How to start

[TomG]

First of all, the part looks great. Accuracy and surface finish will improve with experience. Now for those questions:

1) I would not have tilted the head to mill the V in the block. It's much easier to rotate the part than the head. If the part had been held in the vise by the ends, rotated on a 45º angle. the V would have ended up parallel to the bottom. A quick fix after the fact would be to put the block upside down in the vise, resting on a round bar and take a clean-up cut on the bottom. Don't forget to tap it down before making the cut. A strip of paper under each end will make it easy to tell when the bar is seated on the vise.

2) The way to achieve accuracy is to use the graduated dials on the table, not machine to scribed lines. Take a trial cut, measure the part and set the dials to zero. Then you will know how much more needs to be removed. A DRO will help. but dials will work as well, just slower.

3,4) It sound like the gibs are too loose on the table. They need to be tightened enough to remove the play, but not so tight that you can't turn the cranks. Looking at the marks on you part tells me that the rpm is way too slow for aluminum. Be sure to use a calculator based on the diameter of the cutter and cutting speed of aluminum.

5) Unfortunately the jumping sounds more like a limitation of the machine, than what it is sitting on. You'll just have to learn its limitations. Just the same, a sturdier base couldn't hurt.

Micrometers are a necessary measuring tool in machining. Calipers require more skill to use accurately and are generally used for non-critical measurements.

Tom