Homemade shift knob help?

[Stephen]

I've got this 1.5" cube of aluminum in my room, and i've been wanting to make it into a ball shift knob, no collar (if possible) Anyone done this or have suggestions?

ive got the UUC shift knob which i love, this is more just for fun.




Stephen

[kronus]

You're going to need a metal lathe. And a mill. And a drill press.





And enough skills to use all of the above without making new orifices.

[Stephen]

Ive got access to a drill press, and i believe the other 2, and more importnantly, access to people who could help.

[kronus]

It'll be difficult to make something completely spherical. However, the basic idea is to throw it on a lathe and turn it until it's round. Your problem is that you're starting off with a cubical shape, so you will probably need to mill it into something resembling a cylinder, or you risk fucking up the lathe.

[Stephen]

It'll be difficult to make something completely spherical. However, the basic idea is to throw it on a lathe and turn it until it's round. Your problem is that you're starting off with a cubical shape, so you will probably need to mill it into something resembling a cylinder, or you risk fucking up the lathe.

Good point, hadnt thought of that... Ill ask around and if i have enough time before heading off to school ill do it, and post pics

[Farbin Kaiber]

kronus looks like the mill-meister there.

[kronus]

I'll be your mill-meister any-day ;)

[cferb]

To make it easier, I'd probably shoot more for an oval type shape, whatever the 3d version of that is, so it doesn't look like you messed up trying to make a sphere if it isn't perfect.

[Stephen]

To make it easier, I'd probably shoot more for an oval type shape, whatever the 3d version of that is, so it doesn't look like you messed up trying to make a sphere if it isn't perfect.

Maybe, i realize a sphere is awfully hard

on the other hand i have the the UUC rk2 knob which is functional so if i dont get it perfect its not a complete loss...


mabye ill go for a oval, i just dont want an aluminum chicken egg gracing my interior


or do i?....

[cferb]

Paint it off white

[peerless]

It would have to be a 3 part operation.

step 1
You can chuck the square end and turn the other end round. Its going to take some time on a hand lathe. CNC would make quick work of it.

step 2
Drill the hole to size on the lathe, again CNC makes quick work of this operation.

step 3
Change the chuck from a outside to a inside chuck, flip the part, chuck from the hole you just drilled and work on rounding out the opposite side. Without ripping it off the chuck.

Again CNC lathe would be the only way it would turn out perfect, or a 5 axis mill :)

Their are other strategy's you could use as well. But again only a CNC is going to give you what you desire.

[Stephen]

Paint it off white

Haha, maybe a few specs here and there...


hey, off topic but how is the "e30 scene" in seattle, im going up there for school in about 10 days...

unfortanately my e30s not going up, at least not for now

[Stephen]

It would have to be a 3 part operation.

step 1
You can chuck the square end and turn the other end round. Its going to take some time on a hand lathe. CNC would make quick work of it.

step 2
Drill the hole to size on the lathe, again CNC makes quick work of this operation.

step 3
Change the chuck from a outside to a inside chuck, flip the part, chuck from the hole you just drilled and work on rounding out the opposite side. Without ripping it off the chuck.

Again CNC lathe would be the only way it would turn out perfect, or a 5 axis mill :)

Their are other strategy's you could use as well. But again only a CNC is going to give you what you desire.

I'll see if i can get my hands on one of these, and someone who can use it...

maybe

[golde30]

dildo shape...its yer best bet.

[cferb]

Haha, maybe a few specs here and there...


hey, off topic but how is the "e30 scene" in seattle, im going up there for school in about 10 days...

unfortanately my e30s not going up, at least not for now

Apparently it's bigger than anywhere else, just look at the e30 picnic, there was what? 180 cars? I'm in Pullman now though, almost Idaho.