LOSI LST XXL Conversion ideas

[jpoprock]

Originally Posted by mistercrash

I use a diamond cutting blade for straight cuts on a home made mini table saw. I duplicate parts with a router mounted on a small router table (bought at a yard sale real cheap) with carbide cutters, or Tungsten Carbide Dremel bits that I can put on the router with a modified adapter from another power tool.

So, If I wanted to dabble in making parts out of alum or CF, what should I be looking to buy? You have a "home made" mini table saw, and a router mouted on a small router table... plus a "modified" adapter. What would a regular joe like myself need to look for... say at HarborFrieght.com or eBay.... to be able to do this?

I don't have CAD, nor am I a tool and dye maker. My NEIGHBOR is, and my bro in law has CAD. But I hate having to rely on other people to do work for me. They'd be happy to teach me though.

So I'm asking... is this biting off way more than I can chew? Is it kinda like I can play guitar no problem... but it's a tall order to hand one to someone who doesn't play guitar, and say, "Gimmie and hour of songs in front of all these people please!".

I'm so interested in doing this though... but have limited finances... that I'd like to know just how realistic it would be for me to buy a used Mini-Mill or Mini-Metal Lathe...or WHATEVER, so that I can cut my own Chassis out of Graphite, or skids, or motor mounts, whatever!?

Here are a couple of things I've seen at Harbour Freight...
7" x 10" Mini-Lathe

First of all... is this too small? I'm so unfamiliar with what I would need, that I don't even know how to SHOP for one!

Plus, even if I had access to CAD... it would do me no good unless I had a CNC machine to load the program into right? And I know those are expensive!

Two Speed Mill/Drill Press

I have a 5-speed drill press... but it's not a "Mill".

Benchtop Shaper/Router

Full Size Router

Bench Top Router

Table Saw

I actually have a full sized saw like that one above...It's for cutting wood. But I'm sure I could get different blades for it. It's for straight cuts though. I've never used it!! I got it on sale at Lowes once.

Benchtop Band saw

I don't even know if it's possible with these types of tools or not. But as I said, I'd love to be able to buy some 7075 or 6061, some 3mm or greater CF, plus I have access to scraps of alum like this, thru my bro in law, CHEAP. That way I could trace and make my own XXL chassis, or my own esc plates, or battery boxes, etc. I would have to wait around on friends who are getting it done, and are at the mercy of the shop doing it. Plus, I think it would be fun and something new to learn. Anyway... I'm man enough to accept that if this stuff is not for "everyone", and that you really have to know what you're doing to pull it off... then I can accept that and just be happy with buying aftermarket parts, or waiting for my buddies to make the stuff.

Thanks!
Jason