FWIS3

Some real skills here.
People submit their models to a contest run by Sherline tools, the makers of small lathes and milling machines.
You don't need to be a machinist or understand what a lathe or milling machine are to appreciate this site.
The detail and craftsmanship just ooze out.
They have ran the contest for over a decade and have each years winners and their entries photographs.

This one has the worlds smallest petol powered engine.
How small?
Bore is 1/8 of an inch, stroke is 5/32 of an inch.
http://www.sherline.com/names98.htm

This one has a model ferrari!
http://www.sherline.com/names07.htm

The smallest bolt I've seen is here
http://www.sherline.com/jmfkie97.htm

just amazing.

Nice. My eyes hurt just thinking about working that small.

Tell me about it.
I couldn't even see those nuts & bolts with my naked eyes anymore.

Being an electronics engineer that works in SMD's (Stupidity of Mass Destruction...ok, Surface Mount Devices), I'm used to working with small stuff but this is nuts...pardon the pun.

I showed this stuff to the guy that welded my steering and stay brackets for the boat.
He worked as a mechanic in race teams then went on to do restorations of antique cars.
The car in his garage that he's restoring at the moment is worth 2 million.
So not an amateur by any means.
His response was, "I'm not patient enough to do that".
Holy crap. He is really patient and meticulous in his work. lol

Me, I just get blown away with the guy saying to make the nuts and bolts he had to make taps and dies.
How the hell does one make a tap and die that small?
I'd love to see those!

If anyone is in Calafornia, the guy that started the company also made a non profit museum.
It's now in trust as he passed away.
A must visit for anyone that is into feats of crazy engineering.
Given half a chance I'd love to go.

They make special optics for working on stuff that small.

SciFiFisher wrote:They make special optics for working on stuff that small.

Oh I know that. I've worked with them.
$2000 machines that let you see in 3d while you do it.

Two problems though:

1) The guy in India makes his stuff on an old 6 foot lathe and can't afford anything like that.
2) Seeing the part is one thing, how do you make the parts that small. I mean even a pin is no longer sharp at that size.

I guess he could make tools out of razor blades to cut threads. But damn.