Monkey metal and pot metal?

[Mantelope]

With all this talk of helicoils, I thought I'd do some searching. A nice writeup: http://www.roadstarmagazine.com/modu...rticle&sid=233

[MadMax]

I'm contemplating a tools section for the ASCArmoury.

Section containing hex key sets, hammer punches (so much better than belting a hex key with a mag), and specialized pliers I've found particularly useful in airsoft repair. I'm also collecting various fasteners and orings. I could even carry a few helicoil sets. Unfortunately they're not cheap. Inserts cost a buck or two each and the tap usually runs around $15 from tool suppliers.

One thing I really want to do is get some custom punches made. I'm thinking of steel punches with nylon tips so you have a punch stiff enough to bash out most pins with a soft tip which doesn't scratch off the blueing on your black pins.

[Kokanee]

that would be swell Carl, i'm sure you would have alot of people lining up to grab those items.

[Autumn]

Originally Posted by harleyb

Prime slides are also CNCed Aluminum and I got mine for about $120. The difference I believe is that Shooter's Design slides are better designed, requiring much less modification to fit on the gun.

The Guarder steel slide and barrel are for the TM G26. Check it: http://www.intrudershop.com/show_pro...p?idproduct=55

Thanks for the link, I may have to get a G26 now. Very nice :-D

I do believe CNC Milled just means its milled from a solid piece of metal instead of an injection mold and doesn't have to do with the metal type, but hey I have been wrong before.

[MadMax]

One way to optimize CNC manufacturing is to cast a metal part then finish mill it. The casting creates a blank which takes care of most of the metal removal that a CNC job from billet stock would (time really = money in CNC). The CNC passes are mostly finish passes to mill out accurate features with the desired surface quality.

Some metal slides are CNC'd from cast blanks. While the critical features are accurate (rail grooves etc) their material will not be as strong as age hardened 6xxx or 7xxx aluminum billet stock. Still, I've never seen a broken CNC'd slide yet.

[Autumn]

Originally Posted by MadMax

One way to optimize CNC manufacturing is to cast a metal part then finish mill it. The casting creates a blank which takes care of most of the metal removal that a CNC job from billet stock would (time really = money in CNC). The CNC passes are mostly finish passes to mill out accurate features with the desired surface quality.

Some metal slides are CNC'd from cast blanks. While the critical features are accurate (rail grooves etc) their material will not be as strong as age hardened 6xxx or 7xxx aluminum billet stock. Still, I've never seen a broken CNC'd slide yet.

Thanks for the clarification on exactly what CNC Milled means.

[Lakonian]

doesn't CNC stand for "Computer Numeric Control" ?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cnc :|

[talon]

yeah, i kinda thought it meant a computer controlled milling device...

[MadMax]

Yep, CNC stands for Computer Numeric Control. It's a generic term most often applied to automated machining. Before CNC there was NC which stood for Numeric Control. Machine operators punched in coordinate commands to feed machines operations one step at a time. Then they hooked up tape feed machines which read off steps in sequence (I think still called NC). Then they got rid of the tape readers and moved to computer instruction feed (CNC).

Funny thing is that modern CNC still has vestiges of the tape reel language called GCode which is still in use. GCode is a modal language which means if I instruct:

G01 X2 Y6 Z5 (go to coords 2,6,5)
X4 Y4 (now go to coords 4,4,5)

the linear move to position 1 (instructed by G01) is followed by a linear move to 4,4,5 without restating the G01 instruction or even the "Z" coordinate (which hasn't changed).

The ultimate in spaghetti code goodness as many modern programming languages do not assume implied commands as GCode does. The reason GCode allows implied commands and positions is that it required less manual keying in NC systems and less hole punching in the old tape and reel setups which ran a physical tape with holes in it! Funny bit of codecrap to carry over into the computerized machining era.

Now much of the GCode sent to CNC machines is generated by CAD extensions which crank out GCode based on solid or 2d model. Still many of the modal features persist.

[Lakonian]

Damn, that's really complex. I'm assuming it's a very costly process too.

[talon]

not really, if i recall correctly. the machine itself is costly, and perhaps getting someone to design your piece, but after that... you put in the correct size metal, and the computer handles the rest as many times as you'd like.