r/machining

Just purchased my first mill and 3-phase machine (I'm a hobbyist), and I was going to wire it into my neighbors Phase Perfect since we share power at the shop, but the Phase Perfect just shit the bed.. In fact the local power co-op were able to see the failure on their grid monitoring system and they came out and cut the wiring to it.

Any suggestions? I don't want to lose any functionality or incur any additional wear on the mill's variable speed drive, which I've read could be an issue if you use the VFD and don't continue to utilize the variable speed drive. The local guys are all recommending a VFD on each piece of equipment I purchase, but I do plan to purchase a 3-phase mill and a 3-phase air compressor in the near future so I'm leaning toward Rotary. The Air compressor is 10hp, so I'm thinking I would need a 25hp rotary converter to run it?

https://preview.redd.it/pzyvldhyhh2h1.jpg?width=1536&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=baaad5d2a31ffedf28e3d5d78288a56f0fa10758

The existing holes are for m3 bolts but I need to use slightly larger screws and am worried about damaging the paint work. Will it crack/chip?

I was thinking of placing a think bit of scrap metal on top and using a hand drill. Or I could use a hand rotary tool so then I'm working on the inside of the hole.. Would these work or is there a better way?

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I’ve been looking at the Haas 50mm (1.9685”) Digital Height Setter, part #09-0158, mainly because I really like that it can be used as both a true 50mm and 2” reference. The specs seem solid too: 0.001mm resolution, IP65, etc.

Problem is, I contacted Haas and they won’t sell it to me because I don’t own a Haas machine.

Does anyone know:

• a way to still buy the Haas one through another supplier/distributor, or
• a good alternative that does the same thing?

I mainly want:

• 50mm / 2” capability
• good repeatability
• coolant resistance would be nice
• digital would be nice but not needed
• magnetic base preferred

What does everyone here actually use for workshop references and calculations these days?

Still mainly charts/books, spreadsheets, Machinery’s Handbook, FSWizard, phone notes, or just experience?

I’ve been building myself a mobile workshop utility app because I got sick of constantly jumping between charts, calculators and notes for things like feeds & speeds, torque values, drill/tap sizes and conversions.

Feels like a lot of the apps out there are either outdated or way too cluttered.

What stuff do you still find annoying to work out or reference in the workshop?

Hi y'all

Currently, I'm doing a apprenticeship as a kind of conventional/CNC machinist. I've been playing guitar for quite a time now and I'm thinking about building my own guitar.
Because of my work background I'd like to mill the guitar out of aluminium.
My dream would be an 8-string multiscale with an iceman shape but I don't know if this is possible etc. Because of this I have a few questions.

• Body and neck out of Aluminium or only body?
• Are there sources where I can find specific measures of the guitar? (mainly for CAD/CAM part)
• Would you advise to probably buy the neck because of special reasons?
• Does an aluminium guitar feel very different to play?
• Do you have tips&tricks in general? (but particulary for the neck)

Also, if someone who has experience in that field would be interested in helping or/and coaching me a bit can send me a DM or comment.

IMPORTANT:
At this point, this is only an idea. For example I don't know if i would even be allowed to do this at work.

Thank you all in advance!

Also my English isn't the best...

I'm messing around with my blades at work, and I was thinking of making my own.

I have the ability to make a lidar scan of a virgin set and then machine the profile and put the radius of hollow into them. Apparently there's a company called skate scribe that makes a custom CNC machine that does it already and a few of the NHL teams are customers

What I don't know is what the material is. It appears to maybe be proprietary. My CCM skates came with Step Steel removable blades that say theyr "The highest grade of Swedish Stainless" they're highly magnetic and appear to be 440c that is then hardened.

So then I looked at the price of the metal, and it would cost me as much as a set of already made blades just to buy a twelve inch square. ($600 which is roughly what 3 sets of blades cost).

So I'm wondering if maybe it's 420, or maybe they're just getting discounts in bulk.

Anyone ever work in a machine shop that has made them before for like Bauer or CCM or Step?

So to explain.

I have an old WW2 milling machine. It's a bestra FU-32. And I want to use it and learn how to use it but most folk use DRO, which it doesn't have. Are there any reading materials to use for running really old mills without DRO. That discusses techniques and set ups?

Hi all,

The original hard drive on our Centroid M20 finally failed after 30+ years. I'm going to attempt data recovery on the drive, but assuming that fails, what are my options?

Originally it is DOS-based CNC7, I believe version 8.23, controlling a Kondia K76

So far, I have:

1. Official support channel

I spoke to a Centroid rep, they can send out a new drive with the necessary software for a fee.

2. "Clean" install of CNC7

Replace the hard drive with one of the same model, install CNC7 on it and run it until that drive fails similarly. It's only a temporary fix but it's a lot cheaper, but I'm not sure this will work without machine-specific configuration from the dead drive. Are there any other ways to get this data, from other owners with the same machine config or something? Also, any potential licensing issues here?

3. Straight upgrade

Probably modernize to a full Acorn setup, but obviously the most expensive method and would probably be looking at an entirely new machine at this point.

Any help would be appreciated :)