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I am 47 years old for heavens sake....I shouldn't be so excited!! But, I got this machine in May, I had to order collets for the spindle, they were odd sized and difficult to find but I found them and got them here. Then I noticed that a belt was a little worn and investigated and found that most of them were hooped. So again, some research to determine which timing belts these were (and even to find out that were called timing belts!) and then to find a source for them. Again these were not the common variety but finally got them and replaced them. Then on to software. I bought Rhino and borrowed a version of a CAM program. Started thinking I was in WAY TOO DEEP, no way I could ever figure this stuff out! Bob Garrish and Mike Turner have spent hours on the phone with me. I had some issue with file size that resulted in me needing to network to the controller, another few more hours with a computer tech here and talking with Precix (the manufacturers, their tech has been great!).

So anyway, I want to drill 64 holes 17/64" diamtre (with a 1/4" upcut spiral) into the aluminum vacuum table to install threaded inserts. I want to be able to bolt down fixtures and make locating pins rather than use the large surface vacuum that is on the machine (three 1.5 hp blowers). I will use my own fridge compressor vacuum system on the fixtures I plan to make.

There is an MDF sacrificial table on top of the aluminum one so I ran the program on the mdf just now and all looks great!!

Super big thanks to Mike Turner for setting me up with a demo version of MadCAM (which will now be my CAM program) and for his calm patience walking me through both Rhino and MadCAM.

Here is the machine in action (with boring stills, but you get the idea!)

Here is the table itself:



Here it is closer up showing the holes it is making in the mdf (on top of the existing vacuum holes)



And the Controller Screen (just tp be complete)



Thanks again to all who have offered up some help so far! I am only just starting so there will be tons more questions! Now, I am off to see if I can make the fixture for holding down blanks for making radius dishes and maybe even make a dish today!

Shane

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Canada

Congrats Shane! ....a milestone moment!

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Dave
Milton, ON

Congrats!!!

That looks like a VERY nice machine!

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-CyborgCNC
http://www.cncguitar.com
https://www.facebook.com/CncGuitar

Congrats Shane. That first time you press the button and it comes to life is pretty cool. Glad you're making good progress.

Bob

Shane glad to have been of help. As I told you in an email, I am doing what has been done to me. I have had numerous people help me with Rhino, and I know all too well how overwhelming it can be.

I can wait to see your dishes.

Mike

ps you gots a video machine?

Very cool!

I use my machine for a ton of things:
~as a planer
~as a jointer
~neck carver
~to help make jigs
~fingerboard slotting
~inlay
~etc..

There are plenty of folks willing to help..let us know if you have any questions!

Best,
Trev

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http://www.PeakeGuitars.com

Very cool, Shane! Congrats! Whatcha gonna make first?

Dennis

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Dennis Leahy
Duluth, MN, USA
7th Sense Multimedia

The first thing I did was drill some holes in my table. That just went OK, wrong tooling! But I have what I need. Next I made a jig to hold down pieces so I can make radius dishes. That went great. Now I am trying to get the programing down for milling the dishes.....I am still struggling with that, but I will get it soon. Once I have these figured out I am going to try some bridges and then some necks, which mean vacuum jigs for those first. I have LOTS to do with it, and Christmas is coming as well, time for little signs for the families....maybe!

Shane

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Canada

Nice Shane! Isn't Pegboard pretty cheap though?

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Waddy

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