Frank_N_Stein
Grandmaster
Do you have a "Maker" Co-Op around there? One here in Ft Wayne has Machine Shop, Wood Working etc. Small Fee to join and lots of folks to answer Questions.
RUCKUS
Do you have a "Maker" Co-Op around there? One here in Ft Wayne has Machine Shop, Wood Working etc. Small Fee to join and lots of folks to answer Questions.
Learning to operate manual machines has more draw to me than CNC. I just don't think I'd get the sense of pride having a computer control everything for me. I'm pretty handy with Google Sketchup and my Son tells me that if I can swing that I wouldn't have an issue learning a CAD program.
I'd like to have both eventually but a lathe would be my first purchase if I end up going down this road. I know the benchtop models aren't going to hold tolerances to ten thousandths but they'll certainly do better than I can with a drill press and hand tools and its just for tinkering so I don't think I'd be disappointed in their abilities.
CAD is one thing, CAM (the program that generates the G-code to actually run the machine) is a world of it's own...
I would also recommend a lathe as the first purchase.
You want a lathe? You know I have a direct line to the Allison Retiree Mafia.
Tell me what you want (mill, lathe, press brake, grinder, inter alia) and 3 of them will fall off the back of a truck . . . er, become available at reasonable pricing immediately.
Oh, tell me the quality you want too. The high end stuff for aero-space work is off the charts.
Conversational programming or straight up, typing out the g-code manually?I've been writing G-code programs without any type of software . It sucks!!
I've been a machinist for 21 years now. And all we use are Bridgeport mills, minus the 3-CNC mills we have.
With some of the software available today, one no longer needs to write code. Use a post processor and it generates the code and tool paths. Most people that write code, are using coolant, air, ATC, 5 axis, auto feed type equipment. A small machine for a bench won't require all of that.
I believe the most lines I've machined, was somewhere around 20,000. That was a small 2.5D design. I would never be able to write the code for something like that.
With the larger 2D designs, I get around 12,000 lines.
There are a lot of options for design software also. Most under $3,000 for 3D and under $1,000 for 2.5D, with there even being some for free, so a hobbyist doesn't have to spend the big money for features that they will never use. Something as simple as AI or Corel will generate the vectors and Mach 3 can use it directly, even though I haven't tried it.
From talking to some programmers, they use block templates for the code. A lot of movements are replicated, so they just insert the blocks and do some fill-in on the custom work.
Someone should have a cnc meet. I would like to learn more about it from professionals.
Cheeseburgers are on CM...
Conversational programming or straight up, typing out the g-code manually?
If the latter you're a brave, patient, and knowledgeable man.
FWIW, I've had g-code programs that went over 200,000 lines of code, I would HATE to program that manually.
FWIW, I've had g-code programs that went over 200,000 lines of code, I would HATE to program that manually.
Gcode isn't that bad, I can write/read it just like writing/reading a book. The complicated stuff is when you get into the 5 and 6 axises!
Learning to operate manual machines has more draw to me than CNC. I just don't think I'd get the sense of pride having a computer control everything for me. I'm pretty handy with Google Sketchup and my Son tells me that if I can swing that I wouldn't have an issue learning a CAD program.
I'd like to have both eventually but a lathe would be my first purchase if I end up going down this road. I know the benchtop models aren't going to hold tolerances to ten thousandths but they'll certainly do better than I can with a drill press and hand tools and its just for tinkering so I don't think I'd be disappointed in their abilities.
But now I am looking at a surface grinder and I am afraid to buy used because I just don't know enough about the machines to tell what condition they are in.
But now I am looking at a surface grinder and I am afraid to buy used because I just don't know enough about the machines to tell what condition they are in.
I want Gibbscam.
Why?