[Uncle ENzo]

Where is the lift?

[N0tt0N]

Found some rooms I hadn't seen before while there for a Concepts of CNC course and for my daughter's MIG class

Paint Room has a regular spray booth...


a powder coating only booth...


a small curing oven...


and a large curing oven.


There is also a room with a two-door media blaster and more metalworking machines (planishing hammer, shrinker/stretcher, grinders, English wheel, etc.)


CNC overview course was a waste of time. They do have the full Autodesk Pro Ultimate 2014 suite. They have a Solidworks course but I didn't see the software. Apparently I can now buy student versions and list them as my school. I've done quite a bit of 3D modeling but not for CNC purposes. Does anyone here do this and recommend Autodesk vs. Solidworks vs. something else? Given what I know to be steep learning curves for these types of packages any advice is appreciated.

[joep]

Looks like they also offer a serious discount to the veterans! Also have some ready made projects up front in case you have no other good reasons to go here:

[smdubovsky]

I'd highly recommend learning Solidworks over Autodesk. Solid Edge, Alibre/Geomagic (3D Systems printers), etc all use a very Solidworks like interface as it was (still is?) the industry leader for most shops of reasonable size. Learn one of those and the others are very similar. The huge guys use ProE or Catia. Autodesk is sort of like nothing else though a lot of architecture types seem to use it.

[BlackTalon]

x2. Not that we do 3D design/ fabrication, but everything I see in the design mags, etc. use Solidworks. Autodesk is best for Autocad, etc. (architectural/ building engineering drawings), but isn't a go-to program for manufacturing.

[N0tt0N]

Great feedback, thanks guys

[N0tt0N]

After swinging by to visit with TR in his lair (Thank You, Sir!) and seeing everything going on there I had to go machine something before my manhood completely wilted away.

I headed over to TechShop for the CNC301 Course, Tormach CNC Mill Class. This was a 3 hour hands on course that qualifies one to use the machine unattended, a prerequisite for most things that can maim bystanders and destroy neighborhoods. The teacher was excellent and I learned a great deal of practical knowledge on setting up the machine, fixing the material, zeroing the axis, etc. Read a lot about it but still got pretty excited actually getting to do it and feeling the tools, etc. Still pumped and my head is spinning with the reality of some of the projects that were 'neat ideas' a year ago.

As pointed out here and confirmed by my instructor these machines are considered hobby grade though completely suitable for prototyping and for parts with non-critical (i.e., +/- a thousandth or so isn't a deal breaker) tolerances like brackets, mounts, etc. Perfect for my current requirements. There are a number of things I will be machining in aluminum but also several mold-making efforts for the injection molding machine I am interested in pursuing.

Here's a few pictures from tonight.

[N0tt0N]

Last night was my Angular Sheet Metal SBU Class. Same instructor I had for MIG - the guy is an ex-body shop metalbender and hilarious. We got cleared on the hydraulic shear, turret punch, slitting shear, open shear, corner notcher, finger brake, and spot welder. Built a 'Tuesday Night Box'.

Best advice, "If what you are making matters then make it matter! Measure and test samples; build and use jigs and templates. If it is a Tuesday Night Box... use the gauge on the machine and eyeball it."

Spot welder looks like a very handy tool. Probably have in hand tool and skill access for a brake ducting project. I need to take the organic sheet metal class... Tomorrow is the Water Jet SBU which they were also running last night - looks raucous.

[N0tt0N]

The WaterJet is an interesting tool. Most of it is the usual time needed on the CAD/Drawing tool but it is much easier than the CNC mill in that it is 2-D and homing it is not as critical given the giant bed. We cut shapes into 1/4" aluminum, 3/8" ceramic tile, .06" mild steel, 5/8" plywood. The FlowJet uses some dated proprietary software that has issues with poorly created vector files (with lots of vertexes - it appears to set up each vector at run-time so a non-arc circle can take a long time to cut vs a simple arc). Can cut up to 6" of granite. Overall I can see the use but at $3.00/minute (the only machine where you get charged in addition for use) it can add up if you're not efficient. For instance, cutting out a 2"x4" Batman throwing star from 1/4" aluminum took about 2 minutes. The CNC Mill can do pretty much the same thing if you're just working on mild steel and aluminum billet but apparently the WaterJet is awesome at cutting rubber. Nothing layered like a sandwiched panel (can't go from less dense to dense due to loss in pressure causing expansion so you loose the pointy end of the stream). 50,000psi with fine garnet as the cutting abrasive. Pretty amazing.

[N0tt0N]

Had a great time at TechShop today. I had my TIG SBU course this afternoon. I was bit apprehensive given the extra controls and things to do relative to the MIG setup but in the end I really like the TIG process better. Much cleaner welds although it is a bit slower than MIG (which is good for me!).

The equipment I used was a Lincoln 225


I obviously will be practicing a lot but here's two pieces of thin steel we had to do several exercises on (tacks, welds with and without adding rod, etc.). I have another class next week for Aluminum TIG


The media blasting was also fun. We cleaned up another thin piece of steel and then washed and degreased it. Then we went through the powder coating process. Here is my amazing achievement! A Thursday Night Gismo!


Now that I was cleared for use I stayed after and practiced on something I really want to do!