manual machine shop

[MBG]

Can it be done? In this time and day can you run a machine shop just with manual machines? lathe and mill.. maybe a grinder if needed.

[MBG]

and I doubt i have the skills of "tool maker" just regular machine skills

[ViperTX]

Kinda depends on what type of work you'll have....well...I guess the manual machines pretty much dictate the type of work you'll have...hopefully they have DRO's.

[lerman]

Originally Posted by ViperTX Kinda depends on what type of work you'll have....well...I guess the manual machines pretty much dictate the type of work you'll have...hopefully they have DRO's.

Hopefully they are electrically powered.

Ken

[ViperTX]

Ken...*chuckle*....they could have treddles.....

[Mcgyver]

that's funny, you read about the old timers with treadle metal lathes - i don't how the managed to walk, one leg must have been the size of a steer's!

[DieGuy]

Me loves flat belts and the water wheels.

Sure a manual machine shop is a possiblity, you have to remember that 30 years ago we were making tools and dies with no NC machines, and DROs were a luxury!

[wizard]

Well the first thing I hope you realize is that it takes more than a lathe and a mill to run a full service machine shop! As to your question it certainly could be done, you might not realize huge profits but that is a issue based on local. The question I have is why would you want to limit yourself in such a manner?

While a lathe might not require automation I can't see a good reason to avoid it on a mill at all. CNC and milling where made for each other. Not that a lathe couldn't use CNC control but a mill that can go both ways is very versatile. Going both ways is a key consideration in my estimation and can be done well on a knee type mill.

Another thing to consider is that without CNC you have to invest in alot of hardware to supplement the milll.

I geuss I just don't understand why the limitation. I'm not even sure it is practical to start a business today without at least some CNC capacity. This of course depends on the work you want to pursue, just realize that others will be pursuing that work also.

Dave

Originally Posted by MBG Can it be done? In this time and day can you run a machine shop just with manual machines? lathe and mill.. maybe a grinder if needed.

[MBG]

Originally Posted by wizard Well the first thing I hope you realize is that it takes more than a lathe and a mill to run a full service machine shop! As to your question it certainly could be done, you might not realize huge profits but that is a issue based on local. The question I have is why would you want to limit yourself in such a manner? While a lathe might not require automation I can't see a good reason to avoid it on a mill at all. CNC and milling where made for each other. Not that a lathe couldn't use CNC control but a mill that can go both ways is very versatile. Going both ways is a key consideration in my estimation and can be done well on a knee type mill. Another thing to consider is that without CNC you have to invest in alot of hardware to supplement the milll. I geuss I just don't understand why the limitation. I'm not even sure it is practical to start a business today without at least some CNC capacity. This of course depends on the work you want to pursue, just realize that others will be pursuing that work also. Dave

lack of money right now for cnc

[DLMACHINE]

If lack of money is your primary driving force then take a good look around.
Right now the used equipment market is flooded and there are awesome deals to be had. In the 5 auctions I have attended in the last 2 months the manual equipment brought a higher price than the CNC equipment did.
Manual equipment is sought after by hobbiests and this drives the price up simply because they can pay more. A company has to justify the return on the investment, which is tough to do on a manual machine.Look at machines between 1980 and 1990 for great prices.They are old enough that major manufacturers won't touch them unless they are specialized.Most job shops will skip them as well due to the slow speeds,limited controllers and lack of tool changers for most.For your application you can sacrifice machine time for initial start up savings.
Avoid brokers at all costs to save money.

I started my shop with 1 manual lathe and now have 3 manual lathes,2 cnc mills and a swiss type cnc lathe.I started it part time and now work in my shop full time.It can be done.

[miljnor]

I agree with DL It can be done, but, don't quite your day job! This is my suggestion to every startup out there. It will be alot of hours and hopefully your single because it may get you divorced

I started with a CNC lathe and a Manual mill, kinda backwards to most people, but it worked for me. I was only able to survive without the cnc mill for about 6 months. When you go for the financing you have to make the big money to stay alive. So CNC it was!

I would definitely go the garage route with the DIY style CNC if I had to do it over. Without the payments of shop rent and Machine payment you tend to make sooooooo much more money (usually sucked up by tooling cost ) but you can also take a break if things aren't going well (this is why you keep the day job!).

You can quit the day job and get a shop when you have wrangled so much work you can't keep up with it. but until then its the garage!

Another big recomendation is to make your own product because in the end a job shop is a glorified employee thats easy to fire!

[MBG]

Originally Posted by miljnor I agree with DL It can be done, but, don't quite your day job! This is my suggestion to every startup out there. It will be alot of hours and hopefully your single because it may get you divorced I started with a CNC lathe and a Manual mill, kinda backwards to most people, but it worked for me. I was only able to survive without the cnc mill for about 6 months. When you go for the financing you have to make the big money to stay alive. So CNC it was! I would definitely go the garage route with the DIY style CNC if I had to do it over. Without the payments of shop rent and Machine payment you tend to make sooooooo much more money (usually sucked up by tooling cost ) but you can also take a break if things aren't going well (this is why you keep the day job!). You can quit the day job and get a shop when you have wrangled so much work you can't keep up with it. but until then its the garage! Another big recomendation is to make your own product because in the end a job shop is a glorified employee thats easy to fire!

true I would like to make my own product. That would be ideal.