Hello. I have just joined the group in an effort to learn more about the Mach3 operating system and it's possible replacement for the system provided with my CNC Masters mill.
I have a degree in mechanical engineering from Georgia Tech and was working as an engineer up to 4 years ago when I asked to be assigned to the toolroom. They reluctatly agreed, thinking it would be a mistake. But now 4 years later I still think it was the best professional decision of my life. The shop I work in has only manual tools but its well equipped wit 2 full-sized Bridgeport type mills, 2 lathes (14x40 and 17x62), 2 surface grinders, bandsaws, bench grinders, etc. I make special tools necessary for the reassembly of automatic transmissions.
I began with CNC about 18 years ago when I worked for the local tecnical college and they had purchased a Denford CNC mill, but couldn't get it running. In that position I learned G and M code programming, AutoCad and MasterCam.
About 10 years ago my wife bought me a used 13 x 40 manual lathe for a Christmas present.
Several years later I bought a Rong Fu type tabletop mill from Wholesale tool.
This year I bought a CNC Masters Baron milling machine. Initially I did all the programming by hand but later bought BobCad V24.
I've been machining since my dad started me on a small lathe he had. We always had power and hand tools in the basement or garage and we always fixed our own stuff.
I was a Nuke Machinist Mate in the US Navy from 1973-1979.
My other interests are motorcycles of the 70s especially MotoGuzzi, BMW and Norton.
Thanks for listening and I look forward to some great learning here.