Thanks.

[Red Robin]

Update: My friend said it didn't work, apparently there wasn't enough torque and the machine was way too small. kcscott was absolutely correct.

[tr6guns]

http://www.sherline.com/3551inst.pdf Which I don't believe is tall enough so
This one and hold down clamps might work.

http://www.sherline.com/3561pg.htm

[tr6guns]

Here also is the page for accessories..

http://www.sherline.com/accessor.htm

[SOAR79]

keep us updated on the process!

[middleofnowhere]

There are some good mill and drill press vices on craigslist.

That is a nice little machine by the way, and made in the right place

[SilentPea]

nice little mill, but I think you're going to have a lot of problems finishing the 80% on there. I felt a little sketchy with a 20lb 3inch vise.

with that said -- probably buy the biggest vise that fits on the table from LittleMachineShop-Screwless Vises. The two inch looks about right for the machine, but might not have enough jaw-capacity to hold the lower+jig.

[Red Robin]

nice little mill, but I think you're going to have a lot of problems finishing the 80% on there. I felt a little sketchy with a 20lb 3inch vise.

with that said -- probably buy the biggest vise that fits on the table from LittleMachineShop-Screwless Vises. The two inch looks about right for the machine, but might not have enough jaw-capacity to hold the lower+jig.

Yeah I thought so too, he'll definitely have to take his time milling since it's so small. I like that link! I'll send it to him and see if the specs work out.

[kcstott]

Yeah good luck with that machine. take a month of sundays to mill one out. the motor has no torque and the damn thing is tiny. like a dremal on steroids

[ar15barrels]

The 2.25" throat dimension is going to be the limiting factor.
There would not be room for a vise and a lower fixture to be clamped in the vise.
Just take the lower receiver fixture and drill holes in it so it can be bolted down directly to the table.
That is the only way you will be able to reach the middle of the receiver to mill the fire control pocket.

[ar15barrels]

Yeah good luck with that machine. take a month of sundays to mill one out. the motor has no torque and the damn thing is tiny. like a dremal on steroids

That machine will turn 3/32" and 1/8" end mills in aluminum all day long!

[SilentPea]

Just take the lower receiver fixture and drill holes in it so it can be bolted down directly to the table.

Definitely this. If I recall the specs properly, the table uses 10-32 threading for the T-nuts.

[kcstott]

That machine will turn 3/32" and 1/8" end mills in aluminum all day long!

Like I said a month of Sundays.

[Whiterabbit]

All I can say is don't use a drill press vise. Use a milling vise, or hold downs. Drill press vises will lift on tightening and take you out of square.

I actually have been using a right angle plate and hold down hardware and it has been really quite effective.

[kcstott]

All I can say is don't use a drill press vise. Use a milling vise, or hold downs. Drill press vises will lift on tightening and take you out of square.

I actually have been using a right angle plate and hold down hardware and it has been really quite effective.

Milling vise will lift too. it's usually not enough to matter but on tighter tolerance stuff it makes a huge difference. There are tricks to holding a part in a vise to insure it is in there square.

[Target-Ed]

Got myself a nice Emco (Austria) Compact 5 with the milling head/column. Should be beefy enough to do 10/22 and AR lowers.

I already use a Unimat 3 and am comfortable with that maching....Compact 5 looks like a U3 on steroids with a TAXI yellow paint job

Ed