So we get quote requests at my work for some really small medical stuff made out of carbide and I always wanted to know how you could grind something that small. Wouldn't it be cool to have a machine shop that can fit on a 5' x 3' desk? Let's see if I can get a plan together that will allow me to make small tooling in a small space. So here's some photos of little machines that you could put some little diamond wheels on and grind some tungsten
tungsten carbide dies (or any other tooling your little heart desires). It gives me pleasure to imagine a flee circus sized machine shop, maybe this is how elves do their machining?
So here's a little surface grinder, but it still might be a little big...
OK, this one will fit on my desk. Now I'm going to need a lathe...
Here's one from Harbor Freight for $139. OK, now for a drill press...
Your desk top machine shop can have the "big" one pictured for $109. But to make carbide dies we are going to need some ID/OD grinders. Let me see what little grinders I can find to fit on my desk.
Well, back to the drawing board. The only small grinder I could find was for coffee (maybe it can be modified with diamond wheels :) - I'm not going to be able to make carbide dies and tooling with my desktop machine shop. However, someone could definitely have some fun as a hobby machinist with this stuff!
