Messages

71

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Basic 3D Help

« on: March 26, 2013, 01:07:43 AM »

Little effort polishing, but realize that will be different with the steel.

I would reckon that your polishing woes are largely due to the fact that you cut a scaled up version, hence a larger step-over.

Rhino is really a superb program. Great price for it too, or it at least it used to be when I was looking into it. It is a very advanced program though, so the learning curve is quiet huge, as is the rewards once you get a firm grip on things. There are quiet a few CAM programs for it, so no lack of choices in that area. Chris Botha uses Rhino with DeskProto I believe. We all know the wizardry and magnificent jobs he accomplishes (i think he sold his soul for those skills), but he's not exactly a weekend warrior, either.
http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,11446.0.html
http://www.deskproto.com/

Side story:
I know that book all to well in the background.

Dad:I've been reading these westerns for quiet a while.
Me: Really? That sounds nice.
Dad: Oh it is! Let me tell ya, they really get interesting at times! Six shooters! Trains! Indians! Gold!
Me: :    
Dad: You probably wouldn't know a good book if you picked one up. I bet you haven't even opened one up since you were in school.
Me: I read. I read allot, actually. Just yesterday I read a few pages of a real good book.
Dad: I bet. What was the name of it? Penthouse?
Me:  No. Penthouse is a magazine. Ain't no words in a Penthouse anyhow. Just pictures far as I can tell. It was called McMaster Carr.
Dad: McMaster Carr? The name certainly sounds interesting. Kinda got a western ring to it. Any guns or train robberies?
Me: No. Maybe a strongbox or a knife or two, though.
Dad:   

72

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: 1997 DYNA MYTE DM4800 VMC to Mach3 Conversion

« on: March 25, 2013, 11:39:59 PM »

Those are some really nice looking parts Joel. Glad to hear that business is good!

73

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: Home Baked CNC Router.

« on: March 16, 2013, 09:43:25 PM »

Looks like your going to have a nice machine!

74

Tangent Corner / Re: Ballscrew End Machining

« on: March 12, 2013, 09:58:58 PM »

so I will first attempt to get under the kin, then anneal if necessary.

You've got it bakerds. Anneal to soften, then cut.

When annealing, how can one limit the heat from affecting more of the screw than necessary ?

To my understanding, you can't. That's just the nature of the beast. Generally speaking, the only part of the material that will be annealed is the orange/red heated part, not the lesser heated parts so much. So you wouldn't really need to worry much. Get the torch on there and get the job done though. Don't fiddle fart around and let the heat go any further than necessary. Annealing usually involves letting the material cool at its own paces, in air. I'm not a master Jedi annealer, however, so corrections might be in order.
If it were me, I would cut the screw with a thin cut-off disk close to length. You know, those thin ones that you typically use on a die grinder.
Put a broken/dull carbide insert in the tool holder and get all the hard stuff out of the way. Yeah, it will break again, but who cares....it's already broke/dull. Another example of why NOT to trash all of your broken carbide.
Replace with good insert and finish it out. Ceramic if you have one. If not, no biggie.

I have also used the cut off disk, or grinder, to grind away the hard stuff. It's an easy and quick way to get to the soft stuff, and does not put excess heat into the shaft. Not very scientific, but it aint gottta be.

Since your just doin the one, skipping the annealing all together is what I would do. If you were doin quiet a few, it might make more sense to anneal before cutting.

75

Tangent Corner / Re: Ballscrew End Machining

« on: March 12, 2013, 06:47:50 PM »

I suppose if you put the ball of an indicator in the thread valley, and then traverse 1/4 of the lead distance on every quarter turn, that would get you pretty darn close.

76

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: The Laser Project.

« on: March 09, 2013, 12:02:40 PM »

YOU become a dinosaur? doubtful. I feel like a T-Rex because I don't even have a laser. Definitely on the 'to do' list, and climbing closer to the top.

77

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: The Laser Project.

« on: March 08, 2013, 05:47:43 PM »

Wow. Very nice Tweaks. Awesome as usual.

78

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Constructing a Low Profile Tool Height Setter.

« on: January 01, 2013, 12:11:11 PM »

That's awesome Tweakie!

79

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Always Kiss Me Sign

« on: December 29, 2012, 01:00:47 AM »

Wow Dave, that looks really nice. The copper pipe holders really go great with the wood!

80

Tangent Corner / Re: Wireless USB Modem

« on: December 26, 2012, 12:54:04 AM »

Russ, I have been in the same boat as you for many years. I've been down every road imaginable, trying to get some decent service. I tried the satellite option. I hated it. If it even LOOKED like rain, there would be no signal. This was NOT due to poor aiming of the dish, either. Even when I did get online, there was a cap on the amount of data you could receive within a period of time. Ping times were absolutely horrendous. Needless to say, satellite did not last very long at all. Next was ISDN. It is a digital line, rather than analog. Speeds were 12k. Pings were sub 100. cost was 40-50 a month if I remember correctly. Very doubtful that cost is still the same. Probably more like 80-90 month now. I currently have had wireless internet for about 2 years, and can't really complain. It's been a real life saver. Recently, we have upgraded to 4G with Verizon, and now surfing the web is a real breeze. As of this minute, pings are 75, download is 10Mbps, and upload is 12.5Mbps. I certainly cannot complain about that! No, it's not cable or fiber, or even DSL, but it sure is a helluva lot better than dial up or ISDN!! Before the 4G, (3G) pings were around 150-250, downloads around 2Mbps. I should note that I can see the towers from my window. Speeds will also vary according to "tower crowding" and signal strength. There are plans on the web for a simple DIY signal booster, called a "cantenna", which I did not have any luck with, or you can purchase a directional, or omni-directional antenna for your USB modem if need be. You have to purchase the correct antenna that works with the frequency of the service. Sprint uses a different frequency than Verizon, for instance. The only services that I know of are Sprint, and Verizon. US Cellular would not be an option, I think. Sprint data is capped at 80 GIG/month, and most likely only 3G in your area, and Verizon is capped at 20 GIG/month, 3G/4G. Cost is around 60-70/month. NOT CHEAP when compared to other /better services, but when that's your only option, you can take it or leave it. 20 GIG may seem like an unobtainable amount of data, but the reality is...when you have access to it, more than likely you will use every bit of it. The final word of advise is.....don't get service thru the phone companies, but rather a reseller. Millinicom charges a flat fee. No taxes. No access fees. No "this" fee. No "that" fee. No fee for 911 access or any bogus crap the cell companies would tack on. NO CONTRACT!!! You do have to purchase a USB modem, and pay some upfront fees, but after that, everything is good. If you get the Sprint plan, I think you can even get a modem off Ebay (or wherever) and save a few bucks.

http://www.millenicom.com/

Tech support is very good too, should you need it.