[forrey]

Thanks for posting this thread very informative and lots to think about.
Forrey.

[Hirudin]

While driving around I found a guy who parked his semi-trailer in a parking lot by a fast food restaurant who said he'd give me 50¢ per pound for aluminum chips. I asked him whether coolant or the possibility of small amounts of other metal mixed in mattered and he said it didn't.

Before I actually take my few gallons of chips over I think I'll call every recycling center in town to see if anyone can offer something better.

[LeeWay]

Those guys usually have things that shred cans and collect the steel, drop any heavy debris like glass, rocks and water and blow the aluminum into the truck. Whatever is collected is then deducted from the initial weight and weight is adjusted for #2 or #3 aluminum. Usually discounted quite a bit for chips.
That keeps people from loading up cans with garbage and getting paid for it.

[SCzEngrgGroup]

The spindle on this machine is really a thing of beauty. My old machine is a 9x49 knee mill that claims to have a 3HP spindle. Based on performance, I'd guess its really more like half that. The Torus Pro will do things, without even straining that would stall the old machine. This AM I drilled 12 5/8" holes through 2" thick 6061, and did out in one shot, no pecking. Easy as pie.

Regards,
Ray L.

[SCzEngrgGroup]

Another good day today - Made a few more parts for my ignition kits. These are part of the bracket that mounts the VR pickup to the timing cover, so it lines up with the crank-mounted trigger wheel:

I went a bit more aggressive as well - 0.3" DOC, with the same 20 IPM feedrate. The machine handled it with no problem whatsoever.

Two 1-1/4" x 2-1/2" x 19" blanks mounted on fixture:



Bottom side machining complete:



Turned over, ready for top side machining:



And the finished parts:



The machine was a mess afterwards:



And this is why I don't do videos - I'd end up taking a shower, and getting the whole shop wet, plus losing a lot of coolant.



Regards,
Ray L.

[LeeWay]

Very nice. Great looking parts there.

[SCzEngrgGroup]

I've learned it really pays to stop about once an hour, and spend a few minutes clearing the chips off the bellows and the table, and pushing as much as possible down the drain. This keeps the accumulation from getting quite so out of control, and makes cleanup at the end of the day much easier. And, since this machine will quite reliably crank out 3-4 gallons of chips PER HOUR when doing a lot of heavy roughing, I need to stop about that often to empty the chip bucket anyway.

The 3" drain is still inadequate - it can be quite difficult to shove the large clumps of chips down it, especially when they contain either longer "strings" from drilling, or the nice "aluminum wool" created by face milling and deep peripheral finishing. What I'd like to do is just cut a couple of large, rectangular holes - probably about 6" x 12" - on either side of the base, and have them dump into two large rectangular plastic boxes, similar to my coolant reservoir.

Regards,
Ray L.

[MRM RCModels]

I've learned it really pays to stop about once an hour, and spend a few minutes clearing the chips off the bellows and the table, and pushing as much as possible down the drain. This keeps the accumulation from getting quite so out of control, and makes cleanup at the end of the day much easier. And, since this machine will quite reliably crank out 3-4 gallons of chips PER HOUR when doing a lot of heavy roughing, I need to stop about that often to empty the chip bucket anyway.

The 3" drain is still inadequate - it can be quite difficult to shove the large clumps of chips down it, especially when they contain either longer "strings" from drilling, or the nice "aluminum wool" created by face milling and deep peripheral finishing. What I'd like to do is just cut a couple of large, rectangular holes - probably about 6" x 12" - on either side of the base, and have them dump into two large rectangular plastic boxes, similar to my coolant reservoir.

Regards,
Ray L.

+1. That's why I replaced the original with two 4" drains. Probably should have went 5-6" now that I think about it. The Pro is definetetly good at making gallons of chips.

[SCzEngrgGroup]

I am just LOVING this machine! It has been 100% reliable, to the point I have no problem walking away and leaving it running unattended whenever I need to. I've cranked out a TON of parts over the last week, and it has not so much as hiccuped once, and the parts are coming out just beautiful, and right on dimension. The consistency is just wonderful.

My next problem is figuring out how to get rid of the mountain of chips I'm creating....

Regards,
Ray L.

[neilw20]

Make a screw chip conveyor. Rather simple screw something like this or simpler.
Google Image Result for http://www.uniimag.com/images/products/Screw%2520conveyors%2520.png

[MRM RCModels]

Make a screw chip conveyor. Rather simple screw something like this or simpler.
Google Image Result for http://www.uniimag.com/images/products/Screw%2520conveyors%2520.png

I doubt Ray could put his new toy down long enough to do that.

[neilw20]

He'll be OK. I'm sure he works night too.

[wwendorf]

I go to a metal recyclers. If I keep my 6061 chips separate, I get $0.60 a pound.

I get more for larger chunks, something like almost $0.95/lb.

Wade

[SCzEngrgGroup]

I go to a metal recyclers. If I keep my 6061 chips separate, I get $0.60 a pound.

I get more for larger chunks, something like almost $0.95/lb.

Wade

I wish I could get that kind of money for them. The only recycler in this area that will take chips at all only gives us ten cents per pound.

Regards,
Ray L.

[wwendorf]

Dang, that sucks! My recycler even gives me a nice calendar with a bikini girl on it to hang in my shop every year. <GRIN>

Wade

[neilw20]

Ray, You need a better recycler. He's giving you mixed scrap prices. He's scared there might be other stuff in the chips. Probably been caught before.

[wwendorf]

That's true, but I still get $0.25/lb for mixed. The guy is really cheaping you out.

Wade

[ihavenofish]

I go to a metal recyclers. If I keep my 6061 chips separate, I get $0.60 a pound.

I get more for larger chunks, something like almost $0.95/lb.

Wade

i PAY only about $2ish a pound for new 6061 stock. for chips, unless you have vast amounts, you have to pay to get rid of them. for large chunks, youre lucky if you get 50 cents.

[wwendorf]

I'm in the upper midwest, our aluminum stock cost is about $2.50-$3.25 / lb. I've never had to pay to get rid of chips.

Wade

[ihavenofish]

I'm in the upper midwest, our aluminum stock cost is about $2.50-$3.25 / lb. I've never had to pay to get rid of chips.

Wade

yeah, i suppose its all dependent where you are. we have 2 of north americas biggest extruding plants here in the city, along with a few small ones. noones interested in chips or paying much for scrap from small shops.