Machine Shop Essentials: Questions & Answers

A comprehensive and detailed presentation of manual machine tools and methods, machine shop know-how and practical shop tips. Machine Shop Essentials is for machinists, engineers, model makers, R & D lab technicians, instrument makers, prototype builders, product designers and gunsmiths who need to make prototypes, models or spare parts, or need to modify existing equipment. This book can also be used to gain a basic understanding of machine tools before moving on to computer-controlled machine tools.

More than half the book is devoted to small and medium-size lathes and milling machines, such as Levin jewelers' lathes, Sherline miniature lathes and mills, Clausing lathes, and Bridgeport-style vertical milling machines. It examines how these machines are constructed, their cutting tools and accessories and how to use them.

This back-to-basics book contains all the information needed for a fundamental understanding of machine tools, and presents this information in a straightforward, easy-to-read question-and-answer format.

The second edition includes dozens of revisions and additions. Hundreds of drawings have been upgraded, several dozen new ones have been added. New material on recovering from snapped center drill tips, making twist drill extensions with a file, adjusting flycutters, milling machine boring, quick-change tool holders, adjustable reamers and repair dies vs. threading dies. Almost every procedure has new, additional suggestions for avoiding machining problems and getting out of them when you do not. There are new tables for slip and press fits, lathe speed cutter selection and drill sizing.