Making difficult parts fast with fixtures.

[@StefanGotteswinter]

Thats a very cool and well thought out fixture, thanks for sharing, Steve!

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

Thanks and you're welcome Stefan. Steve

[@MachiningandMicrowaves]

Every day's a school day on your channel Steve. I learned a few more useful things here today.

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

Thanks, this is what this channel is all about for us. Steve

[@homemadetools]

Nice fixture! We shared this video on our homemade tools forum this week 😎

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

Thanks for sharing!!

[@captcarlos]

Thanks, Steve, for showing us that elegantly simple jig and fixturing for short run manufacture. You come from a pre-CNC era where this was essential to make short runs economically feasible. Still useful today, to prove a product until larger runs lead to the CNC manufacture route. I would like one of those bars, love the versatility with the inserts!

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

Thanks Carl, We will add you to the waiting list. Steve

[@captcarlos]

That would be good, thank you Steve, you have my email address.

[@herbertsunday5913]

I learn something every time I watch your videos. Very good content.

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

Thanks, that is good to hear. Steve

[@matthewroepke4644]

You’re a gift to the world. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. You’re a true “Master Machinist”. I always learn so much from your videos.

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

Thank you for the kind words. It's always good to hear from others that the videos have been a benefit to them. Steve

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Nice multi use jig. That is going to be a nice boring bar. Thanks for sharing Steve.

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

Thanks Randy, We believe that it will be one of the nicest boring bars on the market. It will be able to use a lot of different inserts. Steve

[@BossWelder81]

I actually work in fixturing and work holding, not many shop vids out there on the subject as good as this one! Excellent work thanks for sharing.

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

Thanks Sam, It means a lot coming from someone in the trade. Steve

[@saytencushman3758]

this is such a great video for a starting machinsit or an experienced one. One of the most important thing aabout machining is to look at a blue print and see the best way to cut out your part

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

Glad you enjoyed it! Steve

[@ClockwerkIndustries]

My entire operation is on fixtures basically, but I am doing fixtures but on the CNC mill, this is super interesting! nice work!

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

Thank you. Steve

[@Just1GuyMetalworks]

Well, "issues" is my middle name! 🤣 That fixture looks like it would be a huge time saver. Thanks for sharing! Great video 👍😁👍.

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

Thanks for watching! Steve

[@richardjones1022]

I love watching your channel. This fixture you made is so brilliant and so smartly made but yet so simple to understand. I'm a toolmaker by trade and I build a lot of precision work-holding fixtures/tooling for high accuracy, tight tolerance finish grinding production work, so I can deeply appreciate your creativity when it comes to designing and building multi-operation production tooling. Keep up the great work and keep the videos coming!

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

Thanks for the kind words.It means a lot coming from a fellow toolmaker. Steve

[@hampfi747]

Awesome fixture. For production you could make it even simpler to set all three spots on the same heigth and in line. Then have the fixture tilted only on the 30 degree so you can just move your cutter over all there parts at the same time and cut all surfaces in one go. Then move over to cut the other side of the rib and be done. I learn a lot from your videos!

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

That's a great idea! Steve

[@toolbox-gua]

I love and enjoy and learn your clever ideas. Thank you for sharing.

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

You are welcome! Steve

[@DudleyToolwright]

I love fixturing. You inspire me every time a watch one of your videos. Unfortunately, they also make me feel like I did on my first day learning to be a machinist. Fantastic work Steve. I hope your kids are busy adsorbing all of this. With the mainstreaming of CNC machines, details like this can get lost forever.

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

You are correct Robert. It is the reason Adam pushed me into making KZbin videos to pass the little I know to others and keep some of these things from following me to the grave when my time comes. Steve

[@DudleyToolwright]

@@SolidRockMachineShopInc May it be many decades hence. Your talents are rare.

[@pontoonrob7948]

Your videos get better and better. I look forward to being able to purchase something from you.

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

Thanks Robert, Just let us know what you would like and if it is not in stock we will put you on the waiting list. Steve

[@michaelawuku1241]

Did you make the fixture yourself?

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

Yes. I designed and made it.

[@tced2858]

Always like your videos Steve, very informative.....

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

Thanks TC ED. Steve

[@kentuckytrapper780]

A man with a plain, great job. I need one of them 3/4 bars.

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

Hi Kentucky. The first 20 should be done soon. Steve

[@bclare2544]

Nice fixturing Steve.

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

Thanks B. Steve

[@joehosie]

Wow Steve ! Great video yet again!

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

Thanks, glad you liked it. Steve

[@youcoulduseit7492]

That helped alot of people new to machining. Old cast crank throws are pretty dimensionaly stable for most needs, For fixture material. If you have a mill that you can tram and can orient the piece at an angle with a combo square. Or have a dro and need a precise angle thats the easy way. If your fooling with one angle alot cut a gauge outta a food container plastic cuase if you have to change orientation of the angle for mock-up or set up a lot that kind of tool like a fish-tail to a lathe can help you get close quick and keep your mind from getting tangled

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

Thanks. Steve

[@t.d.mich.7064]

Hi Steve, I've incorporated the idea of milling a radius swinging on a dowel pin on many occasions in the past. It's a good way to cut a radius that is larger than the diameter of your rotary table. You just need to use common sense and be safe about it! Enjoyed your video, I haven't run a Bridgeport since 2009, and the videos, believe it or not, keep the work fresh in my mind. Ah- retirement!

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

In our very first video I use this method to make our 20" disc sander. Steve

[@TheKnacklersWorkshop]

Hi Steve, I learnt lots today, thank you. I have a small batch run of components planned in the next month or so and will adopt some of the logic you've shown today. Take care Paul,,

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

That is great, I hope things workout well for you. Steve

[@braxtonec]

Great video. Thanks for sharing!

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

You are welcome. Steve

[@jaymachines7587]

Great boring bar idea if the price is right I just might buy one ! Awesome fixture too very toolmaker like 😉

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

Thank you Jerod, We are waiting on the CNC production run to see what prices they will charge before we can get a price on them. Steve

[@PaulWattsSpringGunning]

Thanks guys! Another excellent video!

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

You're welcome Paul. Steve

[@MCEngineeringInc]

Great job!

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

Thanks Craig. Steve

[@robertegan3889]

Great video! As always! I wouldve really like to see you making the fixture, and your setups for the compound angles.

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

Hi Robert, I didn't film any of that. The compound angle was achieved by mounting the part on my squaring cube at 30 degrees and tilting the squaring cube at 45 degrees. Steve

[@robertegan3889]

@@SolidRockMachineShopInc thank you Steve! Im unfamiliar with a "squaring cube".

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

@Robert Egan Here is a link to our video on finishing one up. kzbin.info/www/bejne/a2TTcmV_adCqh7M Steve

[@ROBRENZ]

Very nice work Steve! enjoyed. ATB, Robin

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

Thanks Robin.

[@EmmaRitson]

ENJOYED VERY MUCH AS ALWAYS

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

Thanks Emma, Did your Sine Plate arrive yet? Steve

[@EmmaRitson]

@@SolidRockMachineShopInc no mail yet from your way steve! trying to not wait all day at the post office, as much as id love to. I'm pretty excited. watched pots never boil though. will let you know when it arrives though!

[@EngineersWorkshop]

I like everything about your boring bar and fixtures except the choice of flat head screws. An underutilized (and superior IMO) substitute is a button head screw. For a given screw size, the button head has one size bigger hex key, and they don't wedge in the hole or cam out like flat heads. People tend to use them only for holding sheet metal panels but they have a nice surface area and hold machine parts well when there is insufficient head height for a SHCS. Also been a while since I've seen S7 used. A couple can industry press parts would only hold up with S7, but at 60 Rc for that use.

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

Hi Engineers Workshop, I use the flat head for the pressure distribution on the clamp more so than clearance. The clamp has very thin walls by the screw hole. The flat head keeps the pressure closer to the pressure points on the bottom of the clamp and helps keep the thin walls from buckling. I prefer the smaller wrench size in the application. If a bigger wrench size is used people may over tighten the clamp and damage it. The wrench size in this application is way more than what is needed to tighten the clamp sufficiently. I have used this system on dozens of bars already and it works great. Another choice of steel you may want to consider for the press application is CPM 1V. It has about the same strength as S7 and about the wear resistance of D2. www.crucible.com/eselector/prodbyapp/tooldie/cpm1vt.html Steve

[@EngineersWorkshop]

@@SolidRockMachineShopInc that career was 20+ years ago! Used H13, D2, M2, and nickel carbide for can punches. Nickel matrix held up better to the soluble oils in use.

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

@@EngineersWorkshop I am not sure if CPM 1v was available then. That would explain S7. Steve

[@ronwilken5219]

Thanks Steve, quite informative. I think you could save yourself some time and frustration by using hex screw drivers instead of loose bits, ratchet wrenches and Allen keys. Ball ended ones would reduce the fiddling. I'm sure I'm not alone in saying we'd love to see how you went about making the fixture. If you have any video of how that was done and the design arrived at could be enlightening to many of us hobbiests. Regards from Canada's banana belt. 👍🇨🇦🕊️🇺🇦🤞

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

Hi Ron, I don't have any video on that. Basically it boils down to need. If I have a part that I need to make a lot of on manual machines I always try to use fixtures to speed things up or make difficult cuts easier. In this case I started out how to put on the radius first. As I was building that It came to me I could use the same fixture for the difficult angles and relief cut. By putting it altogether in one fixture it it greatly reduced the time to make this difficult part. Steve

[@cj7jeep81]

Love watching your videos and creative solutions! Finally got a CNC machine to learn on, but still mostly use manual machines and learn a lot from you and other channels. Will keep an eye out for pricing on these bars once done, I need a good 3/4 or 1" bar.

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

Hi Joe, We plan on doing a 1" bar after the 3/4" comes out. It will be the same as the 3/4" using the same inserts but bigger bar. Steve

[@NikColyerMachineWorks]

Excellent multi function fixture. Well thought out. Too bad you weren't able to film the fixture build.

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

I may have to make the fixture out of tool steel in the future. If so, then we may film it. Steve

[@NikColyerMachineWorks]

@@SolidRockMachineShopInc Good job anyhow!

[@outsidescrewball]

Awesome fixture...suggestion use a 4v battery driver w/torque setting, lots of sizes to select from, straight or articulating

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

Thanks for the tip Chuck. Steve

[@dennyskerb4992]

Great, really luv the idea of the “Give Away”

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

Thanks, we are working on the "give away". Trying to figure a way to do it without getting in trouble with the laws and KZbin's rules. Steve

[@carneeki]

Nice fixture!

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

Thanks Adam. Steve

[@bcbloc02]

What about making a pair of dies and hot forging the clamps? Looks possible and it would be faster and stronger. (Plus cool to see :-) )

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

Hi Brian, That is out of my area of knowledge but you are right. Steve

[@dizzolve]

Are those TPG322 inserts

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

Hi Bobby, They are TPG321. 322 should work too but with a little less clearance between the cutting tip and the side of the boring bar. Steve

[@BurtonsAttic]

Nice fixture! Like the manual radius milling on a manual machine. Is that double manual?

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

I believe so. Steve

[@jasbirsinghbhogal]

really good

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

Thanks!

[@CraigLYoung]

Thanks for sharing!

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

You're welcome Craig. Steve

[@pontoonrob7948]

Does your fixturing allow for variations in the blanks? I have no idea what is involved or necessary so I hope these are not dumb questions. Could you incorporate the DRO and its multiple zero settings to make so you don't have to eyeball a start?

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

Hi Robert, Those are good questions. The function of this part does not need extreme accuracy but the way the blanks were built there is very little variation between parts lee than a few thousandths of and inch. Yes I could use multiple zero setting on the DRO but I prefer a single zero and on batch runs will write the number down for each feature location. This video was just to demonstrate the function of the fixture so I went by sight on much of it. Steve

[@markbenoit]

Cool fixture, I have some experience manufacturing with welding fixtures, I noticed the time you are spending putting screws in and out is very inefficient.

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

You may be right for high volumes but it was amazingly fast even with the screws for our small run. Steve

[@markbenoit]

So where can people buy the boring bar?

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

Hi Mark, You can send an email to solidrock@nlbchpel. org without the space at .org and Kathy will set you up and let you know what is in stock. Steve

[@earleclemans4836]

What DRO do you use on your surface grinder?

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

It is an Acu-Rite model 200s 2xc Steve

[@박현진-k6f]

wow very good !!!

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

Thank you. Steve

[@James-fs4rn]

👍what the mill is getting used for milling? I thought that thing was for turning. 😆

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

Hi James, I love milling machines they are so versatile. They are capable of so much more than we show in our videos. Steve

[@warrenjones744]

Well done Steve, that is a pretty complex part really and being so small makes it even more so. How could you do it with out fixturing of some kind. I suppose you might, but figuring each set up would be time consuming and you might still end up building some kind of fixture anyway even for a one of part. Cheers

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

Hi Warren, You are correct. We had to fixture the part to keep the price of the new boring bars down. I haven't timed it yet but I believe from start to finish including the blank to be about 7 minutes each at 20 plus parts per run. Without fixtures it would guess it would be over 1/2 hour each. Also, it is so simple to use the children will have no problem making these parts. Steve

[@ryanb1874]

Man, now that, is some Magnum status toolbuilding, do these still take CNC ops,

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

Thanks, no CNC required on these parts. Steve

[@robertegan3889]

Man I wish I could get in to this type of work. I get so bored where I work.

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

Hi Robert, Do they have machine shops within driving range of where you live? If so, check them out. Steve

[@robertegan3889]

@@SolidRockMachineShopInc yes. Many. I currently work as a manual machinist for an aerospace company. I mostly run jigbores. I would really like to get in to tooling. However I dont have much grinding experience.

[@dauber1828]

Thanks for sharing

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

You're welcome. Steve

[@Veektohr]

Hi, what is the best way to purchase your boring bars?

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

Hi Victor, The best way to purchase is to send us an email with your shipping address, tell us what item you would like and how many. We'll write up an invoice and email it back to you and you'll be able to pay with credit card using the invoice. You can email us at: solidrock@nlbchapel .org, without the space. If there's anything else I can help with let me know! Kathy

[@TrPrecisionMachining]

buen video..gracias por tu tiempo

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

You are welcome. Steve

[@multiHappyHacker]

first thing i would think of is another axis to make it easier

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

5 axis CNC would be nice. Steve

[@PhaseConverterampV]

Good part for small 5-axis NC.

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

I wish I had one. This fixture gets me closer to the speed that it can be done. Steve

[@PhaseConverterampV]

Don’t get me wrong, the parts look great. Nice fixturing too.

[@joell439]

👍👍😎👍👍

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

Thanks Joel. Steve

[@danarrington2224]

I really wish you would keep your work area clean. Those shavings are driving me mad.

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

I'm sorry to hear that. I wish I could help you with that but I'm not certified to treat OCD. :) Steve

[@davidarndt3756]

Some people make stuff. And that makes chips. If you work for yourself you don’t make any money cleaning up.

[@KW-ei3pi]

Something you might try for your videos. Editing

[@danmooney6881]

Be nice to have a camera angle without your hand and arm in the way! lol

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

Sometimes that is hard to do. Steve