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  1. S

    Solidworks: extruded cut but not normal to the sketch plane?

    I have a shape in a wall of a die cast part. The wall is at 45 degrees from the die closing direction. Is it possible to take a sketch of the shape I want, on the face I want it, and then extrude it in the direction of the die closing, with draft angle? I would be extruding the cut 45 degrees...
  2. S

    OT: Hydraulic position / stroke control / end of stroke valves

    Does anyone know where to get reasonably accurate hydraulic position / stroke control / end of stroke valves? I'm looking for the type with a little button that cuts off flow to the cylinder when it is pushed. I'd like to setup an adjustable stop using one of these on some presses I've built...
  3. S

    OT: Polycarbonate thickness for vacuum chambers

    I've been making some electronic modules and license plate lights and a few other things that get potted in epoxy. I currently fit nine die cast housings in a fixture, glue the circuit boards in, and place the tray in a vacuum chamber. I have three aluminum vacuum pots but that isn't cutting it...
  4. S

    Threadmilling flange pattern on three axis lathe with basic live tool

    Realistically the only live tool I can afford with a lathe is a subspindle that's fixed parallel to the main spindle and planar with the centerline of the main spindle. I'd only get C, X, and Z axes but that's fine for a lot of parts. Many parts in particular are essentially a flange with...
  5. S

    Solidworks prices more than doubling?

    Last year I paid for a 1 year subscription of solidworks standard and simulation for $2494. I just got quoted around $6268 to renew it, for just one year. I can't think of any other question than WTF? It's too late to buy a perpetual license. I didn't get a quote on the exact configuration but...
  6. S

    Making sure this automation part is manufacturable

    I am a sheet metal guy professionally, but also an electronics and robotics hobbyist. I would like to dip my toes into professional automation equipment, and in this particular case I need to design and make a variety of spindles for various rotating components that need to be precise. The...
  7. S

    Solidworks accurate thread plugin

    Anyone know of any good thread plugins for solidworks? I want to click on a hole or hole location and select a thread size and standard and have dimensionally accurate threads with realistic thread starts and stops and possibly even drill bottoms. Happy to pay for it. The standard solidworks...
  8. S

    Grinding powder coated cast iron

    I bought a 400 pound used cast iron T slot table from an old mill that I want to use on a hobby CNC project. Is there any reason not to sandblast and powder coat it prior to sending it to a shop for surface grinding? I don't care if the powder stays in perfect shape. I just want to prevent rust...
  9. S

    Bolt torque when submerged in hydraulic fluid

    Another bolt question for all of you. I'm using M10 cap screws into a blind threaded hole to hold a hydraulic pump inside of a reservoir. First assembly will be done dry, but the torque spec I need to list in the manual will be for repairs where it is very unlikely someone would go to great...
  10. S

    Stick welder for bad weather

    I am in the design stage of possibly maybe building a shop perhaps if it works out. The design is a fabricated steel truss that gets welded to the end posts flat on the ground, and then gets winched vertically. The actual fabrication of these pieces is not very difficult, but the trusses are...
  11. S

    What is Windows 11 doing to your CAD/CAM software

    We've had some less technical people accidentally allow their computers to "upgrade" to windows 11. Two laptops and a desktop are now unbearably slow to use, and there doesn't seem to be any way to roll back. Our two year old high end laptop can no longer smoothly drag a draftsight window...
  12. S

    strip knurling machine material

    We make treadplates for some of our products, and coat it in supergrip powder and laser engrave our logo. The treadplates are generally 4" wide and up to 84" long, made of 5052 aluminum. The supergrip makes the shop smell terrible, sheds grit, and wears down quickly. So I would like to build a...
  13. S

    Maximum unloaded speed of a stationary leadscrew with rotating nut

    I am building a press where I intend to use a 2"-4 acme leadscrew with a large bronze nut spun by a motor for rapid travel. It will have 1000 pounds on it during rapid travel, and that will be passed through a thrust bearing to the nut. A hydraulic cylinder will push on the end of the leadscrew...
  14. S

    Using screw compressors at low output pressure

    I only need 40-50 psi for sandblasting, and would rather lower the compressor setpoint and use the saved power for some extra CFM. Will a typical screw compressor give considerably more output at lower pressures? I know piston compressors only offer a slight boost, but I should get around 25%...
  15. S

    Tolerances for sealless hydraulic cylinders

    I know that hydraulic spool valves have no seals, and just rely on tight tolerances and oil viscosity to seal. For very small cylinders, in the 1/4" range (say you need a row of them for a clamping application), would it be practical to use reamed holes with gauge pins or similar to make...
  16. S

    Why always I beams for cranes?

    I was thinking it would be far more convenient to use steel pipe versus and I beam. The exterior is smoother, and it isn't difficult to have four angled rollers. The deflection isn't bad, assembly is easy, (though I have plate cutting ability, so maybe that helps) and twist of the section in...
  17. S

    Light cut in ductile cast iron

    I'd like to get some castings made for some hydraulic presses I would like to build and sell. I am choosing ASTM A536 60/40/18 or 65/45/12. One of the pieces is 5" thick and needs an open slot cleaned up to 2" wide within around 0.02". The slot is 4" in length. Since this limits the cutter...
  18. S

    Hydraulic servo valve kit

    Is anyone aware of any simple kits for hydraulic servos? I can easily get electric servo controllers and motors that accept step direction signals, but I can't really find any controller and valve kits that do the same. I expect to supply my own cylinder and encoder. Affordable is always nice...
  19. S

    Dead quiet speed control

    I have an old 1200rpm 3hp 3 phase motor I'd like to use on a line shaft fan system in an A-frame cabin. The motor would run up to about 900 rpm, and be reduced down to 300 rpm to the line shaft through a belt drive. The line shaft will either connect to 6 1:1gearboxes in a row, or 6 1:1 right...
  20. S

    G-code variant or standard alternative for robot programming

    Is there any improved G-code standard for robots? Or is there a standard code system for mapping paths? To my knowledge everyone uses their own proprietary standard. I ask because if you are trying to trace out a circle for example on an arbitrary plane you either need a way to specify an...

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