Looking for ideas for a metal working project for my rig

[RCHeliguy]

I'm visiting a friend for a few days next week who has a fully equipped machine shop and will be getting end mill and lathe instruction and have all kinds of cutting and welding tools at my disposal.

I've been told there is plenty of 4041 steel, some SS, aluminum and industrial plastics which I assume means Nylon, UHMW, ABS, PVC, acrylic etc..

I have 5 days to come up with a design for something and at the moment I'm drawing a blank.

Any ideas???

 

[GEO147]

If you have triples a nice overhead enclosure mage from a couple of arms and smoked acrylic would be awesome?

 

[GFJunky]

SFX100 without 3D printed parts. I did this recently and it was a nice machining job. Ali end plates and PTFE sliders

 

[Mascot]

Keyboard/mouse tray?

(beer holder)

 

[RCHeliguy]

Keyboard/mouse tray?

(beer holder)

At first I thought, done before, but I use a trackball mouse and maybe I can come up with something very compact for it. It will also need something like a rubber band to keep the trackball from rattling from the transducers.

I just realized that right on top of the right profile centered on the rear most hole would be perfect. I'll just need to tap the front and rearmost holes and that gives me a very easy mount point.

I'd want a couple sliding clamps to capture it in case I change out my track ball and a place to hook something that hold the trackball still, or maybe a quick lever that I can flip quickly that rests on it adequately.

I normally design all my own stuff, but this may be more of a collaboration. My friend is a crazy over the top intelligent. But this will be fun.

 

[RCHeliguy]

Getting some good instruction. I can now claim to understand the functionality of this metal lathe. It's a pretty complex beast. Makes a wood lathe look like a toy. Tomorrow hands on with the mill.

BTW this isn't me. That's Tom who is instructing me.

 

[RCHeliguy]

This is me and the part I made isn't much, but everything is accurate to 1/100mm.

 

[EsxPaul]

View attachment 321915 View attachment 321912 View attachment 321913

This is me and the part I made isn't much, but everything is accurate to 1/10,000 mm

Nice work you are doing there. Do I spot a steering wheel usb cable holder?

 

[Moxley6969]

Getting some good instruction. I can now claim to understand the functionality of this metal lathe. It's a pretty complex beast. Makes a wood lathe look like a toy. Tomorrow hands on with the mill.

BTW this isn't me. That's Tom who is instructing me.
View attachment 321858

Awesome, leaning these trades is something everyone should know imo, (unfortunately trades in schooling is a thing of the past it seems)

I hope he gave you Fair warning on NEVER leaving the Chuck Locking Key IN the Machine when not needed. (looks like hes changing jaws in the pic) I was taught to Never put the locking key ANYWHERE but its drawer for storage or in the machine tightening with Hands on and then Immediately back in the drawer. Safety first i guess eh...

#YouTubeMachiningFails
#PotentialDeath
#LossOfLimbs

 

[RCHeliguy]

He specifically told me that a guy could get FIRED for leaving a chuck key in the lathe. He was pulling that chuck apart and actively using the chuck key when I took that shot.. He made a big point about how dangerous it was to leave the chuck key in there.

 

[RCHeliguy]

Sorry to say this isn't the USB plug holder. I won't know the dimensions of that piece until my GT3 wheel arrives. Luckily I don't need slots on that and I can make it at home with my drill press. These are to strap down the two power supplies coming with the SC2.

 

[RCHeliguy]

Not sure how I'll use this but it's 40mm wide and has 8mm thread at both ends and in the middle on both sides.

 

[RCHeliguy]

6 axis actuator system accurate to 50 Millionths of an inch. Not quite a fit for a sim motion system, but still pretty cool!

My friend does some serious next level stuff in his lab. The machine shop is just so he can make whatever he needs which are mostly prototypes and one offs for highly customized high speed inspection systems. he writes all the software, to drive everything and to process the sensor data.

 

[RCHeliguy]

I asked Granite State about selling the motor mount side of their QR system. They replied to my request promptly and since then I've heard nothing. I've also been told I'm not the only person to ask for these parts and never received any sort of answer. Since I have no idea what they plan to do, I have a contingency plan to take care of my needs.