KX1 CNC Mill Clearance Offer

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

The CNC is climb milling but conventional hand feed when routing. The facia has a foam type core so that is part of the reason it looks rough, it's not solid UPVC all the way through.

I've had the 3mm 3-flute cutter running at 3000rpm today anf feeds between 600 and 1000mm/min

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

There is only so much foam you can cut before the lure of metal becomes to much so I mounted up one the 80mm vice on loan from ARC rather than risk my own and put an offcut of 1/4" unknown aluminium in place. The part depth pockets were done with a 3mm FC3 cutter at 2500rpm, 150mm/min feed and 1mm DOC per pass. Different shapes are 1, 3 or 3mm deep. The Cut2D does seem to lift and ramp the cutter down more times that I think it really needs to and there is a slight over cut each time it does this which shows the most around the star. Apart from that you can't feel the pattern left by the cutter with a finger nail.

The two through holes were done with a 6mm FC3 cutter, 2500rpm, 150mm/min and I set it to work out its own depths in 5 passes. Finish seems nice and crisp with no indication of the hole being formed in 5 passes and a quick measure of the the square hole gives 19.99 x 19.98mm for the 20mm on the drawing which I'm reasonably happy with considering the mill is still just sat on the pallet and I have not looked at the gibs or tram.

[blowlampParticipant @blowlamp]

Posted by JasonB on 02/03/2019 16:35:22:

There is only so much foam you can cut before the lure of metal becomes to much so I mounted up one the 80mm vice on loan from ARC rather than risk my own and put an offcut of 1/4" unknown aluminium in place. The part depth pockets were done with a 3mm FC3 cutter at 2500rpm, 150mm/min feed and 1mm DOC per pass. Different shapes are 1, 3 or 3mm deep. The Cut2D does seem to lift and ramp the cutter down more times that I think it really needs to and there is a slight over cut each time it does this which shows the most around the star. Apart from that you can't feel the pattern left by the cutter with a finger nail.

The two through holes were done with a 6mm FC3 cutter, 2500rpm, 150mm/min and I set it to work out its own depths in 5 passes. Finish seems nice and crisp with no indication of the hole being formed in 5 passes and a quick measure of the the square hole gives 19.99 x 19.98mm for the 20mm on the drawing which I'm reasonably happy with considering the mill is still just sat on the pallet and I have not looked at the gibs or tram.

Some up & down in the Z is inevitable due to the way many CAM systems offset toolpaths from the geometry and commence cutting at the centre of each generated region.

If you feel there's too much dancing going on, then CamBam might be a bit better and has a very generous trial period that you could explore and probably has the greatest capability for the money (if you don't fancy going the Fusion 360 route).

If you can squeeze some more speed from your rapids (Z axis in the main), it's surpirising how much of a difference it can make in overall job time.

Martin.

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

Yes, Z feeds can take a lot of time – I just ran a job today, G-code generated in G Simple, where I edited the code afterwards to remove the over generous clearances etc and halved the run time.

150 mm / min is more my kind of feed – today's job was CZ120 brass with an FC3 cutter at 5000 rpm and 200 mm/min. This time I experimented with blue tape/superglue to hold the material down – see

**LINK**

Worked well.

[blowlampParticipant @blowlamp]

Some Mach3 gcode of Jason's Star & Square pocket. I estimated the overall size @ 25mm x 55mm.

Feedrates & spindle speed are modest with just one pass at 1mm cutting depth (to keep gcode size down), using a 3mm diameter cutter.

( Made using CamBam – http://www.cambam.co.uk )
( starsquare 3/3/2019 1:15:49 PM )
( T0 : 3.0 )
G21 G90 G91.1 G64 G40
G0 Z5.0
( T0 : 3.0 )
T0 M6
( Pocket1 )
G17
M3 S2500
G0 X1.9612 Y-24.5743
G0 Z1.0
G1 F100.0 Z0.0
G1 F130.0 X-8.3707 Z-0.9039
G2 X-9.3734 Y-24.19 Z-1.0 I0.0 J1.5
G2 F150.0 X-9.8707 Y-23.0743 I1.0026 J1.1157
G1 Y-6.0743
G2 X-8.3707 Y-4.5743 I1.5 J0.0
G1 X8.6293
G2 X10.1293 Y-6.0743 I0.0 J-1.5
G1 Y-23.0743
G2 X8.6293 Y-24.5743 I-1.5 J0.0
G1 X-8.3707
G2 X-9.3734 Y-24.19 I0.0 J1.5
G0 Z5.0
G0 X-0.1482 Y-14.6885
G0 Z1.0
G1 F100.0 Z0.0
G3 F130.0 X-0.0816 Y-14.7877 Z-0.0105 I0.2774 J0.1141
G3 X-0.0207 Y-14.8341 Z-0.0172 I0.2109 J0.2134
G3 X0.4293 Y-14.5743 Z-0.0722 I0.15 J0.2598
G3 X-0.0207 Y-14.3145 Z-0.1272 I-0.3 J0.0
G3 X-0.0816 Y-14.7877 Z-0.1754 I0.15 J-0.2598
G3 X-0.0207 Y-14.8341 Z-0.1822 I0.2109 J0.2134
G3 X0.4293 Y-14.5743 Z-0.2371 I0.15 J0.2598
G3 X-0.0207 Y-14.3145 Z-0.2921 I-0.3 J0.0
G3 X-0.0816 Y-14.7877 Z-0.3404 I0.15 J-0.2598
G3 X-0.0207 Y-14.8341 Z-0.3471 I0.2109 J0.2134
G3 X0.4293 Y-14.5743 Z-0.402 I0.15 J0.2598
G3 X-0.0207 Y-14.3145 Z-0.457 I-0.3 J0.0
G3 X-0.0816 Y-14.7877 Z-0.5053 I0.15 J-0.2598
G3 X-0.0207 Y-14.8341 Z-0.512 I0.2109 J0.2134
G3 X0.4293 Y-14.5743 Z-0.567 I0.15 J0.2598
G3 X-0.0207 Y-14.3145 Z-0.6219 I-0.3 J0.0
G3 X-0.0816 Y-14.7877 Z-0.6702 I0.15 J-0.2598
G3 X-0.0207 Y-14.8341 Z-0.6769 I0.2109 J0.2134
G3 X0.4293 Y-14.5743 Z-0.7319 I0.15 J0.2598
G3 X-0.0207 Y-14.3145 Z-0.7868 I-0.3 J0.0
G3 X-0.0816 Y-14.7877 Z-0.8351 I0.15 J-0.2598
G3 X-0.0207 Y-14.8341 Z-0.8418 I0.2109 J0.2134
G3 X0.4293 Y-14.5743 Z-0.8968 I0.15 J0.2598
G3 X-0.0207 Y-14.3145 Z-0.9517 I-0.3 J0.0
G3 X-0.0816 Y-14.7877 Z-1.0 I0.15 J-0.2598
G3 F150.0 X-0.0207 Y-14.8341 I0.2109 J0.2134
G3 X0.4293 Y-14.5743 I0.15 J0.2598
G3 X-0.0207 Y-14.3145 I-0.3 J0.0
G3 X-0.0816 Y-14.7877 I0.15 J-0.2598
G1 F100.0 X-0.5033 Y-15.2145
G3 F150.0 X-0.3207 Y-15.3538 I0.6326 J0.6401
G3 X1.0293 Y-14.5743 I0.45 J0.7794
G3 X-0.3207 Y-13.7949 I-0.9 J0.0
G3 X-0.5033 Y-15.2145 I0.45 J-0.7794
G1 F100.0 X-1.3468 Y-16.068
G3 F150.0 X-0.9207 Y-16.393 I1.4761 J1.4937
G3 X2.2293 Y-14.5743 I1.05 J1.8187
G3 X-0.9207 Y-12.7557 I-2.1 J0.0
G3 X-1.3468 Y-16.068 I1.05 J-1.8187
G1 F100.0 X-2.1903 Y-16.9215
G3 F150.0 X-1.5207 Y-17.4322 I2.3196 J2.3472
G3 X3.4293 Y-14.5743 I1.65 J2.8579
G3 X-1.5207 Y-11.7164 I-3.3 J0.0
G3 X-2.1903 Y-16.9215 I1.65 J-2.8579
G1 F100.0 X-3.0338 Y-17.7751
G3 F150.0 X-2.1207 Y-18.4714 I3.1631 J3.2007
G3 X4.6293 Y-14.5743 I2.25 J3.8971
G3 X-2.1207 Y-10.6772 I-4.5 J0.0
G3 X-3.0338 Y-17.7751 I2.25 J-3.8971
G0 Z5.0
G0 X1.1986 Y0.8233
G0 Z1.0
G1 F100.0 Z0.0
G1 F130.0 X1.647 Z-0.0392
G1 X0.0 Y1.8138 Z-0.2074
G1 X-1.647 Y0.8233 Z-0.3755
G1 X1.647 Z-0.6637
G1 X0.0 Y1.8138 Z-0.8319
G1 X-1.647 Y0.8233 Z-1.0
G1 F150.0 X1.647
G1 X0.0 Y1.8138
G1 X-1.647 Y0.8233
G1 F100.0 X-1.9562 Y1.3374
G1 F150.0 X-2.4168 Y1.0604
G2 X-4.7693 Y0.2233 I-3.2457 J5.3968
G1 X4.7693
G2 X2.4168 Y1.0604 I0.8933 J6.2339
G1 X0.0 Y2.514
G1 X-1.9562 Y1.3374
G1 F100.0 X-2.5747 Y2.3658
G1 F150.0 X-3.0353 Y2.0888
G2 X-7.4 Y1.6648 I-2.6273 J4.3684
G1 Y-0.9767
G1 X7.4
G1 Y1.6648
G2 X3.0353 Y2.0888 I-1.7375 J4.7924
G1 X0.0 Y3.9143
G1 X-2.5747 Y2.3658
G1 F100.0 X-3.1932 Y3.3941
G1 F150.0 X-3.6538 Y3.1171
G2 X-8.6 Y3.8954 I-2.0088 J3.3401
G1 Y-2.1835
G2 X-8.3707 Y-2.1767 I0.2293 J-3.8909
G1 X8.6
G1 Y3.8954
G2 X3.6538 Y3.1171 I-2.9375 J2.5618
G1 X0.0 Y5.3146
G1 X-3.1932 Y3.3941
G0 Z5.0
G0 X-8.6 Y11.4272
G0 Z1.0
G1 F100.0 Z0.0
G1 F130.0 Y11.0531 Z-0.0327
G1 X-8.4991 Y11.4895 Z-0.0719
G1 X-8.6 Y11.5772 Z-0.0836
G1 Y11.0531 Z-0.1295
G1 X-8.4991 Y11.4895 Z-0.1686
G1 X-8.6 Y11.5772 Z-0.1803
G1 Y11.0531 Z-0.2262
G1 X-8.4991 Y11.4895 Z-0.2654
G1 X-8.6 Y11.5772 Z-0.2771
G1 Y11.0531 Z-0.3229
G1 X-8.4991 Y11.4895 Z-0.3621
G1 X-8.6 Y11.5772 Z-0.3738
G1 Y11.0531 Z-0.4196

Cont >>>

[blowlampParticipant @blowlamp]

Cont >>>

G1 X-8.4991 Y11.4895 Z-0.4588
G1 X-8.6 Y11.5772 Z-0.4705
G1 Y11.0531 Z-0.5164
G1 X-8.4991 Y11.4895 Z-0.5555
G1 X-8.6 Y11.5772 Z-0.5672
G1 Y11.0531 Z-0.6131
G1 X-8.4991 Y11.4895 Z-0.6523
G1 X-8.6 Y11.5772 Z-0.664
G1 Y11.0531 Z-0.7098
G1 X-8.4991 Y11.4895 Z-0.749
G1 X-8.6 Y11.5772 Z-0.7607
G1 Y11.0531 Z-0.8065
G1 X-8.4991 Y11.4895 Z-0.8457
G1 X-8.6 Y11.5772 Z-0.8574
G1 Y11.0531 Z-0.9033
G1 X-8.4991 Y11.4895 Z-0.9425
G1 X-8.6 Y11.5772 Z-0.9542
G1 Y11.0531 Z-1.0
G1 F150.0 X-8.4991 Y11.4895
G1 X-8.6 Y11.5772
G1 Y11.0531
G0 Z5.0
G0 X-7.7151 Y21.2664
G0 Z1.0
G1 F100.0 Z0.0
G1 F130.0 X-5.2527 Y21.4808 Z-0.2162
G1 X-4.3542 Y23.6 Z-0.4176
G1 X-8.6 Z-0.7891
G1 Y21.1893 Z-1.0
G1 F150.0 X-5.2527 Y21.4808
G1 X-4.3542 Y23.6
G1 X-8.6
G1 Y21.1893
G1 F100.0 X-8.4959 Y19.9938
G1 F150.0 X-4.4296 Y20.3479
G1 X-2.542 Y24.8
G1 X-9.8
G1 Y19.8491
G2 X-9.3962 Y19.9154 I0.6378 J-2.6211
G1 X-8.4959 Y19.9938
G0 Z5.0
G0 X4.7009 Y22.7822
G0 Z1.0
G1 F100.0 Z0.0
G1 F130.0 X5.2527 Y21.4808 Z-0.1237
G1 X8.6 Y21.1893 Z-0.4176
G1 Y23.6 Z-0.6285
G1 X4.3542 Z-1.0
G1 F150.0 X5.2527 Y21.4808
G1 X8.6 Y21.1893
G1 Y23.6
G1 X4.3542
G1 F100.0 X3.2494 Y23.1316
G1 F150.0 X4.4296 Y20.3479
G1 X9.3962 Y19.9154
G2 X9.8 Y19.8491 I-0.234 J-2.6874
G1 Y24.8
G1 X2.542
G1 X3.2494 Y23.1316
G0 Z5.0
G0 X8.6 Y11.2031
G0 Z1.0
G1 F100.0 Z0.0
G1 F130.0 Y11.5772 Z-0.0327
G1 X8.4991 Y11.4895 Z-0.0444
G1 X8.6 Y11.0531 Z-0.0836
G1 Y11.5772 Z-0.1295
G1 X8.4991 Y11.4895 Z-0.1411
G1 X8.6 Y11.0531 Z-0.1803
G1 Y11.5772 Z-0.2262
G1 X8.4991 Y11.4895 Z-0.2379
G1 X8.6 Y11.0531 Z-0.2771
G1 Y11.5772 Z-0.3229
G1 X8.4991 Y11.4895 Z-0.3346
G1 X8.6 Y11.0531 Z-0.3738
G1 Y11.5772 Z-0.4196
G1 X8.4991 Y11.4895 Z-0.4313
G1 X8.6 Y11.0531 Z-0.4705
G1 Y11.5772 Z-0.5164
G1 X8.4991 Y11.4895 Z-0.5281
G1 X8.6 Y11.0531 Z-0.5672
G1 Y11.5772 Z-0.6131
G1 X8.4991 Y11.4895 Z-0.6248
G1 X8.6 Y11.0531 Z-0.664
G1 Y11.5772 Z-0.7098
G1 X8.4991 Y11.4895 Z-0.7215
G1 X8.6 Y11.0531 Z-0.7607
G1 Y11.5772 Z-0.8065
G1 X8.4991 Y11.4895 Z-0.8182
G1 X8.6 Y11.0531 Z-0.8574
G1 Y11.5772 Z-0.9033
G1 X8.4991 Y11.4895 Z-0.915
G1 X8.6 Y11.0531 Z-0.9542
G1 Y11.5772 Z-1.0
G1 F150.0 X8.4991 Y11.4895
G1 X8.6 Y11.0531
G1 Y11.5772
G1 F100.0 X7.8131 Y12.4831
G1 F150.0 X7.1673 Y11.9222
G1 X8.2908 Y7.0651
G2 X4.2722 Y4.1455 I-2.6282 J-0.6079
G1 X0.0 Y6.7149
G1 X-4.2722 Y4.1455
G2 X-8.2908 Y7.0651 I-1.3903 J2.3117
G1 X-7.1673 Y11.9222
G1 X-9.8 Y14.2089
G1 Y-3.7865
G2 X-8.3707 Y-3.3767 I1.4293 J-2.2878
G1 X8.6293
G2 X9.8 Y-3.644 I0.0 J-2.6976
G1 Y14.2089
G1 X7.8131 Y12.4831
G0 Z5.0
G0 X11.0 Y1.0531
G0 Z1.0
G1 F100.0 Z0.0
G1 F130.0 Y12.4831 Z-1.0
G1 F150.0 Y26.0
G1 X-11.0
G1 Y-26.0
G1 X11.0
G1 Y12.4831
G0 Z5.0
G0 X3.4165 Y19.6695
G0 Z1.0
G1 F100.0 Z0.0
G1 F130.0 X3.6082 Y19.2173 Z-0.043
G1 X9.2923 Y18.7223 Z-0.5421
G2 X10.1458 Y16.0955 Z-0.8492 I-0.1301 J-1.4943
G1 X8.8443 Y14.9651 Z-1.0
G1 F150.0 X5.8382 Y12.3541
G1 X7.124 Y6.7952
G2 X4.8895 Y5.1718 I-1.4614 J-0.338
G1 X0.0 Y8.1124
G1 X-4.8895 Y5.1718
G2 X-7.124 Y6.7952 I-0.7731 J1.2854
G1 X-5.8382 Y12.3541
G1 X-10.1458 Y16.0955
G2 X-9.2923 Y18.7223 I0.9836 J1.1325
G1 X-3.6082 Y19.2173
G1 X-1.381 Y24.4702
G2 X1.381 I1.381 J-0.5855
G1 X3.6082 Y19.2173
G1 X9.2923 Y18.7223
G2 X10.1458 Y16.0955 I-0.1301 J-1.4943
G1 X8.8443 Y14.9651
G0 Z5.0
M5
M30

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Thanks for that I'll see how it compares. For anyone interested I have put the code for that group of 4 shapes on dropbox. Depths did vary from 1-3mm but you got the size about right.

I was not going to touch the KX3 today but a comment was made on another forum that CNC was like 3D printing with both taking a "hours and hours" to print or machine something. I had mentioned before that the engine I'm just completing had some parts that would have suited CNC machining, these two legs being a good example with the Rotary table work taking me about 5 hours to complete.

I already had them modelled in Alibre so it was just a case of exporting a DXF file and opening that in Cut2D, after a bit of a learning curve as there were a few things I had not done before in Cut2D I had the code after about 10mins. It said that I could cut the part in 8mins 23secs so allowing a second op to form the web on the opposite side 10mins each by CNC.

This is a test one in UPVC which took the 8 and a bit mins, the UPVC is thicker than the metal so it has not cut right through.

I decided to play safe and before cutting metal reduced the DOC but speeded up the spindle which added about 3mins more to the code. When I loaded the code into Mach3 I noticed an extra path on the screen (pink circle) and should have stopped and sorted it there and then but carried on with my finger over the stop button.

With about 30secs left to run the mill started to move in the wrong direction and luckily I stopped it before too much damage was done, just a nick out of the part.

I redid the code and ran it again and all came out OK in just under 12mins, only downside was I used a bit of scrap with a hole in it.

If I wanted to finish the job then it would just be a case of flipping it over and running the first pocket code again then cutting away the tabs.

I did not video it all but this is 3 clips stitched together showing one pass of each of the 3 ops that form the code.

I was having to clear the swarf and lubricate manually and did not have an aluminium specific cutter but with those sorted out I could run it faster so all in all a 5hr job can now be done in about 30mins

[Ron LadenParticipant @ronladen17547]

Great stuff Jason, not only will it save you time but saves all that manual work and all the setting up.

Have you cured the problems the mill had in the Z, looks as if you have.

Ron

[Anonymous]

Posted by JasonB on 03/03/2019 17:14:49:

When I loaded the code into Mach3 I noticed an extra path on the screen (pink circle) and should have stopped and sorted it there and then but carried on with my finger over the stop button.

Been there, done that and got the misplaced cuts to prove it. That's why I started using a backplotter program (NcPlot) that plots a toolpath from the G-code. It also gives more accurate time estimates than the CAM program, and lists the extents of travel in all axes, which is a useful sanity check.

Andrew

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Ron, head seems to be behaving itself now.

Thanks, Andrew, It may be something I will have to look into. The Cut2D did not show any odd paths but at least it all seemed to move in a logical way on this part. Screen capture of the Cut2D simulation for anyone interested.

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

Well now we have two moderators getting into CNC maybe we can get the ability to upload other file types to the site so we can share g code?

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

You happy men with your new milling machines will be in want of a stand for it, see ad I've just placed in classifieds

[Ian Johnson 1Participant @ianjohnson1]

Nice work Jason those legs are the ideal job for a CNC milling machine.

Ian

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

Posted by John Haine on 03/03/2019 22:23:47:

Well now we have two moderators getting into CNC maybe we can get the ability to upload other file types to the site so we can share g code?

Although interesting it would be a shame if the forum and magazine became more CNC orientated instead of day to day model engineering.

Martin P

[Ian Johnson 1Participant @ianjohnson1]

Just a few rambling thoughts on Martin's comments above. I think that CNC is an extension of the model engineers tool box. Model engineering has embraced technology from industry for decades, such as power feeds, digital read outs, digital micrometers and calipers, LED lamps, laser cutting, plasma, 3D printing etc. What industry does today, model engineers do tomorrow. I can even see EDM becoming more affordable in the hobby scene very soon.

But there will always be a very large participation in manual machining because of the skill and satisfaction it brings. I think CNC has been a breath of fresh air for our hobby, otherwise it could go the same way as the classic motorbike scene, I occasionally buy Classic Bike magazine and read the same stuff I read thirty years ago!

I think I've rambled enough

Ian

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by duncan webster on 15/03/2019 16:46:25:

You happy men with your new milling machines will be in want of a stand for it, see ad I've just placed in classifieds

My X1 came with a fully enclosed cabinet made by John Stevenson out of recycled Tiger Tank…

Neil

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by martin perman on 15/03/2019 18:53:13:

Posted by John Haine on 03/03/2019 22:23:47:

Well now we have two moderators getting into CNC maybe we can get the ability to upload other file types to the site so we can share g code?

Although interesting it would be a shame if the forum and magazine became more CNC orientated instead of day to day model engineering.

Martin P

There's more than enough room for everything on the forum, extra CNC doiesn't reduce the space for other topics.

As for the magazines, they follow the interests of the readers and the authors – I am always surprised that we get relatively little CNC oriented content.

Neil

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by John Haine on 03/03/2019 22:23:47:

Well now we have two moderators getting into CNC maybe we can get the ability to upload other file types to the site so we can share g code?

We can host files in .ZIP format, but they have to go via a moderator.

Neil

[Anonymous]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 18/03/2019 19:01:08:

As for the magazines, they follow the interests of the readers and the authors – I am always surprised that we get relatively little CNC oriented content.

I have had articles published that include CNC machining. But given the current requirements for shortish articles, especially for beginners, I'd rather assumed that CNC was off the table?

Andrew

Edited By Andrew Johnston on 18/03/2019 19:20:16

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Why should CNC article be any longer than non-CNC? I though CNC was supposed to make things quicker

Seriously, CNC articles don't need to be a series – Joe Noci's shaper was a good example, although I did want it to have another page or two, so we gave it the cover instead. There have been others, but not as many as I would have expected.

Now things have settled I go up to 3 or 4 parts for articles, if they are sufficient to sustain interest.

I won't consider a longer series until the lathework and milling for beginners are finished, but these have been alternate issues to keep up the variety. Alibre would have been the same, except we had to align it with the 6-month trial period.

A CNC for beginners series would have to be generic, but any g-code or other examples would be uploaded, not in the magazine, like the examples for the Alibre tutorials. Perhaps 6 or 7 articles every other issue for a year?

Neil

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 18/03/2019 20:09:36

[Ian HewsonParticipant @ianhewson99641]

More cnc wouldn’t tempt me back to MEW, that was one of the reasons I cancelled my subscription in the first place. Long lines of g code as Blowlamps above leave me cold.

Each to there own though.

[blowlampParticipant @blowlamp]

Posted by Ian Hewson on 18/03/2019 20:23:27:

More cnc wouldn’t tempt me back to MEW, that was one of the reasons I cancelled my subscription in the first place. Long lines of g code as Blowlamps above leave me cold.

Each to there own though.

Me too, that's why it would be nice to have the gcode uploaded here to accompany the magazine article.

It would help those with CNC equipment, but maybe not the CAD/CAM, or let's say, adequate CAD/CAM or skills, for a particular machining job.

Martin.

[Anonymous]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 18/03/2019 20:09:03:

Seriously, CNC articles don't need to be a series – Joe Noci's shaper was a good example, although I did want it to have another page or two, so we gave it the cover instead. There have been others, but not as many as I would have expected.

Never considered a series, just one off articles. A CNC article may be longer because it might be discussing a complex part that cannot be made with standard manual machines. So as background there may be some design theory, 3D CAD and CAM.

Reading the forum it is clear there is a definite anti-CNC undertone. So I expected the magazines to minimise CNC exposure. It is interesting to contrast with some US based forums where everybody is pretty positive about CNC, whether they use it or not.

Andrew (Pot stirrer extraordinaire)

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Posted by Andrew Johnston on 19/03/2019 11:12:56:

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 18/03/2019 20:09:03:

Seriously, CNC articles don't need to be a series – Joe Noci's shaper was a good example, although I did want it to have another page or two, so we gave it the cover instead. There have been others, but not as many as I would have expected.

Never considered a series, just one off articles…

I can see why CNC might not be welcome in Model Engineer, but surely it has a place in Model Engineering Workshop? As the latter focuses on tools and techniques it should be covering modern as well as established techniques.

Carbide inserts, 3D-printing, CNC, CAD, SVG, microcontrollers, DRO, VFD, Superglue, Stepper Motors, Metric, PPE, Brushless, Diamonds, bring it on!

Dave (Apprentice Pot Stirrer Extraordinaire)

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

With all the concern about the small number of young people going into engineering, getting interested in "making", to create a future for our hobby, it is crazy to bias either the website or the magazines against CNC because some traditionalists don't like it. CNC is hardly "new" any more – once you get to the stage where people are buying and renovating CNC machines it can't be! Increasingly people will turn away from this website if it doesn't cater for their interests.

This is the only forum I belong to that only allows the upload of jpg files – this is just stupid. There should be a "files" section that allows any file format, which would be a place to put g-code text files so people don't have to paste the code in a message.

[Author]

Posts