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How simple can CNC Machining get?
I suck at math, haven't played with G-code in a long time and will probably never be good with Solidworks, much less be able to afford my own commercial seat. That said, I want to put things in perspective. Learning G-code is pretty easy. You're just controlling a simple machine. It can travel...- Conrad Hoffman
- Post #54
- Forum: General
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What’s your experience with desktop Cnc machines
Every couple of years I do a survey of what's available for desktop CNC mills. Every year we decide not to buy one because they don't have sufficient accuracy or power or speed or whatever. Up around $20-50k there might be some OK choices but at that level I'd need serious proof they could do...- Conrad Hoffman
- Post #37
- Forum: CNC Machining
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What is the most positionally rigid 12 inch manual rotary table?
The old Bridgeport 12" has dual locking clamps/screws. I can't imagine it moving, but there's lot of stuff I couldn't imagine that's still possible.- Conrad Hoffman
- Post #2
- Forum: General
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3D Printed Gears
IME, those who don't embrace new technology, learn it, and exploit it to the max, become irrelevant. We've only had our 3D printer for a few months and it's running full time. We'll probably buy a second soon. Things we thought were impossible or impractical to print are turning out not only to...- Conrad Hoffman
- Post #99
- Forum: Additive Manufacturing/3D Printing
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Joe Biden calls for tripling of tariffs on Chinese steel
Wouldn't matter what he did, somebody would complain about it. It's hard to fight one problem without causing others. IMO, triple seems like a lot, especially given the quality of some of the material.- Conrad Hoffman
- Post #2
- Forum: Manufacturing in America and Europe
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Creating a decision tree for internal customer so they can decide what work to send me and what work to outsource.
FWIW, I work as a contractor/consultant. I follow a fundamental rule in that anything I recommend isn't influenced by how it affects me personally. If they can save money by showing me the door, I'll be the first to justify it! Truth in business is as hard to come by as anyplace else.- Conrad Hoffman
- Post #38
- Forum: Shop Management and Owner Issues
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Creating a decision tree for internal customer so they can decide what work to send me and what work to outsource.
IMO, as long as you have no authority to set the priorities and no significant budget for tooling and equipment, you're stuck. If the people above don't have any understanding of what it takes to do a job, you're stuck. OTOH, if you/they are talking, there's some hope, but they have to trust you...- Conrad Hoffman
- Post #36
- Forum: Shop Management and Owner Issues
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Antique tapered tap ID, please.
We're like cats and kids- sometimes we like the boxes better than the stuff that came in them!- Conrad Hoffman
- Post #8
- Forum: Antique Machinery and History
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Anodizing Dyes
I don't know beans about anodize dye but I sure don't like parts that turn purple in sunlight. The stuff has to be stable over time and environmental factors, or you'll get complaints.- Conrad Hoffman
- Post #3
- Forum: General
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Grinding Lathe chuck jaws on a Surface Grinder:
I've done 3-jaw jaws on the SG with great success and it's my preferred method. You can even arrange a bit of toe-in if desired. Not sure I'd try it with jaws that don't fit the body well. The calculation for how much to take off is trivial but I still mess it up so there's a program at the...- Conrad Hoffman
- Post #6
- Forum: Abrasive Machining
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Creation software
Solidworks often has a deal on their Maker version of the software. Just be aware that it's been designed to have near zero compatibility with their commercial version. You can't work on a file at work and then bring it home to the Maker version or vice versa.- Conrad Hoffman
- Post #4
- Forum: Additive Manufacturing/3D Printing
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Surface Finish Callout
Very Small Endmill at 2050 RPM? Seriously, I've never seen anything like that. Also, N numbers went obsolete long ago and IMHO, shouldn't be used.- Conrad Hoffman
- Post #3
- Forum: General
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Manufacturing Dental Root Canal Files
Ha! I've looked longingly at those Rollomatics for years- you forgot to mention how much they cost.- Conrad Hoffman
- Post #6
- Forum: General
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Cheap vs expensive spin fixture/punch grinder/spin fixture
I was fortunate enough to pick up a lightly used Atco Punchmate #1. I wouldn't dream of hitting it with anything; why would you? It's a great problem solver for grinding, light machining and inspection. There are all sorts of things I wouldn't have been able to do without it. I don't know...- Conrad Hoffman
- Post #25
- Forum: General
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DIY Metal shaper questions
I've never operated a shaper so this is armchair speculation. I've tried to do some simple grooves by cranking a piece past a fixed tool on a Bridgeport and discovered that chatter is almost insurmountable. My guess is a shaper works as well as it does because of the mass. It's probably hard to...- Conrad Hoffman
- Post #36
- Forum: Antique Machinery and History
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OT: Polycarbonate thickness for vacuum chambers
Can you machine an aluminum plate cover with smaller cutouts, then bond the poly to that? Much less stress on the poly and you can still see inside.- Conrad Hoffman
- Post #12
- Forum: General
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machining small pulleys. Need to center 2mm holes accurately
The phrasing makes me wonder what you're doing, "near the end of the hub." Is this the bore of the pulley that it attaches or runs on? I've always found messing with bores after the pully is made is a recipe for trouble. Best to machine the pulley and drill/ream the hole without removing it from...- Conrad Hoffman
- Post #7
- Forum: General
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Tap Drill Hole notes
Specifying a machining process is a no-no, but the work I do is so fussy that sometimes I have to. Being a sneaky you-know-what, I do it in a surface finish callout, where it's perfectly legal.- Conrad Hoffman
- Post #10
- Forum: CAD / CAM
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Major Rusting Issues In Our Building All Of A Sudden??
#1- Muriatic will rust everything in sight, even if you think it's sealed. #2- Who's peeing in the coolant?- Conrad Hoffman
- Post #21
- Forum: General
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How do I machine a tapered point on small stainless steel capillaries?
I remember buying hypo tubing that was perfectly burr-free. They used some odd process. I remember "chemical milling" but that doesn't seem like it would work. I'd get hold of the hypo tubing manufacturers and ask them how to do it. Seems like a common need that they'd already have the answer...- Conrad Hoffman
- Post #8
- Forum: General