Titanium Frame Lock WIP

Cox Workshop

Cox Workshop

Joined
May 8, 2014
Messages
120
So I’ve been hesitant to do a WIP thread because I guess I’m self-conscious and I don’t want people to think I’m trying to say I’m something I’m not. So hopefully it doesn’t come off as pretentious for someone at my skill level to do a WIP thread. I’m sure my process is flawed in various ways. That said I’ve decided to do the WIP anyway because I really value the feedback from the forum and could especially use the feedback now during my design process. Also, I feel like I want to give something back to the forum. Hopefully, even if it’s flawed, following my build process will be something a few of you find interesting.

So you know what you are getting into, I’m a one-man night-and-weekend knifemaker. I use a CNC machine (circa 1980s) for much of my process; I know that can be a turn off for some. I’m no machinist though, so all you machinists out there feel free to pipe up and tell me when I’m being stupid.

I’ve been using Fusion 360 for all my CAD and CAM design. Mainly because it’s free for guys like me :) Getting it to create g-code for a 1980s controller has been a project in and of itself, but one I don’t think anyone would find interesting… so let’s move on.

I want this to be a reasonably priced custom flipper. For some reason people actually carrying my blades makes me happy. That desire ends up directing a lot of my design decisions.

mineOpen_zps0tynkf9j.jpg~original

mine2_zps5jnyqsfy.jpg~original


Overall length: 7.5”
Blade length: 3.25”
Handles: titanium
Blade steel: probably AEB-L

The edges are chamfered not rounded. Other than the chamfers I’m leaving the handles flat to allow for custom pattern and inlays.

Overall thoughts?

Is the design too plain? I was going for simplistic and clean.

Is it too small? I want it to be small enough to be a good EDC but big enough that even people with large hands can use it easily. For a frame of reference it’s about the same size as the latest knifes in my Instagram feed. (Does that sound like a shameless plug for my Instagram feed? Ya, it kinda was)

I know this is really lousy to leave a WIP in just the design phase but it’s the only way I could do it and still potentially incorporate feedback into the knife.
 
You and I are in a very similar situation! I'm also working with Fusion, although I have a newer CNC. I'm working on a commission at the moment but I'm not quite ready to start full production... anyway! I'll be watching your thread and I'll pipe up if I think I have something to contribute! Maybe we can toss ideas around sometime.

Honestly I'm liking the overall design and size, but I personally enjoy deeper finger choils, especially with flippers.

I might have other suggestions, regarding the decision to chamfer instead of fillet the handle edges, but that really depends on how wide the knife is from scale to scale.
 
I'd nix the jimping.
Also, I'VE done WiPs here and set the bar WAY low. You're already doing better :)
 
I like it, even though it will probably be out of my price range for a EDC. Simple and functional.

Larry
Tinkerer
 
Thanks for the comments guys!

Willard, it's good to have someone to commiserate with :) What kind of CNC do you have? Your comment on the choil is well noted. The other side of the handle has a deeper choil to allow easy access to disengage the lock bar. But still neither is very deep. I'll play around with a deeper one and see how that feels in hand. Do you prefer the fillet for aesthetics or the way it feels in hand?

Lorien, Yeah I was wonder about the jimping. I really like the way it feels just for indexing purposes but it's really not necassary. I kind of like the looks but I was worried it might not be popular. Do you dislike the jimping on the flipper or on the handle? or both?

Tinkerer, hopefully you will be surprised. I would really like to keep the pricing reasonable.
 
Cox Workshop said:
Thanks for the comments guys!

Willard, it's good to have someone to commiserate with :) What kind of CNC do you have? Your comment on the choil is well noted. The other side of the handle has a deeper choil to allow easy access to disengage the lock bar. But still neither is very deep. I'll play around with a deeper one and see how that feels in hand. Do you prefer the fillet for aesthetics or the way it feels in hand?
Click to expand...

I've got a Tormach 770! Pretty inexpensive as far as CNC Mills go, but still cost me a pretty penny, then again to bring it up to Canada... so far I'm thoroughly enjoying it, but I've got lots to learn still.

I prefer the feeling of rounded edges, and most of the time it looks better to me, but in many cases chamfering seems to work just as well, such as in a Sebenza. I suppose a big part of it is the question; how much time does rounding add to machining the scales? That, and if you aren't too severe with your angles, chamfering can be just as comfortable.

Also, I find that jimping is somewhat unnecessary when you have a functional finger choil, so if you're considering removing the jimping, that could be a way to regain some control.

... can you tell I really like index choils?
 
Alright dudes, I made some of the changes that were suggested. Honestly I think it looks better. I'm hopeful it's going to feel good in the hand as well. I still need to cut it out of cardboard and see what it feels like. What do you think?

USFinal_zpsddv7htta.jpg~original

USFinalOpen_zpsoulqqq5o.jpg~original


I set a goal to document the process of making this knife. As part of that I wanted get video of the whole thing. So as not to crap out on my goal even before I get going I made a video of the edits being made in fusion 360. If you are going to skip any of my videos this might be the one to skip. I hate listening to myself in video. I swear I don't sound this stupid in real life :)
[video]https://youtu.be/vj2gCfpUe8w[/video]
 
Overall shape looks like it'll be a little more comfortable in hand. Glad to see you kept some texture on the flipper tab!

I also noticed you changed the midsection of the handle to be a little more curved; I think that's a good choice.
 
Been a long time since I've reported anything on this project. Someone offered to buy my CNC machine at a price I couldn't refuse and so I went several months until I could afford another one. I went with a Tormach PCNC 1100. Not as ridged as the wells index I had but overall I'm much happier with it.

I've posted a couple youtube videos of my progress. Thought I would post them here for anyone interested.

Making the fixture to hold the knife handles:
[youtube]RC4MtmicRJ0[/youtube]

Making a set of prototype knife handles:
[youtube]cLtvN4VUZ70[/youtube]
 
I'm sure it's bad form to release video of a finish knife before I've finished the WIP videos, but I couldn't help myself.

[youtube]o7CLWs3XTRk[/youtube]
 
Put together another video for this WIP. This one is the milling of the blade. Lots of things I can still improve (including my video making skills), but I'm learning with each blade!

[youtube]G8Tpi6HDqwM[/youtube]
 
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