PM Research Unmachined Pipe Fittings
I always buy the casting trees from PMR of their unmachined pipe fittings in their different sizes as
it works out a lot cheaper for me than buying their pre machined ones.
There's a LOT of work in machining just one, they must have some pretty good jigs at the factory where they
can quickly turn out many many of these in bulk numbers.
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It certainly takes some patience with the set-ups, but it definitely saves quite a bit of money doing it yourself. Also, it allows for some choice in diameters and thread sizes that may not be stock from PMR.
All good practice I'd say!
Sometimes I've just drilled them for brazing in copper pipe, looks quite nice the copper and brass together.
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I've made a duplicate of this fixture that I use in the lathe. It's a round held in the chuck, so everything is centered and it's relative quick to face, drill & tap the plumbing bits in this fashion.
The attachment has drawings for the fixture PM uses for the valves, at least that's what I was told.
I am just glad that PMR sells already machined fixings to allow folks that don’t have a lathe or room for one, the ability to make things.
In the near future I might look into learning some basic machining skills so I can do just bare bones stuff, but full blown machining is skill learned over years and years and years.
Found a pic.
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(Attachment Link)
I've made a duplicate of this fixture that I use in the lathe. It's a round held in the chuck, so everything is centered and it's relative quick to face, drill & tap the plumbing bits in this fashion.
The attachment has drawings for the fixture PM uses for the valves, at least that's what I was told.
What a fantastic jig....thank you!
I have usually bought the casting trees myself in the past. The problems I see with a jig is that the individual pieces aren't completely uniform, thus requiring individual shaping to fit a jig. They are a pita to do & I usually ruin a few from each batch. I usually do most of one type part at a time( & I hate doing them).ai think tubal cain (Mr. Pete) did a video on machining these that I adhered to pretty well.
Never seen that vid Bruce, I must search for it.