Milling Tips 2

[@juanrivero8]

I saw this video yesterday and was about to say "Ah! Tom really makes production understandable for us engineers," but I waited till today and was glad I did. I was rereading your book (the Manual Milling Machine chapter) after lunch, and came across many of the techniques you used in the video, like the Aluminum wires for holding a stack of stuff. The videos and the book are complementary. Unabashed plug, guys, buy the book. At least if you are reasonably experienced. There are better beginner's books. Very interesting stuff, production (but boring if you actually do a lot of it!) -- and it is not taught in Engineering schools, except in a very general way. Bravo Tom, for the video and the book.

[@oxtoolco]

Hey Juan, Thanks for the nice comment. I really use the stuff in the book. All the best, Tom

[@jtkilroy]

Hey Tom, always like a nice meatloaf. I did two videos on the diamond tools holders, lots of cuts, tested speeds and feeds etc. They are very capable setup that are repeatable. Got a good laugh on that busted arbor, got to be careful with aluminum and conventional milling cutters no doubt. I bet that was exciting, snapped shut indeed!

[@oxtoolco]

Hey James, Thanks for the comment. It was cool seeing the diamond tools in a old book like that. Cheers, Tom

[@razorworks9942]

Hey Tom, If there's one thing i hate, it's production work, meaning doing the same thing day in and day out. Doing short runs like yours, not so bad, but that monster comes knocking at the boredom door after the first hour or so. You learn how to minimize operations to maximize production for your own sanity, but more so to keep the boss off your ass! I think you and i have traveled similar roads in our journeys.. thanks for the tips! Razor!

[@k5at]

You will finish those racks one of these days! Thanks for sharing the tips.

[@paulandreasen3163]

Tom, realize this is an older video, but I was surprised you didn't already know the ISO approved name for the aluminum wires you used in the vice! Page 2123, para 45, line 6-8 of the ISO Standards Manual, CLEARLY calls out the proper name: "Doohickeys"! Now don't forget y'all! And THANKS for all the knowledge you share and the time you spend doing it!

[@oxtoolco]

Hey Paul, Dang my ignorance shows again. Well my motto is "fake it till you make it" Glad you noticed it now after I've had some time to build some shop cred. Thanks for the comment. Cheers, Tom

[@italyworrier]

Hey Tom Cool Video ! very smooth . i like the extra clamping ! id call the alum. rods ox snips...... regards Gino

[@matthewblackwood4704]

Machinists know to never let their tape measure slam shut. Cool trick with the wire!

[@oxtoolco]

Hi Matt, I hate it when my tip gets slammed. Thanks for the comment. Cheers, Tom

[@lumpygasinavacuum8449]

Thanks for putting these tips out. We can all learn from each other. My pint is tipped in your general direction.

[@oxtoolco]

Hey James, Klink! Cheers, Tom

[@JimFleming1953]

I couldn't help but notice how fast your spindle seemed to be turning, as you power tapped those five holes... WOW! I try to never power tap at more than 60 RPM in the Bridgeport at work...

[@lbcustomknives]

That mill is great Tom.. Didn't realise you could extend the head like that very cool take care lee

[@oxtoolco]

lbcustomknives Hi Lee, That is one of the features of the Bridgeport style mill that makes them so versatile. Thanks for the comment. Cheers, Tom

[@UglukGPZ900]

Since they look like smurf sized dowsing rods I nominate the name "Smurf rods" Good video in a long line of good videos. Keep it up mr Wizard..

[@oxtoolco]

Hey Ug, That is a funny one. I got a chuckle out of that. Thanks for the comment. Do you have a Kawi GPZ900? I wanted one of the 550 so bad when they came out. Bought a YZ465 instead. Cheers, Tom

[@rotaone8513]

How's about "SoftGrips". Great vid as usual Tom, thanks for sharing. Cheers, Peter.

[@diceroller00]

Irregular Compression Equalization Forms or ICEF if you prefer. Nice video, lots of useful info!

[@pierresgarage2687]

Hi Tom, How about "Slack Eaters" for the rods. On some harder materials sometimes I use Masonite or suitable cardboard to equalize width. Good tips about setting up and production considerations, I'm not so keen on production, but, sometimes it has to be done, and the faster the better. Cheers, Pierre

[@oxtoolco]

Hey Pierre, I stopped using paper and materials that fall apart with coolant when I started running CNC machines. The soft wire works really well. Copper or alum is best. Cheers, Tom

[@robincox8902]

Like that, lots of good info, would like a walk round & full demo of your mill head sometime, so we can put together what each click clonking is. Rob

[@oxtoolco]

Hey Robin, A new series. Mystery sounds and clonks. Cheers, Tom

[@swarfrat311]

Hey Tom, Quite an interesting episode . . . and complete with farm animal impressions! You do an excellent chicken! (It's so realistic you should be careful where you step!) What animal can we expect next time? Thanks for sharing more information on using the mill and the registration of multiple parts. Have a good one! Dave

[@oxtoolco]

Hey Dave, I think rats are on the menu for next week. Big f....king rats. Thanks for the comment. Cheers, Tom

[@swarfrat311]

Tom, I think I'll change my KZbin handle to "Swarf Dude". Maybe you can get some of that rub that Adam uses. I hear it's great on rat. Dave

[@oxtoolco]

Swarf Rat Them rat drumsticks are just a bit skinny for my palate. Now if your talking crispy tails we can have a conversation. --Tom

[@AmateurRedneckWorkshop]

Great video as usual. Seems like you have been on the plastic job for a long time. Your customer must be a relative. Thanks for sharing.

[@oxtoolco]

Hey Harold, You are right. Its for the company my dad works for. You see right through me. Cheers, Tom

[@arkansas1313]

Tom, maybe call them "soft edge vise wires" or "soft edge vise shims". Nice setup for getting everything true/square. ....13

[@rchopp]

Thanks for the tips Tom, useful nuggets for sure.

[@salvadorebertolone]

For delrin i prefer to power tap with a hand drill. The tap seems to follow a bit better in such a soft material. I also will pilot drill for near 90% thread engagement just to try and give those threads as much safety margin as possible for whoever is assembling them.

[@outsidescrewball]

Hey Tom... Great lessons....curious as you mentioned the material was soft, near the end of the video you could see where the Kant Twist clamps was located from an oil print, yet the material did not look deformed? So material is soft yet hard enough that the clamps don't mar the material? Chuck

[@oxtoolco]

Hey Chuck, You are correct. The undulator wires marked the edge but the pressure there is much more concentrated. This stuff is pretty amazing material. When you come up I'll give you a couple hunks to play around with. Cheers, Tom

[@TheMetalButcher]

Mr Lipton, Around the 8:12 mark where you are setting your DRO; assuming you had enough table length, could you not mill one side flat to get a reference point, zero your DRO, and then move the table over 13 inches the other direction and be all set up on the other side? It might take a while to move the table, but if you have a power feed, it would still be quicker than measuring with calipers. Thanks, Noah

[@oxtoolco]

Hi Noah, If these parts would have been a whisker shorter I would have done that. With the parts centered there was too much overhang. I also don't like shooting video from the opposite side. Its a tough spot to get a good shot from. You can see around 4:48 where I have the parts shifted over to the right. Good comment and question. Cheers, Tom

[@TheMetalButcher]

Gotcha. Thanks.

[@andymandyandsheba4571]

great video tom thanks for uploading it

[@holmes230536]

Tom, when you turned the job around at 6-22 it looked like the pin in the handle might have been resting on the top of the moving jaw or it was very close and stopping the job from sitting on its base, what do you think,

[@TABE-O]

Appreciate these tips Tom👍

[@scottryan00]

Should I indicate my angle block or is it okay because its flush with the table. For some reason I'm confused about that. Great videos. Thanks.

[@AliMirjamali]

Oh. That Calipers at 07:48 is really Abom sized. Why not credited at the end of Video? Thanks for sharing. Cheers, Ali

[@oxtoolco]

Hey Ali, Guess I forgot about those. Mitutoyo carbon fiber, 24 inch. They are about two pounds or one kilo. Cheers, Tom

[@cooperised]

Sounds like there's a duck caught up in the quill of your mill... ;-)

[@geckoproductions4128]

Tom: nice video. However, would like more detail on power tapping. Do you just place the tap at the entrance of the hole and let it pull itself in, then reverse and let it drive itself back out? Thanks

[@oxtoolco]

Hi Gecko, Its almost that simple. I do follow the tap with the quill handle going in and coming out. When I start there is slight engagement pressure to get the tap to bite. On the way out I balance the quill handle against the return spring force so the tap sees no weight. Hope that helps. Cheers, Tom

[@BasementShopGuy]

Tom, I submit the names: "crush wire" and "take up wire".

[@carneeki]

+1 to crush wire!

[@oxtoolco]

Hey Basement, I like crush wire. Are you a car guy? Sounds like crush sleeve almost. Thanks for the comment. Cheers, Tom

[@TheChitownMachinist]

Ah gotta love some production work...lol! Is your keyless chuck and Albrecht?

[@oxtoolco]

Hey Eddie, Good eye. You're right. Cheers, Tom

[@not2fast4u2c]

*Aluminium Parallel Correction Devices*

[@holmes230536]

How about contour stacking rods Edmund

[@Hardturnin]

I like Chingadares for a name for the alum rods used that way. A old Engineer I knew would use the term a lot.

[@oxtoolco]

Lew Sou Hi Lew, Its a great word as it works in many situations. Chingus is another good one for those pesky parts. Thanks for the comment. Cheers, Tom

[@Hardturnin]

Tom as I get older I try to use harmless terms rather than as my Mother would call it "cussing a blue streak!". I still fall short on occasion finding I still have not "seen it All". Cheers Amigo!

[@BrickTactical]

Very helpful video!

[@oxtoolco]

+clonetrooperx39 Hi Trooper, Thanks for the comment. Cheers, Tom

[@yanwo2359]

Tom, KZbin claims this video was 1080p. Is it lying? Thanks for the videos! Jon

[@oxtoolco]

Hi Yan, I shoot in 720p for everything except the little segment with the DRO. I would say they are stretching the truth a bit. Cheers, Tom

[@yanwo2359]

oxtoolco Tom, I agree. I said I see a significant difference between 720p and 1080p. That is, I USED to. Now, I see no difference whatsoever. KZbin "auto" setting usually comes up at 720p and sometimes there's a 1080p choice, sometimes not. Something's changed, or this is yet another evidence of my increasing mental deterioration. :) Jon

[@mikeadrover5173]

As always, thanks’ for taking the time to make this video! And I support this site. ~M~

[@AtelierDBurgoyne]

I like shimming rods ;) Where did you get the t-shirt with the K&T logos? Have you had them printed yourself? I want one!!! Daniel

[@oxtoolco]

Hey Daniel, I had a few K&T prototypes made. Should have tee shirts available in a month or two. Keep watching. Cheers, Tom

[@dzarren]

This is an old video, but was wondering, is that not the wrong kind of tap to use for a blind hole?

[@jamiebuckley1769]

tom i havea new trump mill bought 6 months ago a bridgport clone very nice machine 9x49. question--- is it ok to power tap in and then reverse the motor? does it do any harm to the motor or is this ok for me to do this on my mill? thanks love your videos i learn lots from you.

[@oxtoolco]

Jamie Buckley Hi Jamie, If you have true three phase power its not a problem. If you do a lot of it then the weak link in the system is not the motor but the motor switch. Been doing it for many years and had two switches go in that time. One was another guy to boot. Tap away. Thanks for the comment. Cheers, Tom

[@desmes62]

Hello tom. Comme le sentiment de déjà vu. Mais OUI ! Même montage que "Monday Night Meatloaf 23" ;)

[@mnotlyon]

I use a chunk of cardboard or folded up paper instead of the aluminium wire. It's less likely to dent your work pieces.

[@oxtoolco]

+Dave Lyon Hi Dave, That works as pretty good as well but does not hold up when you use coolant. Thanks for the comment. Cheers, Tom

[@mnotlyon]

+oxtoolco Coolant's not really a problem. The part that is inside the vice jaw stays dry. There's 100 ways to skin a cat. That's why I like to watch videos like yours. I get to learn new ideas.

[@alanmumford8806]

+Dave Lyon How about a bit of sheet leather against the moving jaw, effectively making a grippy soft-jaw with some limited 'give' to accommodate the differing thicknesses of the parts? Possibly only suitable for soft materials, as I guess otherwise it might allow too much parts movement when milling towards the moving jaw? Disclaimer: I am not a machinist., so just asking...

[@alanmumford8806]

+Dave Lyon How about a bit of sheet leather against the moving jaw, effectively making a grippy soft-jaw with some limited 'give' to accommodate the differing thicknesses of the parts? Possibly only suitable for soft materials, as I guess otherwise it might allow too much parts movement when milling towards the moving jaw? Disclaimer: I am not a machinist., so just asking...

[@mnotlyon]

+Alan Mumford Leather would work fine. I'm not a leather worker, but it seems like it may be a $10 solution to a $1 problem though.

[@Keith_Ward]

How about clamp, tolerance, or slop compensators for your aluminum vise wire?

[@oxtoolco]

Hey Keith, I like slop compensators the best. Cheers, Tom

[@MorganOliff]

Tom I am unable to make my atlas mill say "quack" like yours when I snatch the quill up. Do you think it's still capable of power tapping? :)

[@CompEdgeX2013]

Lets continue on the theme of Stans angles and call your little bent rods T'angles?? Nice lesson and tips if we ever need to cut up some cream cheese too... ;-) Colin ;-)

[@razorworks9942]

Collin and I are on the same page..I call em, Angles to the Dangles!

[@KnolltopFarms]

Not to be a contrarian, but I was thinking of calling them "Bentlies", it gives them an air of respectability, he he! Or do you prefer my first thought, which was "Wiggly Wires"?

[@ShadonHKW]

Squishy rods -or- irregular part correction rods.

[@KnolltopFarms]

Some people like fish sticks, now try "Squish sticks!" :)

[@razorworks9942]

Knolltop Farms Okay, this one gets my vote!!

[@thepotterer3726]

A couple of suggestions for all the odd and unnamed things that we come across in life - doofers and now'ats, doofers is a sort of 'do for everything' corruption, now'ats is a bit more precise and is a corruption of 'you know what', it's an expression from Doubleboost area - so he might correct my spelling.

[@oxtoolco]

Hey Potter, I don't think I can get the accent right. I need a phonics for machinists translator. Cheers, Tom

[@WAVETUBE84]

Divarication Compensators, Medium DurometerTrammel Rods.

[@jflueger]

I would call them DANGALYZERS.

[@oxtoolco]

jflueger Hi J, Good one. Thanks for the comment. Cheers, Tom

[@ac3r787]

I realy like you vids :) Helps me alot in the Shop :)

[@oxtoolco]

Hey Ar3, Thanks for the comment. Glad you like the show and are picking up some tricks. Cheers, Tom

[@paintballnsk]

Is it OK to crank the mill into reverse before the spindle has stopped or are you breaking in between?

[@oxtoolco]

Hi Paintball, If you do it all day long it might be a problem. The motor can handle it fine. The switch is generally what fails in the system. Never had a problem doing this with many mills over the years. Thanks for the comment. Cheers, Tom

[@Max_Marz]

Is there a video where you talk about those calipers

[@oxtoolco]

Hey Max. Not sure. I think I showed them in a previous video but I can't remember. Mitutoyo, carbon fiber, 24 inch, Craigslist $350. They weight about two pounds. Cheers, Tom

[@Max_Marz]

oxtoolco What a steal

[@c5h5nino24]

The welding wire 90s should be called meat hooks

[@oxtoolco]

Hey Lewis, That's a good one. Thanks for the comment. Cheers, Tom

[@tomwade6206]

My old Bridgeport is painted Ugly Shop Gray. Wonder how long they researched to find that ugly color. Did you paint your mill yourself? If so, with what kind of paint, and what color?

[@oxtoolco]

Tom Wade Hi Tom, No I didn't paint my mill. Its an Acra and came with a nice light offwhite and a blue bootstripe. Machine grey or battleship grey. I much prefer machinery green to it. Best, Tom

[@fluffybunny8274]

Very good video

[@9sec93lx]

Differential Equalizing Rods.

[@drportland8823]

Zigzag Irregularity Parallelizing Snips (zips for short) ---------------------- "Gonna zero the DRO"..cut to shot of DRO zeroing... You need to save a single clip of you doing that in a really loud hawaian shirt, then drop it in whenever needed; same with the lathe. See how long it takes people to twig to it.

[@andymandyandsheba4571]

as one of keith fenners chickens been mailed of to your shop lol

[@francismumaugh7376]

When i Grow up i want to be just like Mr. Tom

[@thomasvanburen5233]

great tip thanks

[@ericcorse]

That must have been a hell of a crash

[@oxtoolco]

Hey Eric, I think he had to go home and change his shorts on that one. Thanks for the comment. Cheers, Tom

[@tinsoldier314]

+1 for the extra bushy beard

[@oxtoolco]

Aww bummer. I just trimmed it. Thanks for the comment. Cheers, Tom

[@beyondafx]

using a very near or vernier isnt very accurate for dro reference to be honest, would be better off touching off either side and halving the distance if your not gonna bother clocking it in

[@2009mryoda]

Name - Oxtoolco Shape Sticks

[@jeffgano4669]

wouldn't it be simpler to to set a stop , then clean them up long ,then turn them over and bring them to length. Edge find where your stop is and use your DRO no measuring needed otherwise

[@oxtoolco]

Hi Jeff, Edge find or measure. Both the same. You have to measure at some point or you don't know what your doing. Don't remember what the specific situation was with these parts. Thanks for the comment. Cheers, Tom

[@paulanderson5492]

"Clamping shims" or "clamping sticks"

[@RobertPerrigoOkiechopper]

Your " L " wire should be called " Gotiefro's ".......( Go-tea-fros ).

[@oxtoolco]

***** Hi Robert, Is that Latvian? Thanks for the comment. Cheers, Tom

[@carllangford1774]

How about "vice wigglers"?

[@oxtoolco]

Hey Carl, I think I like undulators better. I also have worked on wigglers in real life. These are for bending a beam of electrons in a particle accelerator. Thanks for the comment and suggestion. Cheers, Tom

[@JTZshokunin]

Maybe you could call them "zigglers".

[@WAVETUBE84]

Kurt compliance sticks..........by Ronco!

[@alepadavano227]

Tom I wouldn't call you chicken at all. Although I was surprised that you limited yourself to only 3 clamps . I am sure that somewhere in your subconscious was a voice saying"Just one more clamp Ox boy",

[@oxtoolco]

Hey those clamps were tightened by hoof power. Thanks for the comment. Cheers, Tom

[@williamskinner2732]

What you call 'end mills' I would call 'slot drills'!

[@JamesWalton1999]

What mill is that?

[@oxtoolco]

Hi James, Its an Acra. Check out the FAQ video for more. Thanks for the comment. Cheers, Tom

[@BigManko]

Wow, your mill is quiet.

[@oxtoolco]

John Smith Hey John, If you think my mill is quiet you should listen to Adam Booths machine. Its really quiet. Thanks for the comment. Cheers, Tom

[@DreadedOne509]

Median wires

[@Max_Marz]

Chingas wire?!? Hilarious

[@EnergyFabricator]

load spreaders. bazinga!

[@oxtoolco]

Whoaa there Nick. This is a family channel...... Thanks for the comment. All the best, Tom

[@pherdantler707]

Aluminum wire = "Adaptive Biplaner Compressional Units', or more simply, 'ABC devices'.........

[@arikariel80]

"space busters"

[@oxtoolco]

Excellent! Thanks for the comment. Cheers, Tom

[@Gottenhimfella]

I thought you were going to use neoprene sheet. I cut up discarded wetsuits on occasions... But many thanks for the alu rod idea: I can see lots of situations where that would have advantages. I haven't been in the exact same situation with plastic workpieces, (when I have, I've first stood them up and taken a lick to make them all the same width) but with metal ones, I have used lead sheet to good effect. I particularly like lead for holding castings.

[@oxtoolco]

Hi Gotten, Thanks for the comment. Cheers, Tom

[@garygordus4465]

Wave pins

[@oxtoolco]

Hi Gary, Good one. Thanks for the comment. Cheers, Tom

[@larryrestainer9949]

At approx 17-10 into video I didn't mean anything bad ,but you refered to your self earlier as making a bozoo mistake. It must have been part of the shop lingo good luck.

[@oxtoolco]

Larry Restainer Hey Larry, No offense taken. I thought you mentioned I was taking a measurement with the spindle running near my hand. All the best, Tom

[@SuperYtviewer]

Wire locks

[@oxtoolco]

SuperYtviewer Hi Super, Good one! Thanks for the comment. Cheers, Tom

[@stephenreeves9025]

Deformable vice shims

[@HMartins-351]

What about metal type detection? It it capable of? kzbin.info/www/bejne/aHSbZKeYqqegjbs

[@mack255]

Does your wife keep you in a padded room at night? With a long white jacket on? LOL.

[@oxtoolco]

Hey Mack, Once she lets me off the chain around my ankle to the mill. Thanks for the comment. Cheers, Tom

[@andymandyandsheba4571]

undulation correction device

[@oxtoolco]

Hey Andy, I like your name. It hold special meaning to me as I actually work on real devices called undulators. These are to bend a beam of electrons to make them emit synchrotron radiation I think we will call them vise undulators. Thanks for the great suggestion. Cheers, Tom

[@tyggerjai]

oxtoolco Then you need some wigglers as well!

[@larryrestainer9949]

Why doesn't bozoo stop spindle before checking width? Bad habits are hard to change , don't teach bad habits thanks

[@oxtoolco]

Larry Restainer Hi Larry, How about a time stamp where you thought you saw the bad habit. Are you sure it was in this video? Thanks for the comment. Cheers, Tom

[@Micscience]

Larry Restainer Oh my turkey, Larry stop being such a wussy cakes... You have bled with Oxtools! now bleed with meeeee!!!! Freeeeeeedoooooooom! Tom, I hope you don't mind a little bit of Braveheart on your channel lol

[@martincoleman7171]

thangus'

[@shedfullnow2007]

Wiggle Wasters

[@johnbonaros589]

Belly dancers

[@gentharris]

Oh that poor neglected work stop LOL set it opposite the end you are working on, set up on the shortest part in the pile to clean up and hope like hell the morons in the waterjet dept left you any stock,,,,,,,,,, I deal with this shit almost daily. These morons actually did a crappy job of water jet cutting me out 10 blanks 3/4 x1 1/5" x14" out of 6061 aluminum plate................ bar in that size is stupidly available and much cheaper........ Gent

[@oxtoolco]

Hey Gent, These would be the morons at the plastic supplier. All table sawed to size. I could hit five grand repeatedly on the tablesaw with a good fence but these guys don't even own a set of calipers. Time for undulator wires. Cheers, Tom

[@mack255]

You need HELP !