#linuxcnc Logs

May 06 2019

#linuxcnc Calendar

12:56 AM Deejay: moin
05:20 AM Tom_L: morning
05:45 AM The_Ball: skunkworks, nice, are you samcoinc? I see there is a stmbl video from a month ago, been meaning to make a few
06:00 AM jthornton: morning
12:00 PM Lcvette: https://youtu.be/E6B4Wizr64o
12:19 PM gregcnc: working on coordinate rotation?
12:27 PM Rab: Haha starting @ third paragraph: https://hackaday.com/2019/05/05/hackaday-links-may-5-2019/
12:30 PM gregcnc: would be interesting to know what kind of machine that was. and if it was sold with a siemens control
12:31 PM gregcnc: i was surprised by the number of siemens controls in new chinese machines, but these were much more than a few thousand $$
12:35 PM DaViruz: does "evidence" collected by siemens by such clandestine means really hold up i court i wonder
12:37 PM DaViruz: might, if there is tax money involved..
12:37 PM roycroft: that depends on the political agenda of the judge
12:37 PM gregcnc: I'm sure its in the user agreement
12:38 PM DaViruz: not sure he signed that if he didn't buy it from siemens
12:38 PM gregcnc: when was the last time you signed one?
12:38 PM DaViruz: oh wait, that click a button to sign agreement is a thing in some countries
12:41 PM DaViruz: it seems they are here as well nowdays :(
01:11 PM SpeedEvil is now known as Guest13605
01:18 PM BitEvil is now known as speedevil
01:18 PM speedevil is now known as SpeedEvil
01:24 PM Valduare: hows everybody doing
01:31 PM gloops: fine thanks
01:40 PM Tom_L: hey gloops, how's the wood carving goin?
01:43 PM gloops: not very prolific Tom_L atm, i keep taking site work on - but definitely will be back to it when im done with this job probably next week, im having a long break
02:45 PM CaptHindsight: that hackaday article has me filled with fake outrage
02:46 PM CaptHindsight: no mention of blocking the outgoing port for the Siemens software
02:47 PM CaptHindsight: any fake Siemns software from China should be firewalled to death
02:48 PM CaptHindsight: I tried to get Chine manufacturers to copy LCNC a few years ago, they didn't want to since there was not a Winders version
02:48 PM CaptHindsight: Chine/Chinese
03:04 PM Deejay: gn8
03:11 PM Valduare: hmm .525mm backlash on this axis it looks like
03:12 PM Rab: Not bad for an old knee mill, is this something newer?
03:12 PM Valduare: 7x10 mini lathe
03:13 PM Valduare: cross slide
03:13 PM gloops: in the screw?
03:13 PM Rab: hmm
03:13 PM Valduare: the gap between the dial widens
03:14 PM gloops: it shouldnt matter much for a lathe
03:15 PM gloops: (if we are talking about the screw, not the ways)
03:15 PM methods_: slop in the gibs?
03:16 PM Valduare: there is a flange on the leadscrew that buts against the steel saddle one way and the other side is an aluminum spacer and then the dial and then handle
03:16 PM Valduare: there is a recess in the alum spacer for the flange
03:19 PM gloops: ill probably be corrected, but the axis only cuts in one direction, the slack will be wound out consistently every time it move to cut
03:20 PM Valduare: i've been trying to wrap my head around how that works for cnc stuff
03:21 PM gloops: with a lathe you are usually only cutting in one direction, some backlash wont make any difference
03:21 PM JT-Shop: if you have any slack at all you should conventional cut not climb cut
03:22 PM gloops: backlash matters with multi directional cutting, like milling
03:36 PM Tom_L: JT-Shop how's the weather?
03:37 PM Tom_L: supposed to get PM storms here nearly all week
03:38 PM gloops: BACKLASH = 0.0000 - Backlash in machine units. Backlash compensation value can be used to make up for small deficiencies in the hardware used to drive an axis. If backlash is added to an axis and you are using steppers the STEPGEN_MAXACCEL must be increased to 1.5 to 2 times the MAX_ACCELERATION for the axis.
03:38 PM gloops: INI file - backlash compensation, you just add it there, no need to calculate anything in CAM software
04:04 PM Joe_Hildreth: Hello all!
04:05 PM roycroft: isn't backlash still an issue if you're moving the x and y axes simultaneously on a mill, changing directions occasionally, even with backlash compensation?
04:05 PM Joe_Hildreth: Question: When compiling a preempt-rt kernel, should ACPI bu turned off, and are there other kernel options that need to be considered?
04:39 PM JT-Shop: Tom_L: nothing yet but clouds
04:58 PM net|: https://youtu.be/hoxBkrD4xCo?t=835 was thinking of using winshield wiper motor with optical encoder for maslow cnc video says it can lift 70 lb
05:29 PM JT-Shop: 90% of putube videos are nothing but crap and lies lol
05:29 PM JT-Shop: notable exceptions are myfordboy and william ng
05:31 PM * SpeedEvil is watching Project Farm.
05:31 PM SpeedEvil: Who at least sort-of-tries.
05:32 PM SpeedEvil: And provides vital info if you ever need to run a small engine lubricated with shampoo.
05:55 PM CaptHindsight: Joe_Hildreth> Question: When compiling a preempt-rt kernel, should ACPI bu turned off, and are there other kernel options that need to be considered?
05:56 PM CaptHindsight: he already left but you want all power management turned off for realime
06:21 PM MacGalempsy: hello
06:26 PM jthornton: hi
06:33 PM jthornton: yea I have 13 strawberry seeds that have germinated! 1300000% better than last year
06:47 PM jym: CHOCOLATE vine to bar... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cFhx_myB0Q
06:48 PM jym: jthornton: just seedlings now?
06:51 PM jthornton: just breaking out of the dirt, some 1/16" tall
07:09 PM jym: very cool
07:10 PM jym: MY sage plants (3 varieties) are going balistic, it seems
08:50 PM Elmo40: jthornton, have you tried the upsidedown hanging method for strawberries?
08:51 PM Elmo40: i tried at the cottage and the squirrels ate them all.
08:54 PM roycroft: keep the sage clipped pretty closely
08:55 PM roycroft: it tends to grow like crazy and get all spindly if you don't keep it trimmed
08:56 PM CaptHindsight: sage advice?
08:56 PM CaptHindsight: sorry, couldn't pass it up
08:57 PM Elmo40: O_o
08:57 PM Elmo40: same thing with lettuce
08:57 PM roycroft: i've been growing sage for decades, so yes, you could consider my advise somewhat sage
08:57 PM roycroft: :)
08:57 PM CaptHindsight: Elmo40: the squirrels or the strawberries?
08:57 PM Elmo40: too much sun makes lettuce get all skinny and bitter
09:03 PM CaptHindsight: Sprinkle cayenne pepper on your soil and even on your plants to keep the squirrels away.
09:04 PM CaptHindsight: works even better if you spray it directly on the squirrels
09:11 PM roycroft: has anyone noticed that the quality of power tools at harbor freight has gotten a fair amount better lately, but consumables for said tools are still utter shite?
09:11 PM Tom_L: i avoid them unless i need a one time use tool
09:12 PM roycroft: i get nitrile gloves there
09:12 PM roycroft: and i got a bunch of hydraulic body tools there
09:12 PM roycroft: i'm pretty selective about what i get there
09:13 PM roycroft: i've gotten some air tools there too
09:13 PM roycroft: those have also gotten better over the years
09:13 PM Rab: The nitrile gloves are legit. I have noticed that they've house branded everything "BAUER" "PREDATOR" etc instead of "RustBeltCity Tools", but I'd still never buy power tools from Harbor Fright.
09:15 PM Rab: I did buy a ring roller and an air riveter that seem OK.
09:17 PM roycroft: oh, yeah, i have a ring roller, tubing roller, and metal bender from there
09:17 PM roycroft: i just used the ring roller this past weekend
09:17 PM roycroft: i also have a shrinker/stretcher
09:18 PM roycroft: and a 3-in-one shear-brake-roll
09:18 PM roycroft: i don't do a lot of sheet metal work
09:18 PM Rab: The ring roller has a plastic part that's apparently a major failure point. If it breaks I'll make another one out of metal. But it's held together so far.
09:18 PM roycroft: the hf stuff is ok for most of what i do
09:18 PM roycroft: i need a bead roller, and hf don't carry them any more
09:19 PM roycroft: i'll probably get a cheap one from eastwood
09:19 PM roycroft: i just need to make some round flanges on some 22ga sheet steel
09:19 PM Rab: I made a bunch of rings from 1/8" stainless bar, came out great. The teeth on the rollers are obviously not hardened though.
09:21 PM Rab: Simple mechanical things like a tubing bender, it's hard to screw up.
09:21 PM Rab: They have an ultra-cheap powder coating gun that I'm kinda intrigued by.
09:22 PM roycroft: i also bought a bunch of big-jaw welding clamps from hf - the vice grip type
09:23 PM Rab: Oh, one long-standing exception to the power tool rule is the $10 HF angle grinder...my friends and I have beaten on those things, I've never seen one fail. Or had a disc explode.
09:23 PM roycroft: yes, i have a bunch of those
09:23 PM roycroft: i don't like having to change the cutter/wheel/whatever
09:23 PM roycroft: so i've bought a bunch over time
09:24 PM roycroft: i bought a double cut saw from them too, because it was a marked-down return on a tent sale sunday
09:24 PM roycroft: i think i paid $20 for it total
09:25 PM roycroft: and it does a decent job cutting 0.120" mild steel
09:27 PM CaptHindsight: i return the angle grinders after 2 days of use
09:27 PM CaptHindsight: they sound pretty bad by day 2, and then poof the brushes are gone
09:27 PM roycroft: i bought one of their circular saw sharpeners, with the $10 diamond wheel
09:27 PM roycroft: after taking the guards off of it it works great for grinding tungsten electrodes
09:28 PM roycroft: https://www.harborfreight.com/120-volt-circular-saw-blade-sharpener-96687.html
09:28 PM roycroft: that one
09:29 PM roycroft: get it on sale with a 20% or 25% off coupon and it's a pretty good deal
09:29 PM roycroft: i've never tried sharpening a saw blade with it
09:29 PM CaptHindsight: walmart also has the $12 angle grinders
09:29 PM CaptHindsight: same return policy
09:30 PM Rab: I bought the $10 HF palm sander in desperation once, it lasted literally about five minutes. I took it apart and the motor used bronze bushings, not a good match for the application.
09:30 PM CaptHindsight: https://www.harborfreight.com/4-12-in-43-amp-angle-grinder-60625.html
09:30 PM roycroft: i use festool hand sanders
09:31 PM CaptHindsight: the grinding wheels are fine
09:31 PM CaptHindsight: after a few hours the gears are pretty worn so they vibrate..
09:31 PM roycroft: my biggest problem with their grinders is vibration
09:32 PM CaptHindsight: then i just bear down on thick welds until the brushes smoke
09:32 PM roycroft: when i buy one and it makes my elbow hurt after 30 seconds i take it back and get another
09:32 PM CaptHindsight: then return
09:33 PM CaptHindsight: I also has 30 year old Milwaukee and similar grinders and drills
09:33 PM CaptHindsight: has/have
09:33 PM roycroft: i really do think they're making better quality power tools than they used to
09:33 PM roycroft: probably because they still get them from china
09:33 PM CaptHindsight: i see more expensive corldless tolls there now
09:33 PM roycroft: the really low-end manufacturing has moved to viet nam and india
09:33 PM CaptHindsight: tools even
09:34 PM roycroft: the chinese are starting to make things that are the same quality as the taiwanese stuff used to be
09:34 PM Rab: I'm surprised they managed with the tariffs.
09:34 PM roycroft: i don't know how they do it
09:34 PM roycroft: and with the tariffs going up friday it's going to get a lot worse
09:34 PM CaptHindsight: https://www.harborfreight.com/power-tools/cordless-drills/20v-lithium-cordless-12-in-compact-drilldriver-kit-63381.html
09:34 PM roycroft: and our utter moron of a president keeps claiming that the chinese are paying the tariffs
09:34 PM Rab: It'd be interesting to have some insight into their supply chain.
09:35 PM roycroft: he repeated that lie again this past weekend
09:35 PM tiwake: CaptHindsight: you said you were working on making an amorphous metal SLS type rapid prototyping machine?
09:35 PM Rab: roycroft, going up more?
09:35 PM roycroft: yes
09:35 PM roycroft: a whole bunch of stuff is going up from 10% to 25% on friday
09:35 PM CaptHindsight: wake me when he tells the truth
09:35 PM Rab: Oh, I forgot, the $10 HF calipers are the best $10 calipers you can buy.
09:36 PM Rab: The stainless digi calipers, that is.
09:36 PM CaptHindsight: best paper backhoe made
09:36 PM roycroft: i hope your middle name is rumplestiltskin
09:36 PM CaptHindsight: finest wooden sockets money can buy
09:36 PM Rab: I search through a few pairs until I find one with decently ground jaws.
09:36 PM * roycroft got a mitutoyou digital caliper (100mm) recently, and loves it
09:36 PM roycroft: mitutoyo
09:37 PM Jymmm: CaptHindsight: what about the driver you linked to?
09:37 PM CaptHindsight: Jymmm: they say they last much longer
09:37 PM CaptHindsight: than the $15 drivers
09:37 PM Jymmm: CaptHindsight: ah
09:37 PM tiwake: I must sleep
09:37 PM CaptHindsight: I have 3-4 of the $15 cordless
09:38 PM CaptHindsight: i mostly use them to mix things
09:38 PM roycroft: shall i wake you too, tiwake when trump tells a not lie?
09:38 PM CaptHindsight: with a small plastic paint mixer tool
09:39 PM CaptHindsight: https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61ekP97fbUL._SY879_.jpg
09:39 PM Rab: roycroft, I looked into where the tariff money goes; apparently it's into the general fund. Good strategy to fund tax cuts for the wealthy!
09:39 PM CaptHindsight: the wealthy have a a hard time for years
09:39 PM roycroft: i don't really care so much where it goes as i care about being truthful about who pays it
09:40 PM CaptHindsight: lots of complex tax rules
09:40 PM CaptHindsight: the wealthy used to pay ~90% tax 60 years ago
09:41 PM CaptHindsight: so it's their turn to get a break :)
09:41 PM roycroft: it's the thing that drives me crazy about that piece of shit in the white house
09:41 PM roycroft: he lies about absolutely everything, all the time
09:41 PM roycroft: even stuff that does not matter AT ALL
09:41 PM CaptHindsight: yeah, i knew someone like that
09:42 PM CaptHindsight: pathological liar
09:42 PM roycroft: his father was born in germany, somewhere in scandanavia, and in new york city, depending on what day he says it
09:42 PM roycroft: that does not matter one bit
09:42 PM roycroft: why the hell lie about something like that when it doesn't matter at all?
09:42 PM CaptHindsight: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-time-cure/201709/the-dangerous-case-donald-trump
09:43 PM CaptHindsight: talk to the psychologists
09:43 PM CaptHindsight: they have names for these types of disorders
09:44 PM CaptHindsight: who is dumb enough to believe him anymore?
09:44 PM CaptHindsight: way too many dumb people
09:44 PM roycroft: other liars
09:44 PM CaptHindsight: we have s stupidity epidemic
09:44 PM CaptHindsight: s/a
09:45 PM roycroft: i don't mean for this to degenerate into a bash trump thing
09:45 PM CaptHindsight: nah
09:45 PM roycroft: but the tariffs were brought up
09:45 PM roycroft: and he just announed he's increasing them
09:45 PM CaptHindsight: it's just stating the obvious
09:45 PM roycroft: and lied about who pays them
09:45 PM roycroft: and it got me going ...
09:45 PM roycroft: i can't help it
09:45 PM CaptHindsight: so power tools
09:46 PM roycroft: i think there are people on this very channel who may not think that it's obvious that our president lies 100% of the time
09:46 PM CaptHindsight: heh, another term for him
09:46 PM roycroft: well, tool at least :)
09:46 PM CaptHindsight: roycroft: yes, i believe you are correct
09:46 PM CaptHindsight: delusional
09:46 PM CaptHindsight: live in a bubble
09:46 PM roycroft: it's why i try not to discuss such matters on a regular basis
09:46 PM CaptHindsight: yeah
09:46 PM roycroft: but i'm not a perfect person
09:46 PM roycroft: and sometimes the rage comes out in spite of my efforts to contain it :)
09:47 PM CaptHindsight: it's very tribal
09:47 PM roycroft: oh god, yes
09:47 PM CaptHindsight: so if they sense you are not on their tribe/team etc they attack
09:47 PM roycroft: and i'm not a democrat
09:47 PM CaptHindsight: they don't care
09:47 PM roycroft: a good friend of a quarter century thinks i'm a "traitor" because i did not vote for clinton
09:48 PM CaptHindsight: all these generations of science, arts, history and they still react like cave men
09:48 PM roycroft: he thinks that not voting for his candidate makes me exactly the same as voting for trump
09:48 PM roycroft: hint: i did not vote for trump either
09:48 PM roycroft: as if that's not obvious :P
09:48 PM CaptHindsight: we haven't had decent candidates in decades
09:48 PM Rab: roycroft, lol, you brought up both the tariffs and Trump.
09:48 PM roycroft: i did not
09:48 PM roycroft: i reacted to the tariffs
09:48 PM roycroft: someone else brought them up
09:49 PM CaptHindsight: no big deal
09:49 PM CaptHindsight: lets just move on
09:49 PM CaptHindsight: so power tools
09:49 PM roycroft: when were discussing hf someone said "i wonder how they do it with the tariffs ..."
09:49 PM roycroft: they have a new line of welders at hf that look better than their old ones, and have more features
09:49 PM CaptHindsight: gloves, cutting wheels, tarps all good at HF
09:49 PM roycroft: i'm not sure i'm ready to trust them though
09:49 PM CaptHindsight: yeah saw an AC TIG
09:50 PM roycroft: i got a couple of their stronghand knock-off portable welding tables a few years ago
09:50 PM roycroft: those have held up well, considering what they are
09:50 PM Rab: Oh dear, I just checked logs and it was I who brought up the tariffs.
09:51 PM roycroft: :)
09:51 PM Rab: Must be bedtime.
09:51 PM CaptHindsight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilwE2YfNZF4
09:51 PM roycroft: see what you did!
09:51 PM roycroft: naughty rab!
09:51 PM CaptHindsight: Here's Why Harbor Freight's New AC/DC VULCAN TIG Welder Isnt Worth Buying
09:51 PM roycroft: it's all your fault!
09:51 PM roycroft: it's not worth buying because i have an everlast powertig 250 and i'm quite happy with it
09:52 PM roycroft: other than that i'm a lousy welder
09:52 PM roycroft: i need a new mig welder
09:52 PM roycroft: mine's an old lincoln electric 120 volt model
09:52 PM roycroft: and while it can make decent welds, it really can't do so in thick material
09:53 PM roycroft: i'm not too excited about the everlast models
09:53 PM roycroft: i'm thinking i might look for a used miller
09:53 PM roycroft: i'm not sure what i'd need - probably 200a or 250a would be fine
09:54 PM roycroft: it would be nice to be able to weld up 1/2" steel without having to pre-heat it
09:54 PM CaptHindsight: how thick do you weld and what materials?
09:54 PM roycroft: see above
09:54 PM roycroft: with the lincoln, even if i want to make multiple passes i can't get any kind of decent penetration on 3/8" or 1/2" steel
09:54 PM roycroft: the root pass does need to penetrate
09:55 PM CaptHindsight: no aluminum?
09:55 PM roycroft: not mig
09:55 PM roycroft: i have the everlast tig for that
09:55 PM roycroft: so a simple dc mig welder would be fine
09:55 PM roycroft: i'm going to sell a bunch of stuff that i am not using any more and keep tripping over
09:56 PM CaptHindsight: yeah, depends on the duty cycle
09:56 PM roycroft: so maybe there will be cash for a new mig welder soon
09:56 PM roycroft: i don't weld for a living
09:56 PM CaptHindsight: 250A 40% , 200A 100% etc
09:56 PM roycroft: i can live with a low to medium duty cycle
09:56 PM roycroft: yeah
09:56 PM roycroft: if i can get 100% duty cycle at 150a that would be fine
09:56 PM roycroft: and 250a max, i think, would be fine
09:57 PM roycroft: rab just reminded me of my favorite fawlty towers episode - the germans
09:57 PM roycroft: basil: don't talk about the war!
09:58 PM CaptHindsight: hah
09:58 PM roycroft: germans: you started it!
09:58 PM CaptHindsight: yeah was joking this past weekend about not invading poland
09:58 PM roycroft: basil: no i didn't - you invaded poland in 1939!
09:58 PM roycroft: er, no we didn't
09:59 PM CaptHindsight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Y_LxQQn2Tw
09:59 PM CaptHindsight: Fawlty Towers Season 1 Episode 6 The Germans
10:01 PM roycroft: every episode of fawlty towers is great
10:01 PM CaptHindsight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGqJN1kAWwU just the German part
10:01 PM roycroft: but that one is by far the best
10:01 PM CaptHindsight: I could never move to Germany
10:02 PM CaptHindsight: and my mom was german
10:04 PM CaptHindsight: from the review the HF AC TIG is ok but has issues with starting and really clean welds
10:05 PM CaptHindsight: https://youtu.be/ilwE2YfNZF4?t=1159 his frustration
10:06 PM roycroft: i have a friend who is a welder, as in he makes his living welding, and he did some ss welding for me with my everlast
10:07 PM roycroft: he thought it was a very good machine
10:07 PM roycroft: i did a lot of research before buying that
10:07 PM roycroft: yeah, mine does not have any start problems like that
10:08 PM CaptHindsight: i have a WSME 200
10:08 PM CaptHindsight: works fairly well but not perfect
10:08 PM roycroft: i was looking at miller and lincoln when i bought my everlast, but when i found out that their inverter machines are made in china and not in the usa i really didn't care about buying blue or red
10:08 PM Tom_L: been happy with my miller but i don't need to weld 1/2" plate either
10:08 PM CaptHindsight: was only $650
10:08 PM roycroft: i just wanted something decent
10:08 PM roycroft: i don't need to do that often, tom_l
10:09 PM roycroft: but the little lincoln can't handle it at all
10:09 PM Tom_L: i think miller has a better feed
10:09 PM roycroft: well what i bought was a tig welder
10:09 PM roycroft: so that's irrelevant :)
10:09 PM Tom_L: at least at the time they did
10:09 PM CaptHindsight: y
10:09 PM roycroft: mig is a completely different story
10:10 PM roycroft: i don't think those vulcans have pre-flow, and i doubt they have adjustable post-flow
10:11 PM roycroft: which is not a big deal if you're doing farm welding
10:11 PM roycroft: but if you're doing farm welding you don't get a tig welder - you get an old buzz box
10:12 PM roycroft: or grab a battery out of a pickup
10:13 PM roycroft: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eX_sepp9T_M
10:13 PM roycroft: he does coke can welding with my welder in that video
10:14 PM norias: my welder was on sale for $80
10:14 PM roycroft: i assume he has done razor blade welding with it too
10:14 PM norias: i'm pretty happy with it
10:14 PM roycroft: it all depends on what you need to do
10:15 PM roycroft: i had a buzz box for 20 or so years, and did a lot of stuff with that
10:15 PM roycroft: i've had that little lincoln mig welder for about 20 years, and it works fine for small stuff
10:16 PM roycroft: but 1/8" mild steel is about its reasonable limit
10:16 PM roycroft: 1/4" is starting to push it
10:17 PM norias: you know, i kinda look at it like a rifle
10:17 PM norias: the machine is better than i am
10:17 PM CaptHindsight: hastala byebye
10:17 PM norias: if i get to the point where i'm a "good" welder
10:17 PM norias: maybe i'll buy another one
10:18 PM roycroft: i'm still not a good welder
10:18 PM Tom_L: mine suits my needs
10:18 PM roycroft: and probably never will be
10:18 PM roycroft: although my skills have improved while building the belt grinder
10:19 PM Tom_L: i got alot better real quick when i figured out what was wrong with the welder
10:19 PM roycroft: which i'm in the process of painting now, btw
10:19 PM norias: i'm starting to find that pre-heating helps
10:19 PM Tom_L: the gas tube wasn't seated right and was leaking but i wasn't aware of it
10:19 PM roycroft: and i've decided to build a stand/bench for it right away, intead of doing some funky clamping to something i already have
10:20 PM norias: i've been stick welding with a propane torch in one hand and stinger in the other
10:20 PM norias: probably wrong, but it seems to work
10:20 PM roycroft: i've already built two tables for it and am going to make a third very soon, and i'm going to add a contact wheel attachment and a small wheel attachment
10:20 PM roycroft: so there will be lots of extra pieces that i'll need to store neatly
10:21 PM norias: i got a new machining job, btw
10:21 PM norias: they have a tormach
10:21 PM roycroft: congrats
10:21 PM norias: i expect this to be interesting
10:21 PM roycroft: or maybe not :)
10:21 PM norias: lol
10:21 PM roycroft: i assume they only machine on aluminium
10:21 PM norias: yeah
10:21 PM roycroft: or if not
10:21 PM roycroft: that they spend 100% of their time on the phone yelling at tormach
10:21 PM norias: i've been assured that we're going to upgrade soon
10:22 PM norias: but, i like a challenge
10:22 PM norias: i'm gonna run that thing in to the dirt
10:22 PM roycroft: throw a big block of stainless steel on it and carve out a ginormous pocket to a tenth
10:23 PM roycroft: and please to both livestream it and make an official announcement of the livestream here before you do it
10:23 PM norias: heh
10:23 PM norias: i was thinking about getting instagram
10:23 PM norias: and doing a whole series of "tweaking the shit out of a tormach"
10:24 PM norias: i see they are finally upgrading their design
10:24 PM norias: bt30 spindle
10:24 PM norias: and better axis motors
10:25 PM norias: i always wondered if you could chop the straight part off an r-8
10:25 PM norias: and make basically a mini-cat40
10:25 PM roycroft: my impression, not having used one personally, is that they do a decent job with aluminium
10:25 PM norias: we will find out
10:26 PM roycroft: the problem is that they advertise that they can machine steel to close tolerance, and nobody seems to be able to make them do so
10:26 PM norias: that, i doubt
10:26 PM roycroft: so you tell them what you need to do and they say "yes, it can do that"
10:26 PM norias: i mean, i dunno, i only ran one once
10:26 PM roycroft: and then you buy it and it doesn't do it
10:26 PM roycroft: and they don't want to honor their return policy
10:27 PM norias: this one guy i know did prototypes of an aluminum and plastic product on one
10:27 PM roycroft: and when you finally convince them to take it back because it doesn't perform as advertised they refuse to take a lot of the components back, and charge a huge restocking fee for the stuff they do take back
10:27 PM norias: i wrote the first programs for him
10:27 PM roycroft: they have a 30 day return policy
10:27 PM norias: he liked it enough that he bought one
10:27 PM norias: and still runs his production on it
10:28 PM roycroft: i would say "caveat emptor" to a degree
10:28 PM Tom_L: norias what do you program with?
10:28 PM norias: yeah
10:28 PM roycroft: i.e. some of the disgruntled former tormach owners should have known better when they bought it
10:28 PM norias: Tom_L: depends on the day. I think I did that with some autodesk inventor whatever
10:29 PM roycroft: but i have a strong impression that tormach very actively oversell the capabilities of their machines
10:29 PM norias: i think they have steppers for the axis drives
10:29 PM norias: and like box ways
10:29 PM roycroft: steppers should not really be a problem, if they're sized correctly
10:29 PM Tom_L: or are they linear rails?
10:29 PM norias: sure, but still
10:29 PM norias: no, i'm pretty sure they are box ways
10:30 PM norias: i've been wrong, before, though
10:30 PM Tom_L: either one is good
10:30 PM roycroft: even nyc cnc guy doesn't gush about tormach constantly any more, and they sponsor him
10:31 PM norias: "hand scraped hydrodynamic ways" says tormach
10:31 PM Tom_L: mine could be beefier but i can cut steel with it
10:31 PM Tom_L: that's marketing bs
10:31 PM norias: i really want to make a machine to compete with tormach
10:31 PM norias: heh
10:32 PM Tom_L: http://tom-itx.no-ip.biz:81/~webpage/cnc/Column_Mill_VMC.jpg
10:32 PM Tom_L: if i did another one i might make a few changes but i've been pretty happy with that
10:32 PM norias: cool
10:32 PM norias: solid design
10:33 PM Tom_L: z would be longer
10:33 PM norias: anyway
10:33 PM norias: that'll be my challenge
10:33 PM norias: i have some ideas
10:34 PM Tom_L: if i were serious i'd do some castings
10:34 PM norias: yeah, castings are fun
10:35 PM norias: although i think you could prototype with just cast iron bar stock
10:35 PM norias: and get about the same result
10:35 PM norias: hmm
10:35 PM norias: so, this is interesting
10:36 PM norias: in theory... if i'm looking at these dimensions right
10:36 PM norias: you should be able to put a cat 30 in an r-8 spindle
10:36 PM norias: it's real close
10:37 PM Tom_L: i've got a pdf on that somewhere
10:37 PM Tom_L: may not have r8 but it probably does
10:37 PM norias: and a cat 30 has a 1/2-13 thread
10:37 PM Tom_L: on the knob?
10:38 PM norias: yeah
10:43 PM norias: i just wonder what stops someone from making an adapter kit for r8 spindles
10:43 PM norias: to take bt30
11:40 PM _unreal_: one of my motor controller boxes is finally close to being done
11:40 PM _unreal_: pain in the ass wiring setup :/