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Greetings! The constraints in Alibre are not too frustrating in most cases and often just work with minimal attention. I ended up with Alibre Atom after the Fusion changes and haven't used it enough to claim expert level, too busy fixing up buildings and shops at our retirement place. The...

Any chance one of the gears available on amazon with search terms "17 tooth module 1 gear" would work or could be modified to work? Make or buy a gear cutter. Only cutters I found in module one were all PA20 or horological cutters (wrong tooth and space forms). Making a cutter is a fair bit...

For those who have never fooled around with making springs, and can't get why I so like simple solutions, have a peek at: https://www.hemingwaykits.com/HK1970 A lovely tool, for those who enjoy tool making or who have lathes similar to a Taig that does not do single point screw cutting or a...

Glad the back pain is clearing off, persistent pain just drags you down no matter how good a face to try to keep on. I've heard it said that dogs are good judges of people...

I've told my kids to put my carcass out in a wooded part of our property for the vultures. I've enjoyed watching their social order and grace in flight for many years, and they provide a valuable service in cleaning up the dead critters. Just seems reasonable to give them a few good meals...

I've made springs in that size range from music wire and various cobbled up attachments to the lathe toolpost to control and tension the wire. A google search on spring making, maybe with home shop added to the search terms, will turn up a wealth of options and methods. Like many other things...

It could be helpful to secure the pins in the fixture with superglue / CA / Krazy Glue as you prefer to know it. I use this frequently to make small parts. Gentle warming with a torch will allow the pins to be pressed out, or soaking overnight in a closed jar of acetone will dissolve the glue...

Figuring out if and where to move is a somewhat involved process sometimes. I was amazed how many factors wander in the more you dig into an area. Obviously if you love where you are, are happy every day, and the location is not making you financially stressed, stay and enjoy, you're...

Not a thing wrong with wanting a printer that just works. I know several folks who bought Prusa printers for just that reason, and they have all been satisfied. I don't have ANY printer that has not required some level of tweaking or outright error correction beyond what came out of the box...

Hi Timo, If paid what auto mechanics actually are PAID, rather than what shops charge per hour to cover overhead etc, a Voron with dual print heads would likely come out a bit more expensive than a PrusaXL, but it would still be under $4000 USD. It would also be a total pain in the rear end to...

Hi Folks, Lots of interesting things happening in higher end (and even low end) 3D printers these days. Bambu Labs is shaking things up for turn key high speed printing, but with some issues and only in the 256mm^2 build volumes. Prusa and Voron Labs (designs only, not a "product") are doing...

I've been quite pleased with an extended Sculpfun S9 with a 10W diode head. This allows about a 16X34 inch work area and has cut up to 1/4 inch ply, balsa, thin maple, and card stock very well. Although not as fast as a CO2 machine, the larger work area is worth it for me. A diode laser won't...

Hi Andrew, The small diode lasers / up to 120 watt CO2 lasers we mere mortals might have in home shops won't cut steel or other metals sadly. Fiber lasers are coming down in price steadily, perhaps one powerful enough to deeply mark / engrave thinner steels will have the power to cut thinner...

Greetings, I've had good results when making small thin brass objects using super glue to secure the work to a fly cut sacrificial substrate / pallet. Then proceed to mill. In my case it was to make annex springs for Chelsea Ships Bell clocks. These are basically a single ended leaf spring...

For those contemplating the EDM rabbit hole, we had a thread on building EDM devices a couple a while back: https://www.homemodelenginemachinist.com/threads/edm-build.27000/ Cheers, Stan

Hi Folks, Here's a video on making small drill bits commercially: It is sadly one of those somewhat fluffy and "Gee-whiz general audience" sorts of videos, so details are limited, but all the general steps are there. Harvey Tools carries bits down to 0.002 inch...

Sorry to take a bit of time to get back, needed to go read over the plans and see. For the micro drill press Jerry suggested the chuck be chosen based on smallest diameter to be drilled. If using numbered bits up to 60 or similarly huge drills the smallest Jacobs chucks could be a good choice...

Greetings folks! Timo's nicely made miniature drill press reminded me that Jerry Howell designed several gadgets that might be of interest. A miniature drill press, a micro drill press, and a high(er) speed mill spindle accessory. I know Jerry used to drill the 0.006 inch orifice in his...

Did some painting and squirrel proofing (resisting?) outside yesterday, we had a lovely 62 degree day. Scaffolding still reminds me of the old monkey bars in the school recess yard, but they aren't as much fun at 64 years old with a tweaked sciatic nerve. Painted some cabinet frames and doors...

This is following on to several posts regarding glasses for sorting out small bits and pieces. I have the interesting condition where one eye gets positive correction and one gets negative correction for close up or reading uses. Means no off the shelf reading glasses solutions for me. When...