Newbie CNC Workshop Tools

[Burn]

Okay, I am almost finished building my Taig CNC mill- I have the servos installed, the electronics are here and I am ready to purchase my vise, but I need to know what people reccommend as far as beginner's machine shop tools go. I would appreciate links from Littlemachineshop or ebay, but I can definitely jive with other sites

Thanks so much guys

[WRMorrison]

I don't have any direct links to the products, but I get most of my tools (I'm a lowly CNC aerospace machinist) and other things from:

http://www.use-enco.com
http://www.mscdirect.com
http://www.travers.com

You'll definitely want to get a 6" caliper (I prefer dial, but that's just me). Some good brands to choose from are Starrett, Mitutoyo, Brown & Sharpe, Etalon, etc. You'll also want to get a dial indicator. Interapid is the best brand I've used for indicators, but I've had good luck with XTest as well (I think they're made by Fowler?) Another must have is an edge finder. Electronic/Laser edge finders are nice, but you definitely don't need them, a regular one will serve you just fine. Some more must haves: thin set of parallels, vise stops, 0-3 mic. set with standards, etc., etc.

It really all depends on what you plan to machine, what are the tolerances, and how often you plan to use your mill. Often, you can get away with the cheaper tools if you don't have to hold +/-.0025 tolerances. If you plan to machine anything with tighter tolerances than that, then stick to the good tools

-WRM

[Burn]

Great, thanks for getting me started

Could you give me a general list of tools required? So far, from your suggestions and my own knowledge I need the following:

Edge Finder (Does it have to be Starrett? I am going to get one with a 3/8" shank)
Calipers (Again, not sure on the accuracy, but can someone give me a model that they use with a decent price range? Preferably <$100.)
Dial Indicator (Again, a model number would be great- I have no experience, remember )
Parallels (What are these used for again?)
Micrometer set (Again, looking for a model or a link)

Should I be looking into a clamping kit using T-slots? As in 1-2-3 blocks, etc.?

Thanks again for the help

[WRMorrison]

Edge finder definitely does not have to be starrett, I believe the ones I use are whatever's on sale at the time. Good calipers under $100; check out Mitutoyo, they're usually around $70-80 if memory serves. Parallels are used to set something clamped in a vise to a certain height (among other things), and you'll use them a lot (if you're clamping parts in a vise, that is). You'll definitely also want a clamping set, but you don't need the biggest set available; usually a 20pc. set is more than enough. 1,2,3 blocks (along with 2,4,6 blocks) come in handy from time to time, but I don't use mine much (except for checking certain parts after machining).

As far as mic. sets are concerned, it's really up to you. I use starrett, but a co-worker of mine uses the cheap chinese imports (about $30 or so for 0-3") with good success. He checks them frequently to see if the zero has changed, but only a couple times per year does he see fluctuations. I say that if you're not going to do this for a living, go with the cheap set and make sure it comes with standards for checking. Also, you may or not want them to be able to read to .0001, it's up to you.

I think a starter set like this would work well for you:

http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?P...&PARTPG=INLMK3

and you could always add to it from there.

Here are the parallels that I use at work:

http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?P...&PARTPG=INLMK3

and these at home:

http://www.littlemachineshop.com/pro...gory=988300808

This edge finder would probably work well for you:

http://www.littlemachineshop.com/pro...1240&category=

Here's the mics. that a co-worker of mine uses (pretty much, different color):

http://www.littlemachineshop.com/pro...ory=1310310429

That should get you started

-WRM

[Burn]

Great, thanks so much! Is there much difference between the Enco and the LMS parallels you linked, or are they the same?

[Burn]

Sorry for the DP :\

I noticed the LMS set is more accurate than the Enco one, but does the decreased length of the LMS set make a difference for my application? I am primarily using the mill to machine out copper and Delrin.

[WRMorrison]

It shouldn't make a difference at all. The only reason I use the LMS parallels at home is because they're 3" long (the same width as my vise) as opposed to 6" For what I do, the accuracy isn't too much of an issue. At work, I mainly CNC everything, but now and then, some things need a touch of 2nd. op work (say, tapping a hole that the 4 axis mill can't reach due to previous operator stupidity when building fixtures). If it goes in the vise, then those are the parallels I use.

-WRM

[Burn]

http://www.littlemachineshop.com/pro...ProductID=1590

That's the vise I'm going to be using. The jaw width seems to be 2.88", so I think I am going to go ahead and grab the LMS set. No sense in buying anything longer, right?

[Burn]

Okay, just to provide an update:

I have decided to buy the following:

These Parallels, 3" long

This vise, 3" Screwless

This Edge Finder

This Micrometer set (Is this accurate enough for my purposes? I'm not looking to hold insane tolerances, but for measuring purposes is it accurate enough?)

These calipers, 0.001" accuracy I think is good enough for my purposes. Anyone want to agree/disagree?

WRMorrison, I would buy that "starter set" you listed, but would I be better off purchasing some vernier calipers and a ruler, considering I'll already have the other stuff in the kit?

Also, I need to make sure I have something to square the head of my mill with the table. Called "Tramming", I believe. Anyone want to reccomend a tool to do it? I heard a dial indicator setup does the trick.

[digits]

Tramming - one of my least favourite tasks!

I would recommend using a dial indicator for that (it's the one with the plunger, not the swinging arm (Dial Test Indicator)) as the initial tram can be so badly off that you go off the end of your DTI, or spin it round the scale twice, which is very confusing as it doesn't count the whole revolutions, unlike the Dial Indicator.

You will also need a way to get your DI mounted such that you can spin it in your spindle and have it trace out a circle on your table.

HTH.

[Burn]

Okay, so do I need a Dial Test Indicator or a Dial Indicator? I saw this kit from LMS that appears to have both: http://www.littlemachineshop.com/pro...=2925&category

Does that kit have everything I need to tram the headstock?

[Burn]

Okay, decided to go with the kit I listed in post 11. Also, I need to buy one of these Crydon relays to drive the one relay output of the PMDX-122: http://cgi.ebay.com/CRYDOM-D2425-Sol...QQcmdZViewItem