Thread: Coolest parts you have ever made

Davy wrote "I don't think there was Practical machinist when this guy made this gear wheel, but I think it would have got the top mark for his cool Item ."

But jeez, Davy, he didn't cut the teeth straight! ;-) That is amazing!

Denis

Atomarc,


That machine is awesome!!! I see air chucks and a regulator, is this to hook up a suppy line to blow off parts, or does it require air to function? Also, is the wood fed into the blade, or is the part held in place and the blade moves? Really awesome contraption!

Originally Posted by N2IXK

Blackdiamond:

Nice work on the Sub-Zero! Just had to do something similar with a secondhand unit I got. Was pulled out from a built-in installation, and had to fabricate side panels for a free-standing install in my new kitchen.

Wasn't the top panel (over the compressor box) on yours an open grille for airflow?

N2IXK,

It was an open grille for airflow. What I chose to do was remove the top (ceiling) on the exterior. Since the fridge is so tall, no one can tell there is no top on it. That allows the air to travel into the unit. I just have to make sure I dust up there every so often. I'm not using the unit to make ice so its no big deal. I also was given a sub zero ice maker which I retrofit as well.

Originally Posted by Blackdiamond

Atomarc,


That machine is awesome!!! I see air chucks and a regulator, is this to hook up a suppy line to blow off parts, or does it require air to function? Also, is the wood fed into the blade, or is the part held in place and the blade moves? Really awesome contraption!

The operator stacks the blocks in the feeder which sit directly over a lugged chain. The chain pulls each block through a left and right high speed shaper cutter, then through a left and right saw that cuts two angles. The blocks drop out of the machine and are automatically returned to the operator who flips them 90 degrees and sends them through again. The air is for a pneumatic holdown shoe. I hadn't built the return conveyor yet so it isn't pictured.

Here are some construction shots...

Stuart

Originally Posted by dgfoster

But jeez, Davy, he didn't cut the teeth straight! ;-) That is amazing!

Denis

it's a british gear

Like others, I can't show most of the stuff I make on a daily basis, but here's a little "height gauge" I made to scribe trim lines on checking fixtures in hard to reach places. Height is set via gauge block buildup.


I'll see if I can dig up some other stuff whe I get back to my work computer.

I think the most unique item was a leg band closing tool for banding hummingbirds. Sorry I do not have a photo.
JRW

I promise this will be my last attempt at selling my wares!

These are pictures of 4 sanding heads I made for a company that builds neat chairs out of old wine barrel staves (Napa,CA). I built the heads and they attached them to a machine they built (out of wood?). I ripped apart an old Sears belt sander to figure out how to make a belt tracking/tensioning mechanism. It worked great. I just rebuilt the tracking heads last month...the original bearings lasted 13 years.

Stuart

First would be a machine to drill all of the holes in either alum or fibreglass extrussions made to make the main legs of a step ladder. Popping holes in all three sides of a channel shaped material. Unit made ladders that look exactly like what Werner has been selling for the last 20 yrs. I am not sure who coppied who. I didn't see a Werner like this until afterwards, so.... ????

I designed and built the structure. The first unit was to be built as cheaply and quickly as possible. We could go back later and make a more perminent unit later as required.

Being on the cheap, that really ruled out buying a bunch of Zagar, Seuter, or other type of prefabbed heads, and many of the holes were dbl, and we needed to get two holes real close.
I designed and built many gearboxes that could run 2, 3, and even 4 holes.

Unit was to be able to run 2' to 12' long ladders - in one hit.

I think I was 24 yrs old? (1991)
I had built prog dies in the past, but this was the first project of anything like it for me.




The first 8' of the machine was built on crank handles. A yr later we finished the back 4' and I was able to use my new CNC SerII SP Bridgeport for that. Made the gearboxes go a lot quicker/better!





I don't know if this is the kewlest "part" that I have made, but what I am more proud of is the fact that I was able to knock it out in one hit. Bar goes in one end, part .... well the part comes back out the same end actually, but in a differ'nt spot. Has taken many special toolholders to make this happen.





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I am Ox and I approve this h'yah post!

Ox,


That's some seriously awesome stuff! Especially the last pic. What was that part for?

By the way, just wondering, did your bridge port have a renishaw probe?? Couldn't tell from the pic! Hahaha ... Just giving you hell. Great stuff!

I've always like this little micro hinge thats on a ring I made. Only .020" thick.

shifter for my Dad's Vmax made out of a box wrench, we needed to change the geometry a little bit since we were moving his controls from mid to forward

Originally Posted by atomarc

I promise this will be my last attempt at selling my wares!

These are pictures of 4 sanding heads I made for a company that builds neat chairs out of old wine barrel staves (Napa,CA). I built the heads and they attached them to a machine they built (out of wood?). I ripped apart an old Sears belt sander to figure out how to make a belt tracking/tensioning mechanism. It worked great. I just rebuilt the tracking heads last month...the original bearings lasted 13 years.

Stuart

Now they look spot on for profiling my rollcage tubing....

Originally Posted by John Welden

I've always like this little micro hinge thats on a ring I made. Only .020" thick.

Damn. Did you use magnifying goggles? That's pretty cool (as simple as it looks).

Here are a couple patterns that were cool. One is from mahogany and the other from aluminum. Last is an injection mold of a fan blade from 4140.

Originally Posted by moto367

Damn. Did you use magnifying goggles? That's pretty cool (as simple as it looks).

40x stereo microscope is what I use.

Like this one. Olympus SZ51 Microscope on Boom Stand w/Ring Light | eBay

Glad you like it, thanks.

Jelrod,

THAT MOLD IS SICK!!! What type of machine did you run it on? What was the smallest tool you used? I have seen some molds made like that and they were running when I arrived and left the shop. Tons of machine time and tons of detail = tons of $$$

Nice bolt carriers Ox. That begs the question, is there a completely custom machined firearm to go along with, or was there another reason for making them?

Not The coolest thing I have made, but I do have photos of it. It was all made on my manual bridgeport in my garage when I was starting out on my own. I designed it from the ground up, and it is fully interlocked, the operator has to have the unit positioned over the joint correctly, and press both triggers simultaneously before the action begins. The action both closes the two parts together and crimps in on operation.

Shouldn't be sticking anymore stuff in this thread but I can't help myself! If there are any acoustic guitar players on board and they are familiar with 'Moonstone Guitars' then they can relate to this device. It's called a 'doming sander' and it sands the profile on the back of the guitar that allows the back to fold into a convex surface to give it strength. The sanding disc isn't shown as Moonstone Guitars added it to suit their particular products.

Stuart

Originally Posted by Blackdiamond

Compared to most guys on here I'm a newbie to the machining world. However, everyone knows how to spot a bad a$$ part or project I have searched for similar threads and I have found nothing.


Its not about bragging rights, but it kinda is.

Lets see some pix of some amazing parts, assemblies, projects, or other things you have made.

Milled, turned, welded, or what ever.

Steel, aluminum, play doh, you get the idea.

Awesomeness ... That's all I'm asking for ...

We all love to be inspired

Dang it, you want pictures. Never worked anywhere that allowed photographs while making and using the most amazing things you could imagine. You don't need inspiration from the past to move forward and make new cutting edge what'sits with the current state-of-art tools at your disposal.

Drive, talent and education matter more for inspiration than what's been done already and photographed.