What are they making the best sliders out of now. It's been 2-3 years since I made mine out of Delrin. Now I have to make a couple more.
I just ordered a couple feet of Delrin, but was wondering (for next time) what is the best.
For standard-looking/designed sliders, delrin is too hard. It can crack. Once it absorbs some impact, if wall thicknesses aren't enough, it becomes brittle almost. With the right design, Delrin is better. But for normal frame sliders as you probably are making, it's not the best.
The material that Motosliders, Woodcraft, Intuitive, Lightning, and many others use is softer and absorbs a lot more impact. The slider will visibly bend quite a bit without any cracking or anything.
UHMW Polyethylene.
If anyone wants to buy a small quantity, I'll gladly sell some. It's a bit difficult at times to machine, but tolerable. I get it in bulk, obviously, and it can be a bit tricky to find black rod sometimes.
http://www.google.com/froogle?q=UHMW+Polyethylene&btnG=Search+Froogle
will nylon 66 work?
Nylon 6/6 should work OK.
Nate, your sliders look awesome, and your swingarm sliders are the nicest ones I've ever seen! But you didn't send me any stickers! How can I represent?
I need to get some made! :(
I'll be calling Stumpy tomorrow or Monday so I can get on that!
ultra high molecular weight polyethylene. good stuff ;)
nate what do you do...as in who do you work for?
UHMW is a bitch to work with, I got a full rod here and trying to cut into this stuff is tough.
Are you guys using machine lathes?
QuoteNate what do you do...as in who do you work for?
Nate's company.....
http://www.motosliders.com
From his website: Motosliders is a Limited Liability Company formed in 2002 by Nate Reik. We are based in Milwaukee, WI.
If I were going to make my own sliders I would use a lathe (one for cutting metal, not wood). Not sure how else you would do it.
QuoteUHMW is a bitch to work with, I got a full rod here and trying to cut into this stuff is tough.
Are you guys using machine lathes?
I use machine lathes. How else would you do it? - with drill and hacksaw? :-/
QuoteI use machine lathes. How else would you do it? - with drill and hacksaw? :-/
LOL I used a drill with an attachment on it against an angle grinder. I thought it would cut easy, but even with a angle grinder it took forever.
You think a mini machine lathe will do?
I say get yourself some starving rodents. They'd make short work of it. ;D
QuoteI say get yourself some starving rodents. They'd make short work of it. ;D
They charge too much
QuoteThey charge too much
Really? What were you smokin'?? ?? ::) ;)
QuoteReally? What were you smokin'?? ?? ::) ;)
The stuff you gave me
I cut it with a plywood blade on a chop saw.
A mini machine lathe WILL work. I made sliders on them for a LONG time. I had a small 6X10, and now have a 6X12 Homier, but I use it now for prototyping only. A CNC lathe does the rest of the sliders.
I'm heading out to the lathe right now. Maybe I should see how hard it is to program the Okuma CNC lathe ;) ;D Too bad I only need one pair :D
Lowe, tell me more about this CNC lathe.... A work lathe, or one you own?
I'm thinking of eventually getting an old used CNC lathe, but I dunno how hard/pain one would be to maintain and program.
Nate, talk to Mark Stiles. He has some CNC lathes. He could not do sliders easily on his due to the size of the hole through the chuck (I think his are 1").
Yeah, that I've already learned: That the through hole in the chuck is going to be the hard part. Any CNC lathe could do what I need, but I need one with a 2" through hole. I got time. Not looking at buying this year.
I'll talk to Mark about it when I see him next.
UHWM is not too bad after you figure out the best feed rate, cutting tool and spindle speed. It tends to melt and peel more than the 6/6 does..
I've been making sliders on one of the really inexpensive chinese mini lathes, like the HF or Homier ones. It's a paint to have to use the outside jaws to grip the rod, but you learn to live with it.
To get one or two sets made, it may be easier to find a local machine shop, explain who you are and what they're for, and hand them a drawing and the rod. If you find the right place, they'll do it for a beer or two.
Ryan