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Let me lay out my particular issue. I have an 8" 4 jaw that just won't clamp down on 3/16" square stock so I can make one end cylindrical and drill and tap for 2-56. I've tried a slit collet in the three jaw, one steel and one aluminum and they have all ended in the little bit coming free...

Brian, I use a boring bar to create the outer features and a standard pointy left hand turning tool (its got a better name than that but don't know it right now) to do the stuff around the hub. I'll be interested to see if somebody has some better tricks... Mike

I have yet to see any metric brake line hardware show up in my local store and a quick peek at a popular racing supply chain didn't show any either (summitracing.com) - just 3/16, 1/4 and 3/8 stainless. I would think you will have a hard time sealing the stainless if you do find it using the...

The fuel and flame can make the difference. Ask me how I know! I originally tried some 70% isopropyl alcohol that I had and my poppin wouldn't quite run - almost but not quite. I put a BIG (comparatively speaking) flame on it from a propane torch (turned all the way to almost off) and it...

I got the eccentrics done the other day. Still a little deburring to do on them but it's on to the eccentric strap next. I had been fighting an issue with my mill but hopefully its resolved and I can make these parts without issue. Only 39 days left. Nothing like a deadline to motivate...

If this is for your 8520 mill then I would say no because of the motor size (too small). For a really small mill its a maybe but even then the TB6560 driver boards have a VERY bad reputation for dying / burning up etc so I would stay away from it on that count as well. If your really...

It shouldn't be a question of LinuxCNC vrs Mach, you need to do your requirements definition and then go from there. Do you NEED to close the loop in the motion planner? Do you need the advanced features that LinuxCNC can offer (at the expense of investing time and possibly hardware...

Pat, I didn't get into making the eccentrics yesterday - I was too tired to do it safely / properly so I stayed out of the shop (lesson learned the hard way) Hopefully tonight should be good to go. I'll use 2-56 as the thread but I don't have any set screws that size to provide - sorry...

Just letting you guys know I'm not frozen solid up here (-23 C or -9 F tonight) and I am working on my parts. Starting with the eccentric. I'm just about set up for a small "production" run but will do that tomorrow when I'm more awake and less prone to errors...plus I have a question. The...

I have an identical set bought from Busy Bee tools. I don't really recommend them (the milling cutters). The grinding is sub par on many of the edges. Makes it hard when learning to determine if its your technique or machine or tool when the surface finish is off (in my case was all 3!). I...

Hi Chuck, I have a PICkit 2 from Microchip. According to this http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=1406&dDocName=en027813 it should do either of those chips. Seeing as I will be sending you parts as I'm part of the team build I could probably program up a...

Yeah - making practice parts is very familiar territory for me too.. lots of those frames in the scrap aluminum drawer too. Also - drilling small holes in stainless is really hard due to the stainless work hardening if you pause just a moment. Lots of broken drills so I gave up pinning the...

Try scratching the surface of the dowel, and flush out the hole. You may need to add more Alum to the mix as well. Lastly - I had a similar experience trying to get a tap out of an aluminum part, I ended up switching to vinegar (pickling strength 6 or 7 %) and Alum simering. That worked...

Chuck, I have on my list of parts 2 sets of bearings to make so I'll tell you how I plan on making them. I'm going to flaten the mating surfaces of the top and bottom of the bearing (ie cap and base) - this will be the datum from which the other measurements are taken. Then I'm going to...

I don't think you can rule out anything on the leadscrew assembly yet. It could be a simple matter of torque keeping the saddle down in the reverse direction and lifting it in the forward direction. That torque could be due to a ballnut issue, bent screw, bad bearing, etc. I think your best...

After I posted I decided to read up on the PC offered by Tormach. Its not that the version of Mach software is different but that they are using an embedded version of Windows XP as the operating system -thus avoiding the pitfalls of setting up a PC to run properly with the Mach software. As I...

A bent leadscrew could cause this problem if the gibs are too loose. The stripes are because the tool tip is moving relative to the work centerline (in and out or up and down and therefore cutting less/more material). The only way the leadscrew could cause this is if its moving the saddle -...

I think you know your going to buy it, its just a matter of how many accessories your going to add to it. If you knock your total price down a bit you know you'll get it, just don't buy the packages as they seem designed for schools, institutions etc that just tick all the boxes and buy at 1...

Dave, You're too keen - all done already! What are you going to do for the next 3 months while the rest of us get our butts in gear? I need to go get more material. I've had a change in plans on how I'm making the eccentric strap and need some more material. Thank goodness its only...

Dave, Could you enlarge the pockets a bit to even the sides out? Might be worth a shot to save remaking them (it is just a cosmetic feature you're dealing with) Mike