The Chopper Compendium

railroad bob wrote:Great thread, I'm enjoying seeing how you clamp and fixture. Comments about using pins for indexing are good to hear,
gives me some insight about how the process goes.

Thanks...

I've got a full set of prints along with the CAD files. The prints show one of the holes as a main datum point that all the other dimensions come from. I've been checking everything to the prints as well as the CAD file as I go. So putting a gage pin in the hole and indicating the CNC position to it works pretty well keeping everything as close to the print dimensions as possible.

"Real" work has kept me pretty busy lately so I haven't had a chance to touch this thing in a while. Hoping to get back to it soon.

So after months of not touching this project I started to get something done on it again. Not sure how much I'll get done, I've got a lot of "real work" to get done...and I've been pretty lazy lately. Just finished up a 2 month job that I'm seriously glad is done and gone.

Nothing was done on this from the side of the mainspring housing. (palm area) It has several crazy under cuts on multiple angles. It'll take 3 different set-ups and EDM work to get this end done. I'll keep you posted. It's on 17.5 degrees for this set of cuts.

So I still have a bunch more to do, but I'm thinking I'm making progress. I'll have a couple hours to work on this thing tomorrow...I think.

I field stripped my commander size 1911 for comparison. (Para Expert Commander) It's also an aluminum receiver (frame).

Since it was already apart I decided to see if the slide from the Para fit. Fits freaking perfect!!. I'm starting to think I might not totally F#@$ this thing up.
At this point of a project I can start to see the light at the end of the tunnel and I start making better progress,...we'll see how that goes. No guarantees.

The finished pistol will be the opposite colors. The receiver will be black and the slide will be polished stainless. I think. Unless I change my mind. The slide has been ground square, but nothing else done. So that project will take some time.

Also, the commander is 3/4 of an inch shorter than the Government size 1911, so that's why the slide contour looks a little funky on the new frame. But at least it's starting to actually look like a semi auto .45 ACP pistol.

This is still an awesome project. Thanx!

Thanks!

Had to clear a cutter for another funky cut. This one on 14.75*.

Got the little slot in for the mainspring housing.

Pieces are starting to fit together.

There are a few areas that couldn't be machined by conventional milling. I imagine they broached these areas in the old days. I used an EDM (electrical discharge machine). Basically it amounts to using a carbon electrode to "burn" the areas out. Since it's pretty difficult to drill a square hole or mill a square corner, an edm machine is the way to go.
I pretty much hate doing edm work, but I got it done Yesterday (Friday).

The pics are putting in a funky radius area and the trigger slot.

Today I got in and finished up the machining on the receiver. WOOHOO! It's still got a long way to go but the pieces are fitting pretty nicely so far.

Next up, the slide. Not sure when I'll start it, but it probably won't be for a while.

So I'm not sure how much interest there is in this project (besides Rudog, and probably Nathan), but I'll post pics all the way thru. I'm planning on doing a youtube video when I actually get to the point of firing this thing. I won't bother posting actual machining pics from here out. They pretty much all look the same anyway.

I started the slide yesterday. It's 420 stainless. I decided to do the ends first, then all the machining on the center where the barrel and action is, last the outside top. We'll see how it goes.

It'll sit for a while again while I do actual real work.

im likeing it

I have been checking in.

I won't bother posting actual machining pics from here out. They pretty much all look the same anyway.
I find your take on setups interesting every time.
Dusty

Hell yes I like it !! I've built my share of black powder guns , but seeing a 1911 machined from billet is a marvel !