WIP, Machined knife

Okay, the bevels are all cut and its time to finish the profile. This is exciting to me because it starts to look and feel like a knife.

A fixture designed to sandwich the blank. It holds the part up clear of the swarf so I don't re cut chips and so I can run the end of the cutter down below the cut.

21.jpg~original


This is pealing 1/8" per pass, full depth, on Elmax at 36 IPM and 3600 RPM.

22.jpg~original



It still needs the clip cut, but a person could mistake that for a knife.

23.jpg~original



This is posted by request. It's the full cut, rough and finish from the beginning without editing. It's a little dull...

[video=youtube_share;igVlgQWcFVc]http://youtu.be/igVlgQWcFVc[/video]

I slow it down when I get close to the final part shape and move at a craw when finishing so the Old Grey Pig can keep up.

I'm roughing dry because the cutter holds up better that way. I turn on the coolant for the finish pass because I'm moving pretty slow and not throwing chips very well so the coolant prevents re cutting fines.


Next: cutting the swedge. It might be a couple days
 
Nathan the Machinist said:
This is posted by request. It's the full cut, rough and finish from the beginning without editing. It's a little dull...
Click to expand...

It's a little dull... Bwahahahahaha !! You're kidding of course ;)
Nathan, your imagination, combined with your knowledge, simply amazes me in regards to what you come up with in terms of fixturing.

I watched your video clip and had gut pains.......... longing for the days when I worked programming and setting up 3 & 4 axis vertical & horizontal machining centers. Your auto tool changer with 10 or 20+ tool carousel (not sure how many yours holds), rigid cat style tool holders, through the spindle coolant?, and a massive 6-8" dia. spindle.......

Don't get me wrong, I feel extremely lucky to have the machine tools I do, but going from what you just showed, back to a Bridgeport Mill with a 2 axis control & R8 is sometimes painful :rolleyes:

I love you man ! ......in a manly, machinist, tool maker kind of way :D

You're friggin awesome dude, just awesome !!

:cool: :thumbup:


BTW, say hey to Jo for me and my Jo :)
 
Nathan,

You need to do folders!...and make a WIP for us!:D

Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge and techniques with us. I'll be making the CNC jump this summer when I purchase a CNC router for machining scales.
 
KalEl said:
Nathan,

You need to do folders!...and make a WIP for us!:D

Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge and techniques with us. I'll be making the CNC jump this summer when I purchase a CNC router for machining scales.
Click to expand...

It's my pleasure.

I did a similar WIP thread here in Shoptalk about a year ago. This particular WIP was created over in the C&H forum where I was hoping to show some of those guys how I work, but it got moved over here. It's a little redundant here I think. Oh well *shrug*.
 
Now that they have moved this thread here I feel a little silly finishing it. You guys here already know how I make knives so it seems a little pointless. However I did finish photographing the steel milling process yesterday so I may as well post it. This was never really intended to be a "how-to" thread, the target audience for this had been the custom forum.


A fixture to hold the blade while milling the clip.

24.jpg~original


Detail shot of the area to be cut

25.jpg~original


Cut

26.jpg~original


The finished clip

27.jpg~original


29.jpg~original


And the finished milled blade ready for heat treat and tumble.

28.jpg~original


Then I'll finish grind a lot of them. The next step is to machine scales, prepare standoffs, turn screws etc. Since most folks here are familiar with all this I'll conclude this WIP here. Thanks for following along.
 
I for one have enjoyed your WIP Nathan where you posted it. I can't wait to see the finished product and I am sure you will have no problem selling a ton of them. I for one know I will need one at some point.
 
There has been a bit of odd thread shuffling of late, IMO. A fair amount of WIP work is posted in C&H, and I think the high class stuff really has a place there (yours for sure). But, I'm happy to see this continue wherever.

FWIW I'd have been happy to watch you turn standoffs and screws. I do that stuff but I'm sure you have better methods. Then again, I'm not sure how much I'd be able to apply on my old Grizzly belt drive lathe.

I will say that that's the nicest finished fully milled knife I've seen.
 
Nathan,

I have viewed all your photos and I did not see one hammer or one set of tongs in the entire set. :)

Great WIP. Wish I had the equipment and knowledge to do something similar.

Robert
 
I loved this thread. (Moved back into place. Good.)

Nathan, please conclude with a finished product? Even if we are `familiar`with regular screws, scales and standoffs, I'd not mind the reminders.

Thanks for the education.
:thumbup:

Coop
 
This is a great thread

I have a long time friend/tenant that has a full machine shop including CNC etc he has been asking me and out making knives

I will forward this to him

Thanks
 
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Such evil precision is something to behold! Your WIP threads are always highly entertaining and terribly informative. Thank you for taking the time. :)
 
I had no idea so much was involved in making a knife this way.
Thank you for posting this thread.
For me it was very educational and enjoyable.
I am looking forward to seeing the finished knife.
 
Glad this is back in customs. Thanks for the WIP. Such an interesting process, machining and thought.
 
Oh wow, this thread got moved back into the Custom forum again.

...okay... good.

I've moved on to some other stuff in the shop now, but as soon as I can I'll photograph my work on this and post it here when it's all done. Thanks for following along.
 
I love watching your work. The methods are so different then what I use and am familiar with it is a real joy to see how you create your blades.

Now if they will just leave your thread alone so it can stay on track.
 
Thanks for hanging in there with us my friend......can hardly wait to see the finished product. :)
 
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