Home machining

"R" wrote in message
...
Anthony W wrote:
Can anyone recommend a good forum for home machine work? Not the news
group, that's a madhouse...

Tony

The Home Machinist
http://www.chaski.org/homemachinist/

The Home Shop Machinist & Machinist's Workshop BBS
http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/


If you have some metalworking or machining experience this group has the
most expertise. They do not tolerate well inane questions from wannabes. A
wealth of knowledge can be gained by, even, lurking here.

Practical Machinist
http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/

Looking at this thread makes me just a little curious whether the
relationship of cost and capability may have brought the CNC routing/milling
process to make precision foam cores--such as used in the Vari-Eze and its
derivatives--within reasonable reach of the home builder. The hot wire
method worked reasonably well in its day; but was limited to certain types
of foam and also resulted in a slight sag in the shape of the resulting
parts.

Of course, I have kept a list of the above forum locations; and I am curious
if anyone happens to know the present cost of setting up that sort of CNC
system for the cores in something like a Vari-Eze.

Peter

Peter Dohm wrote:
"R" wrote in message
...
Anthony W wrote:
Can anyone recommend a good forum for home machine work? Not the news
group, that's a madhouse...

Tony
The Home Machinist
http://www.chaski.org/homemachinist/

The Home Shop Machinist & Machinist's Workshop BBS
http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/


If you have some metalworking or machining experience this group has the
most expertise. They do not tolerate well inane questions from wannabes. A
wealth of knowledge can be gained by, even, lurking here.

Practical Machinist
http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/

Looking at this thread makes me just a little curious whether the
relationship of cost and capability may have brought the CNC routing/milling
process to make precision foam cores--such as used in the Vari-Eze and its
derivatives--within reasonable reach of the home builder. The hot wire
method worked reasonably well in its day; but was limited to certain types
of foam and also resulted in a slight sag in the shape of the resulting
parts.

Of course, I have kept a list of the above forum locations; and I am curious
if anyone happens to know the present cost of setting up that sort of CNC
system for the cores in something like a Vari-Eze.

Peter


I would imagine it's a matter of scale. In theory it would be
possible, I have seen kits for 2 dimensional systems for using
oxy-acetylene torches to cut sheet metal and a home PC. I wonder if such
a sytem could be modified to 3 dimensions. Rigidity of the machinery
would require a rather massive frame. One additional consideration would
be dust collection.

I wonder if the system could also be used to finish the part after
layup.

A creative mind would be able make some amazing shapes.

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired

"Dan" wrote in message
...
Peter Dohm wrote:
"R" wrote in message
...
Anthony W wrote:
Can anyone recommend a good forum for home machine work? Not the news
group, that's a madhouse...

Tony
The Home Machinist
http://www.chaski.org/homemachinist/

The Home Shop Machinist & Machinist's Workshop BBS
http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/


If you have some metalworking or machining experience this group has the
most expertise. They do not tolerate well inane questions from wannabes.
A wealth of knowledge can be gained by, even, lurking here.

Practical Machinist
http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/

Looking at this thread makes me just a little curious whether the
relationship of cost and capability may have brought the CNC
routing/milling process to make precision foam cores--such as used in the
Vari-Eze and its derivatives--within reasonable reach of the home
builder. The hot wire method worked reasonably well in its day; but was
limited to certain types of foam and also resulted in a slight sag in the
shape of the resulting parts.

Of course, I have kept a list of the above forum locations; and I am
curious if anyone happens to know the present cost of setting up that
sort of CNC system for the cores in something like a Vari-Eze.

Peter


I would imagine it's a matter of scale. In theory it would be possible,
I have seen kits for 2 dimensional systems for using oxy-acetylene torches
to cut sheet metal and a home PC. I wonder if such a sytem could be
modified to 3 dimensions. Rigidity of the machinery would require a rather
massive frame. One additional consideration would be dust collection.

I wonder if the system could also be used to finish the part after
layup.

A creative mind would be able make some amazing shapes.

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired

Here is a starting point :-)

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-...-Cheaply-and-/

--
[This comment is no longer available due to a copyright claim by Church of
Scientology International]
"I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. They are so unlike your
Christ." Gandhi

Peter Dohm wrote:
Of course, I have kept a list of the above forum locations; and I am curious
if anyone happens to know the present cost of setting up that sort of CNC
system for the cores in something like a Vari-Eze.

Peter
Along with Practical Machinist's, and Chaski's Home Machinist, CNC
sections, add for homebrew CNC:
CNCzone.com
http://www.cnczone.com/
A group to monitor, if you are interested in developing a homebrew CNC
machine to mill or cut out your next skychaser.
The cost depends on your own vision of the machine, the task, and your
expected production.

R wrote:
add for homebrew CNC:
CNCzone.com
http://www.cnczone.com/
OOPs!
link direct to the forums page:
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/index.php

Homebrew CNC machine's costs are determined by how good you can scrounge.

"Peter Dohm" wrote in message
...
"R" wrote in message
...
Anthony W wrote:
Can anyone recommend a good forum for home machine work? Not the news
group, that's a madhouse...

Tony

The Home Machinist
http://www.chaski.org/homemachinist/

The Home Shop Machinist & Machinist's Workshop BBS
http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/


If you have some metalworking or machining experience this group has the
most expertise. They do not tolerate well inane questions from wannabes.
A wealth of knowledge can be gained by, even, lurking here.

Practical Machinist
http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/

Looking at this thread makes me just a little curious whether the
relationship of cost and capability may have brought the CNC
routing/milling process to make precision foam cores--such as used in the
Vari-Eze and its derivatives--within reasonable reach of the home builder.
The hot wire method worked reasonably well in its day; but was limited to
certain types of foam and also resulted in a slight sag in the shape of
the resulting parts.

Of course, I have kept a list of the above forum locations; and I am
curious if anyone happens to know the present cost of setting up that sort
of CNC system for the cores in something like a Vari-Eze.

Peter

It seems to me it's still about software for inputting the image and
generating the G code. There have been home brew stepper systems around for
years that would meet the requirements, but software still seems to be the
tough part. Seems it's all either too expensive or lacks function.

On Aug 15, 7:10*pm, "Peter Dohm" wrote:
"R" wrote in message

...



Anthony W wrote:
Can anyone recommend a good forum for home machine work? *Not the news
group, that's a madhouse...

Tony

The Home Machinist
http://www.chaski.org/homemachinist/

The Home Shop Machinist & Machinist's Workshop BBS
http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/

If you have some metalworking or machining experience this group has the
most expertise. They do not tolerate well inane questions from wannabes.. A
wealth of knowledge can be gained by, even, lurking here.

*Practical Machinist
http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/

Looking at this thread makes me just a little curious whether the
relationship of cost and capability may have brought the CNC routing/milling
process to make precision foam cores--such as used in the Vari-Eze and its
derivatives--within reasonable reach of the home builder. *The hot wire
method worked reasonably well in its day; but was limited to certain types
of foam and also resulted in a slight sag in the shape of the resulting
parts.

Of course, I have kept a list of the above forum locations; and I am curious
if anyone happens to know the present cost of setting up that sort of CNC
system for the cores in something like a Vari-Eze.

Peter

Back in the '80's I was allowed to watch a huge CNC machine at Martin
Marietta in Waterton, CO carve a Learjet wing out of an enormous
aluminum billet. When finished, it was complete right down to 6-32
tapped holes.

I've kicked around a "wing machine" idea for years. My idea was to
cut female molds and then build the aircraft using standard wet layup
composite techniques.