Repeatable setup on mill

[Intimid8tor]

So I just got my milled set back up after our move. Needed to be trammed and then the vice mounted and lined up.

I bought 20 Uzi mags that I need to put cuts in for the mag catch. I have the dimensions from the top of the feed lips to where the notch should be. What I want to do is create some kind of cheap set up on the mill so I can slap the mag in and it lines up for the cut. All I would have to do is tighten the vice and make a quick pass with the end mill.

For those that have experience in machining, what ideas would you give me to do this on the cheap?

[yari]

A part stop?

[rero360]

Yep, a small bit that clamps onto the rear vice jaw nd you push the part up against it as the vice is tightened up.

[Intimid8tor]

Well there you go. Guess I will get one ordered.

[wash]

XXX

Wrong answer, you have a mill, make one.

[Intimid8tor]

XXX

Wrong answer, you have a mill, make one.

Actually, that's a good point. I'm not really a machinist, just a guy with too many toys. But, I don't have anything super pressing so doing that and making a few other odds n end tools might be a good use of my time.

[wash]

Practice is good.

It might be an excuse to buy more tooling, like a chamfering bit, 1/4-20 tap, etc.

It is also a chance to experiment with design.

Your first stop may suck if your design skills are not there but your second stop probably won't.

Also, don't push too hard against your stop, I drilled a whole bunch of parts incorrectly before I figured that one out. If things shift half way through 10 operations, you'll screw up an entire batch.

Now go out and do it!

[yari]

Das forsure. You can make it no problemo. And it will make you feel good.

[kcstott]

XXX

Wrong answer, you have a mill, make one.

That would be the correct answer.

But on a side note they are cal vise stops or mill stops.

A vise stop clamps to the vise jaw and a mill stop bolts to the table.

Mill stop


Vise stop


Now the vise stop can be made from a block of steel with a groove cut in it then drill and tap the back for set screws.

Simple stuff like this is what we made in trade school. I still have all my little knick knacks from school

[Intimid8tor]

Ya know, I think I am going to spend the next couple weeks making this and making the mounts for a DRO. That way I can get a DRO in place before I start on my next group of lowers and before I start on 1911 paper weights.

[MrNiceGuy]

I tried making some parts....found out the material cost was too high....without access to any scrap metal pile from any local fab shops makes making your own small parts expensive.

[klewan]

I tried making some parts....found out the material cost was too high....without access to any scrap metal pile from any local fab shops makes making your own small parts expensive.

Go to Alco Metals, near the Oakland Airport. They buy the scrap and resell it. Don't have the $300 minimum order like a regular metal company.

It's where the Unabomber bought his metal....

[Intimid8tor]

Yeah, I'll be going to a scrap place here in Boise. USed to get scraps at a salvage place in Santa Rosa.

[wash]

There must be metal recyclers in the east bay.

I usually use Sims Metal in SJ for 6061 Aluminum and mild steel.

High carbon and alloy steel are harder to find but depending on the size you need, salvaging items like leaf springs or axle shafts can give you a piece of good steel cheap, just aneal with a torch before machining. Or you can just buy a chunk online from an aircraft or race car supplier.