Cphockey16
Plastic
- Joined
- May 28, 2020
Hey there.
I've been a casual browser of practicalmachinist for close to a year now - or, right around the time I started my toolmaker apprenticeship. There's lots of great information here but I have one specific question I've been unable to find an answer to anywhere on the web.
So, I'm still running a Bridgeport most of the time at my shop. I've gotten to be pretty decent all-around as a manual mill-hand. However, most of the parts I've been making have been for prototype molds - I.E. - quantities of 2, 4, 6 etc. I've got a job coming up where I'll be making 40 parts and I'm looking for the most time savvy way to do it while still producing quality work.
My question is regarding squareness. Let's say I have a 2in x 2in x 6.5 in piece of steel and I want to make 10-14 parts from it. The parts finish dimensions are 2x2x0.4 thick. I have the part milled to completion on the height and width and each end of the length properly squared. I just need to cut off the appropriate size (say, at .45) and mill to my thickness. This is easy enough to do with the end pieces, the one machined surface allows me to complete the thickness while keeping things square all-around. My question is, is there any way to retain the squareness of my part when both sides of my thickness are saw-cut? Or do I need to run back to the mill and remachine the ends of my bar stock after I cut off each individual part?
Hopefully I described things well enough. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
I've been a casual browser of practicalmachinist for close to a year now - or, right around the time I started my toolmaker apprenticeship. There's lots of great information here but I have one specific question I've been unable to find an answer to anywhere on the web.
So, I'm still running a Bridgeport most of the time at my shop. I've gotten to be pretty decent all-around as a manual mill-hand. However, most of the parts I've been making have been for prototype molds - I.E. - quantities of 2, 4, 6 etc. I've got a job coming up where I'll be making 40 parts and I'm looking for the most time savvy way to do it while still producing quality work.
My question is regarding squareness. Let's say I have a 2in x 2in x 6.5 in piece of steel and I want to make 10-14 parts from it. The parts finish dimensions are 2x2x0.4 thick. I have the part milled to completion on the height and width and each end of the length properly squared. I just need to cut off the appropriate size (say, at .45) and mill to my thickness. This is easy enough to do with the end pieces, the one machined surface allows me to complete the thickness while keeping things square all-around. My question is, is there any way to retain the squareness of my part when both sides of my thickness are saw-cut? Or do I need to run back to the mill and remachine the ends of my bar stock after I cut off each individual part?
Hopefully I described things well enough. Any help would be greatly appreciated!