JSR,

I get busy for a few weeks and you and Evilvet start competing factories!! I'm very impressed and happy. Hope to see some really cool stuff happening this year.

USGF

JSR, Cloud style is cool. But, I think the whole idea is to build an autonomous weapon platform that in my mind should have considerable mission "up time". This means like a sniper, make each shot count. An accurate, moderate rate of fire weapon would be my wish. Course it would still have a ammo in...

Evilvet, Frame looks great. Since the overhead portion is stationary, I guess the correct term is bridge machine. I looked at the Chinese spindle you propose using. There are a lot of write ups on these, mostly positive, some complaining of poor bearing life and vibration issues. I'd think the air c...

JSR,

Any updates on the Turret project or has the thread been moved elsewhere?

USGF

JSR, Wanna see where this interest goes... :idea: If I can beat on the horse for a few more minutes. If you take it that simple bitmap to z height conversion programs are all that is available to the DIY crowd, this is a mistake. There is great software for cheap if not freeware. I have seen many Sh...

Yeah, that's one of my favorite examples on the site. Bear in mind, a height map that: * Has perhaps only three levels rather than fifty or more * Has one of it's levels at zero, i.e. penetrates the material * Is made twice, the second time as a mirror image Will produce you two clam shell halves. ...

plus if you can move the pc to another room you can put some really loud cooling system on it why not have a cooler thats quiet? http://static3.emoticonize.com/2011/8/12/23c321.gif Gents, We were looking to cool water for another reason. Something about coloring aluminum. Anyway, I realized the aqu...

Gents, The USG powder coating, thermoforming and heat treating pizza oven has a small shaded pole motor driving a long 3/16 diameter stainless shaft. On the end there is a 4" aluminum fan blade purchased from Grainger. The shaft has a bearing close to the fan, the other end is supported by a small c...

Hope you guys caught it. The episode "Affordable Tornado Shelter" was shown last night. Should be seen in reruns for a while. National Geographic Channel. A short teaser here: http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/national-geographic-channel/featured-videos-national-geographic-channel/ngc...

It's the motor that takes a beating. How about a magnetic coupling right through the walls of the main chamber? motor remains outside. The fan rotor has a small bearing and a couple of Neo magnets to transmit power. Would work great with aluminum and non-metalic guns.

USGF

A simple example of why this topic applies to Spuds. Many of us dream of making the perfect "copy"; a BFG that actually looks like a BFG rather than a plumbers nightmare. So......... Start with a suitable image Apply a nifty program called Image to G Code Feed the G Code to your CNC router Load the...

JSR,

What you could do with "proper" drawing software is difficult to fathom. Bravo.

USGF

ohhh BTW... USGF what do you know about hexapod machines ?? I've seen them somewhere I hope I can find that vid Poland Spud, they must not have a good cost to benefit ratio as they have not gotten popular in commercial shops. I see them in high speed robotic applications. Mostly packaging. I know i...

JSR, Yes, the Y axis is short on the Proxon. It does meets the "small" criteria. The router: Unless you want to start making small plaques, drink coasters, pen holders, inlays for pool cues and other typical router work, I'd still lean in some other direction. Router vs Mill: The software and need f...

JSR, You're not gonna believe it, we have that same black unit from china here at the shop. Belongs to one of the guys. The axis under the table (Y) is pretty stiff. I have issue with X and Z. They both use round rod ways mounted only at each end. Same with the lower machine actually, these type of ...