My First Milling Project

[VSAncona]

I finally got my milling machine up and running and completed my first project. It's a small clamping plate. It was a project that appeared in a video by Rudy Kouhoupt and it's used to clamp pieces to the table of the mill for sawing or other operations. It didn't turn out perfect, but I am pretty happy with it as my first project attempt.

 

[kvt]

That looks pretty good.

 

[JimDawson]

 

[Andy Rafferty]

You did well. If it does what you intended, that's all that matters. I worked under an old master that made a jig for every operation even a one-off. Just in case he needed another "one-off". I didn't follow his lead several times and later wished I had. A work or jig plate like this greatly improves the finished product, and you you can take it out and get right back on no problem.

 

[thomas s]

Nice I think it came out great. thomas s

 

[itsme_Bernie]

Looks great! How did it go?

Did you run into any problems while going through your operations?

What bolts to those holes?


Bernie

 

[timvercoe]

I'd sure be proud of that!

 

[VSAncona]

Thanks for the encouragement, guys. It was fun and a good learning experience.

Bernie -- I had some trouble early on just because I was still working out the kinks in milling machine after reassembling it. I experimented with some different speeds and feed rates, depth of cut, etc. I still haven't figured out the best way to achieve a smooth finish. Sometimes I get a great, almost mirror finish and then on the next cut I get chatter marks even though I haven't changed a thing.

The holes are tapped for hold-downs. I have to make some of those too.

 

[Hannadog]

Looks great! Nice job

 

[randyc]

...I still haven't figured out the best way to achieve a smooth finish...

Nice work, Vince; I don't see anything wrong with the surface finish on that part