a few mm thick - mostly lugs for attaching leather straps, which would be soldered to watch cases made on a lathe, and other equally little yet simple shaped pieces. The most material it would have to cut would be when rounding the lug where it connects to the watch case. I've attched pics of a similar watch case being machined for an example (it's a prototype, so it's in brass).

I'm also interested in trying to "route" out 3 dimensional watch hands. If I can get the basic shape made by machine, I can cut it out the rest of the way and hand finish (I currently do it all by hand, but I recently saw a watchmaker routing his hands out via a cnc mill with a TINY cutter).

These are all tiny pieces, and the quantities would be low (a few pieces a week max). They would be stainless steel though, so I'm worried that something little like a sherline wouldn't work.

Any suggestions on equipment would be greatly appreciated. I need the least expensive solution to initially get started - better equipment could be purchased if sales justify it.

[tobyaxis]

My suggestions are either a Tormach PCNC Mill (http://www.tormach.com/Product_PCNC_main.html) or a HAAS OM-1 office CNC Milling Machine if you have the money (http://www.haascnc.com/VMC_MODEL_OM.asp#officemill).

CAD/CAM Software BobCad/Cam V21 or V22 (V22 scheduled release date Sept 2006 ) You can usually get BobCad for around $500. www.bobcad.com

The mills I suggest are a bit pricey but will handle the work envelope you have with ease.

My 2.5 cents on CNC Mills and Software.
Welcome to the Zone.

[dertsap]

ive seen that name Tormach posted many times and i haven t seen a link to it or did a search on it ,that is a sweet little system for the price

[tobyaxis]

Originally Posted by dertsap ive seen that name Tormach posted many times and i haven t seen a link to it or did a search on it ,that is a sweet little system for the price

Personally I'm thinking about it. There have been a few posts here and the BCC Forum on Tormachs. They seem to be a very strong machine for their size. The material, feed, and speed capabilities look good. Someone posted a thread that they were cutting Monel with a Tormach. That material is nasty and eats carbide cutters for a light snack. I'd really like to test one in Titanium to see how well it does. Do you think it can handle it Dertsap? I have my doubts.

[dertsap]

your guess would be as good as mine , personally i think anything can be cut on the worst of machines its how to go about it , titanium is funny stuff especially what ever grade it may be , ive found it to cut like aluminum and like a dowel pin at other times ,at the same time i haven t cut a lot of that stuff either ,
i would prefer to see servo motors on something like that ,
the hass toolroom mill is more but i know a guy who s had pretty good success with that , have you concidered them

[tobyaxis]

Originally Posted by dertsap your guess would be as good as mine , personally i think anything can be cut on the worst of machines its how to go about it , titanium is funny stuff especially what ever grade it may be , ive found it to cut like aluminum and like a dowel pin at other times ,at the same time i haven t cut a lot of that stuff either , i would prefer to see servo motors on something like that , the hass toolroom mill is more but i know a guy who s had pretty good success with that , have you concidered them

Oh Yes, one in each room of the house would make for great company, LOL, but I don't think the Little Woman would like that too much. Not to mention the price for the machine, holders, work holding, and tooling costs. They just don't understand that a man's passion for machining burns inside if left to kindle.

Hence, if this could be purchased without her knowing about it I'd swapout the washer and dryer closet and put one of these in their stead.

[dertsap]

i hear ya
i m sure itll be easy to slip 7 G without her noticing

[tobyaxis]

Originally Posted by dertsap i hear ya i m sure itll be easy to slip 7 G without her noticing

Yea, like she wouldn't notice her shue money GONE

[jason_l]

tobyaxis - thanks for the suggestions!

[tobyaxis]

Originally Posted by jason_l tobyaxis - thanks for the suggestions!

I would stick around a while because there are 35,000 plus members that may have a better alternative for you. Chances are they have not seen this Thread yet.