cut out (cut away)

[Dyonzi]

I have seen some really nice looking cut out locks where the pins are visible on many youtube videos. How are these made? Have you guys managed to DIY it?

[Squelchtone]

Hello

Here we call them "cut-away" or "cutaway" and several members have mini mills and make their own. You could make one using hand files as well.

Watch these videos on youtube

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=how+to+make+cutaway+lock


Here is an example:


Squelchtone

[blue60]

Hi Dyonzi if you want to see some videos of Cutaway locks being made check out my YouTube channel. all I do is make cutaways https://www.youtube.com/anarchyw0n
I am not very active on Youtube at the moment but I do post stuff up on Twitter under the username Anarchy_won

[Dyonzi]

Very cool! Hopefully I'll get a couple files and give the cutaway lock a try.

[WP15]

Any suggestion on where and what to purchase as far as a MiniMill goes?

WP15

[stratmando]

If for tinkering, Enter "milling" Search at http://www.AliExpress.com , or http://www.Banggood.com , Usually Free Shipping, Shipping is Slow.
Can pay more for better quality, have gotten many good buys, clear practice locks as well
Good Luck

Just got back from the site, now they want to show expensive stuff?, search under $50

[billdeserthills]

If for tinkering, Enter "milling" Search at http://www.AliExpress.com , or http://www.Banggood.com , Usually Free Shipping, Shipping is Slow.
Can pay more for better quality, have gotten many good buys, clear practice locks as well
Good Luck

Just got back from the site, now they want to show expensive stuff?, search under $50

I wouldn't recommend Banggood,
It's been 8 months since I placed my last order with them and they keep on saying they've refunded my credit card but they haven't refunded anything

[stratmando]

Thanks, I have used Aliexpress many times with good luck and good prices, Lishi's way less than Elsewhere, Not sure I ever used Banggood, seems I had a Problem with Payment Method?
Ali has some XY Tables under $20, and under $50.

[blue60]

Any suggestion on where and what to purchase as far as a MiniMill goes?
WP15

I am in Canada and after looking at all my options I went with https://www.busybeetools.com/ as they were local to me so no freight charges.
if you are in the US check https://www.harborfreight.com/ .

I have had my mill for almost 8 years and the only problems with it was the speed control dial switch failed but it was a easy fix, and I had the main drive gear crack but they was because I did something I should not have. and that was a $30 replacement part.

*Edit. I should mention that this is no small investment, Expect to spend around $4000.00 just to get going. plus material and time learning to use it.
then at least $1000 a year just to expand your tooling and you will need to expand alot in the first couple of years.

[Black85vette]

I have owned a number of small machine tools and if you can't afford the better equipment the Chinese stuff at Harbor Freight are pretty useful. On a machinist forum I heard a comment that rang true with me: "The Chinese made machines are just pre-assembled kits. You need to take them apart, smooth rough edges, and reassemble / adjust and align correctly to get the precision you need. They are not high precision out of the box." That has been my experience with them as well. A really big issue with off shore cheap equipment is support. It does no good to pay half price for a machine if you can never buy parts when they break or wear out. Littlemachineshop.com supports almost all of the Harbor Freight tools (and others that sell under their own label) So you can keep them running and in good shape. It still surprises me how well they hold their value. Used machine tools do not sell at great discounts off new. They are cheaper but not dirt cheap. Blue60 makes a good point also; what ever your budget for a new machine is you need to double that to include all the tooling you will need to make it useful. Once you make the dive down that rabbit hole be ready for a long learning curve. Machinist skills are not simple and require time, tools and materials to practice until you are good at them.