Homemade Frame Jig Build Thread
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 12
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Homemade Frame Jig Build Thread
First, follow me here for more extensive coverage:
fixedin.tumblr.com
Currently in the process of machining my own frame jig out of 1/2" 6061 and thought I'd share with you all. Trying to make a lightweight jig so it doesn't flex from the weight of its own arms... SolidWorks analysis says I'm good, but won't find out until I actually build a frame.
fixedin.tumblr.com
Currently in the process of machining my own frame jig out of 1/2" 6061 and thought I'd share with you all. Trying to make a lightweight jig so it doesn't flex from the weight of its own arms... SolidWorks analysis says I'm good, but won't find out until I actually build a frame.
Last edited by e.din; 01-05-13 at 04:31 PM.
#3
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 12
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Also if you're wondering how I have access to all this machinery and haven't built a frame yet...I'm a third year engineering student. Figure I better build myself a jig while I have access to all this machinery
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: vermont
Posts: 3,091
Bikes: Many
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 10 Times
in
10 Posts
That is some cool stuff. It will be light and portable. I have made many frame fixtures but all were for specific production frames, not universal types. Can you do all wheel sizes?
I would not remove as much material for durability if nothing else.
Off topic, I have always thought thumbs like you have with a few extra degrees of articulation are cool. Perhaps it's a more evolved design. mine only bend 70 degrees or so at that knuckle.
I would not remove as much material for durability if nothing else.
Off topic, I have always thought thumbs like you have with a few extra degrees of articulation are cool. Perhaps it's a more evolved design. mine only bend 70 degrees or so at that knuckle.
#6
Framebuilder
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 570
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
You'll want to make the rear dropout holder adjustable for different hub spacings and dropout thicknesses.
that thumb is freakin me out though!
that thumb is freakin me out though!
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: santa barbara CA
Posts: 1,115
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 96 Post(s)
Liked 30 Times
in
21 Posts
Brian
__________________
Brian
Brian
#8
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 12
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Very cool, you get to build a jig and get credit for school. A few questions: What school do you attend? What mill are you useing? Do you have time limitations on how much you can use the machines or is it an "open lab" situation? Are all the machines cnc or are there any manual ones?
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: santa barbara CA
Posts: 1,115
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 96 Post(s)
Liked 30 Times
in
21 Posts
.....The machine shop staff loves when people come in with personal projects so we're fortunate enough to pursue hobbies on the school's equipment. Mills are ProtoTRAK SMX and lathes are ProtoTRAK SLX. CNC, so we just load up a dxf and we're good to go. These machines are less than a year old, but we also have one old bridgeport manual...but it doesn't get much use. Even if we use the prototraks for hand done stuff it's easier than setting it up in that old bridgeport. no limitations on machine use...any time between 8 and 4:30,
Lucky you!
__________________
Brian
Brian
#10
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 12
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
More machining...we've been tearing through the 0.5" aluminum in one pass. 1/4" single flute bit running at 5000rpm. feed speed is 5 inches/min.
Another shameless plug for my blog: fixedin.tumblr.com
Another shameless plug for my blog: fixedin.tumblr.com
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: santa barbara CA
Posts: 1,115
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 96 Post(s)
Liked 30 Times
in
21 Posts
Your jig is looking really great, and what a treat to use the machines in the lab. I copied this pic from your blog, I like it a lot.
__________________
Brian
Brian
#12
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 12
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Hah, yeah thanks! That was actually just a screwup in SolidWorks...I'm not sure why it defined the ground like that, but it's definitely and interesting rendering
#16
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 12
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
The 6061 actually wasn't as expensive as I would have thought. I think it came out to something like $200 for all the 6061. Doesn't include hardware and adjustable handles, etc. I would put that at another $50 for metal adjustable handles and all hardware. I think we have something like 20 hours of work into it, but we also weren't the most efficient in the beginning. Programming the dxf into the machines takes a bit of time as does setup and actual running of the program.
I have no idea what my time's worth. But $250 in materials plus 20 hours of work if I were to do it again. I'll sell it to you for $750.
I have no idea what my time's worth. But $250 in materials plus 20 hours of work if I were to do it again. I'll sell it to you for $750.
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Tempe, AZ
Posts: 100
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Sheesh man, if I had 750 beans, Id buy that in a heartbeat! ..........unless you want to trade for some artwork, that's about all I have lol
#18
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 12
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I'll take a pass...but thanks anyway! haha.
Our options were an Anvil (not really an option, let's be honest), a piece of plywood (good for a couple frames? if that?) or developing our own. All the CAD work actually took more time than all the machining, but whatever I wouldn't charge for that because I benefited from it too.
Our options were an Anvil (not really an option, let's be honest), a piece of plywood (good for a couple frames? if that?) or developing our own. All the CAD work actually took more time than all the machining, but whatever I wouldn't charge for that because I benefited from it too.
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Tempe, AZ
Posts: 100
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
I'll take a pass...but thanks anyway! haha.
Our options were an Anvil (not really an option, let's be honest), a piece of plywood (good for a couple frames? if that?) or developing our own. All the CAD work actually took more time than all the machining, but whatever I wouldn't charge for that because I benefited from it too.
Our options were an Anvil (not really an option, let's be honest), a piece of plywood (good for a couple frames? if that?) or developing our own. All the CAD work actually took more time than all the machining, but whatever I wouldn't charge for that because I benefited from it too.
Have you built a frame with it yet or are you still finishing the build?
Likes For seankanary:
#20
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 12
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Need to drill and tap a few mounting holes and wait for all our hardware to come in but we should be done early next week. Kinda got distracted by other activities this week, but next week we'll spend it using the jig to practice brazing and hopefully make any design adjustments before using it for our actual frames.
#24
Randomhead
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Happy Valley, Pennsylvania
Posts: 24,364
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Liked 3,664 Times
in
2,497 Posts
Sorry to have to intervene, but discussions of commerce are always off topic, so let's leave it at that.
If you really were to start selling these the machine shop supervisor would probably get very interested in a negative way.
Engineering method of estimating price for a sustainable business: take your fixed costs and multiply by 5
material
hardware
machine shop time
Machine shop supplies and incidentals
hourly wage
If you put an honest figure on these you will probably come to something close to what Sputnik/Anvil/Bringhelli/Henry James are charging.
If you really were to start selling these the machine shop supervisor would probably get very interested in a negative way.
Engineering method of estimating price for a sustainable business: take your fixed costs and multiply by 5
material
hardware
machine shop time
Machine shop supplies and incidentals
hourly wage
If you put an honest figure on these you will probably come to something close to what Sputnik/Anvil/Bringhelli/Henry James are charging.
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 18,003
Bikes: Stewart S&S coupled sport tourer, Stewart Sunday light, Stewart Commuting, Stewart Touring, Co Motion Tandem, Stewart 3-Spd, Stewart Track, Fuji Finest, Mongoose Tomac ATB, GT Bravado ATB, JCP Folder, Stewart 650B ATB
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4172 Post(s)
Liked 3,793 Times
in
2,272 Posts
Eric- Thanks for this reply. I always have a bit of question when some one is using the capicities of others' investments to profit by (without including the investor in the loop). At work I don't do repairs for friends, charge them $ and then not kick back some to the shop. Actually I long ago gave up working for myself at work, excepting my own bikes of course. Andy.