Going to try and build a casting machine and sizer

[Tazza]

As the topic says, i'm going to have a shot and building a casting machine based on a master caster. I have a MC that is automated, i want to have a go at building two friends for it. I picked up the main parts to do the build, i just need to work out how to put them together.

To go with the casting machine(s) i want to build a sizer, i have a motor to drive it and the start of the design in my head. The only limiting factor to all of this is time. It's going to take a while, but with a bit of luck i'll get there.

As there are a few members here that like to make their own gear, i figured some may be interested in this project. Either it will work, or fail miserably

So far this is what i have on hand to start:
Heating bands for the pot:


Electric motor for the sizer and a piece of pipe to make two pots with. Just the right size for one of the heating bands:


Cylinders, a few valves (need more but i have time till they are needed) and air regulators:

[bangerjim]

You sure got more time on your hands than I do!

Good luck. Let us know of your success.

banger

[Walter Laich]

good luck and remember pictures or it didn't happen

[Tazza]

I'll be sure to post progress when it happens

[Tazza]

hehe, that is the first rule of the internet

[Tazza]

Making slow progress, life keeps getting in the way.

I have a friend that when he sizes, he has to size base first as he uses flat base bullet molds, if not, he gets whiskers of lead on the base. This has be wondering if i can size the same way if i make the punch match the profile of the nose of the projectile? Without having more support on the nose, it would deform it when sizing base first.

The only reason i am considering this is so i don't need to flip the projectiles from the bullet collator.

Thoughts on if it's worth while going to the trouble of making different punches for different projectile profiles? or just suck it up and make a flipper?

[jmorris]

You are already starting off ahead of me. Better components and a machine on hand to copy. Looking forward to the build photos.

[AbluquerqueBullet,LLC]

I came across a homemade one on youtube. wounder if its a member? it used a pre-melt pot pretty cool. sometimes i wish i didn't have the big machines so i could build more stuff!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1IJ7G0U3yY

What is the sizer going to be like? I would make the bullet feed bar like the lubemasters and not like the stars. the way north valley updated the mark 6 hand sizer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYT5w0sONMo

[Tazza]

I think i have seen that casting machine on youtube before, but not the sizer.

The sizer i'm working on is going to be close to the star style, ram goes up and down then there is a slider that will move projectiles from a tube to under the ram. Gremlin on here built one the same way, but used a lee reloading press. Because i'm cheap , i'm trying to make it all from scratch

Today, i mounted the bushing for the ram rod to some C section steel, i welded the base to it with a hole for the sizing die to poke through. I machined a thread into a lump of square steel for the sizing die to screw into. My idea of how i was going to mount this threaded piece won't work how i wanted it to, so i'll have to re-think it. I had plans of mounting it with screws so i could adjust it to get it spot on, As whenever you weld something, it moves, even if it's only slight. With bolting it in place, i can adjust for any warping from the welding. I may bolt it in place and weld around it, the bolts may hold it well enough for it to not move.

I need to get a few pictures, i didn't get as much done today as i wanted. I keep getting side tracked with other projects, that and i keep second guessing myself with how i'm going about it. I hope to get it right, or close to right the first time around

[jmorris]

On my first homemade auto sizer I made everything including the dies. Instead of making everything threaded I just had the dies slip fit the base and used a set collar to hold them in place.

This is what it looks like from the bottom.
http://s121.photobucket.com/user/jmo...ml?sort=6&o=20

The key to having perfect welded parts is to machine them after welding but you can get very close even welding after, if you have good fixtures.

[1989toddm]

I love seeing these home builds for loading, casting, sizing machines. As I was watching the YouTube link above, it hit me, how does it fill both cavities? It looked like a single stream and I couldn't tell that the mold moved at all when filling.

I can see it working fine if the sprue plate had all cavities connected, like some of the old gang molds have.

[AbluquerqueBullet,LLC]

it has 2 steams of lead the melting pot has a slit on the bottom going front to back then there is a orifice plate with 2 holes that bolts over the slit the lead can only flow from the holes in the plate . they make a plate with a center hold for single cavity molds.

The poster of the youtube video has more videos of it the one called 135 is a very detailed slower vid.

[AbluquerqueBullet,LLC]

Doh non-lubing sizers? how can post a video for me of mine? over 5100 per hour i think it runs at. i am not the most computerable.

[nh7792]

If your looking for a casting machine, I have a Mark-X machine with base and all upgrades, plus 4- .452-225-RN molds included for $2600 + shipping.
Attachment 166861

[1989toddm]

it has 2 steams of lead the melting pot has a slit on the bottom going front to back then there is a orifice plate with 2 holes that bolts over the slit the lead can only flow from the holes in the plate . they make a plate with a center hold for single cavity molds.

The poster of the youtube video has more videos of it the one called 135 is a very detailed slower vid.

Got it. Great concept!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[AbluquerqueBullet,LLC]

If your looking for a casting machine, I have a Mark-X machine with base and all upgrades, plus 4- .452-225-RN molds included for $2600 + shipping.
Attachment 166861

Wounder how much shipping would be all the way to the AU.

[Tazza]

Jmorris - That was the ideal way of doing it, but i couldn't work out how to machine it after welding..... That idea did roll around in my head Hopefully this say will work too, i just need to work out if my idea of mounting with bolts will handle the forces of sizing, which i believe it will. When i hand size, it doesn't take a whole lot of force to push them through. I'll try and get some pictures so you can see what i'm doing, you or others may have ideas of what i should do.

abuquerqueBullet - If you can upload it to a site like photobucket, you can paste a link of it running that way, that sure sounds like a fancy machine running that fast

[Tazza]

Shipping to .au wouldn't be nice, the MC i got a good 10 years ago cost me $200 USD for surface post.

[AbluquerqueBullet,LLC]

The punch is not in the machine in the video i don't remember where i put it i don't use this machine.

http://s1262.photobucket.com/user/AB...tml?sort=3&o=0

video form the seller i got it from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uj9D7qluqqY

[AbluquerqueBullet,LLC]

abuquerqueBullet - If you can upload it to a site like photobucket, you can paste a link of it running that way, that sure sounds like a fancy machine running that fast[/QUOTE]

It is actually very basic.