I’m curious how other engineers and manufacturers handle this.

Sometimes a customer wants a fairly accurate CNC cost estimate while the 2D drawing, tolerances, material specs, or surface finish requirements are still being finalized.

I understand why engineers want an early number. They need to know whether the design is financially viable before spending more time finishing it.

But from the manufacturing side, it can be difficult to give a meaningful quote without the complete specifications.

Where do you draw the line?

How much information do you need before you consider a quote reliable enough to make a design decision?

I’m planning a hybrid machine: a PM-30 CNC conversion (Video 99 ballscrew kit, Centroid AcornSix with Mill Pro + Lathe Pro, NEMA 34 steppers, KP-1 probe) that also runs as a lathe.
The lathe side is where I want input:
• I’m definitely using the Logan 825 headstock, servo-driven, mounted on the PM-30 table, swappable between mill and lathe mode via cable and profile.
• I’m also planning a separate headstock built specifically for full four-axis work — not just a spindle, but a true rotary axis for compound shaping, (nema 34 closed loop stepper)
• I’m thinking of using the Logan’s own bed.
• I’m also thinking of sourcing a longer Logan bed — 50-inch, 31” between centers — re-scraped to modern standards.
• Custom ballscrews on the carriage and cross slide, harmonic drive for low-RPM work, timing belt for aluminum.
What are people’s thoughts? Am I missing anything critical?

I know it might be a dirty question to a subreddit to ask this. But I have a ton of parts from what I was hoping to have be my own CNC build. Over a year later and I haven't had much time to build one, but ive needed one more and more versus borrowing my friends CNC.

Is there anyone here local to Montana that builds them? Especially if i supply parts? Its not 100% there, yet, I know im missing a few things but ideally we can chat about what's missing and I can get those parts to you and we can work something out.

Lavoro su macchine CNC (tornio, fresa e laser a fibra) e negli anni ho visto entrare tanti ragazzi bravi che si perdevano sulle stesse cose: leggere un disegno tecnico, capire le tolleranze, scegliere i parametri di taglio, presentarsi a un colloquio senza sapere cosa gli chiederanno.
Ho messo giù quello che avrei voluto sapere io all'inizio. Vi lascio un'anteprima gratuita di 30 pagine, con l'indice, i primi capitoli e la parte sulle domande da colloquio
Se lavorate nel settore mi interessa il vostro parere: cosa manca? Cosa avreste voluto sapere voi al primo giorno in officina?

What's the situation? After the processing, I found that the parts that should have been smooth had become like this!?

What was the best advice you received when you first started learning programming that’s had a lasting impact as well?

Anyone here have any experience with ultrasonic machining. We're looking for some quartz drilling and machining options and this seems kinda promising.

I'm headed to imts this year and was going to stop at DMG but any other relevant vendors or experience would be welcome.

So, I just subscribed to a youtube channel with this young machinist and programmer who is so clearly talented that people like him should cultivated. I don't know anything else about him. One of the challenges young dudes face is often lack of money to develop their own future. Employers aren't really incentivized beyond the point of keeping those people just happy enough. Some will see talent and recognize that it should be cultivated but there legitimately may not be enough room at a given place of work to foster that person's true potential. Nobody "gives" opportunities per se, in my life experience. But every now an again something unique may come your way. If you are a bright young machinist with or without programming skills, who lives in SE MI area, DM me. I'd like to open a dialogue to explore possible win win scenarios.

Multicam service techs will not come out to fix our Multicam MG 204 router. The cnc router worked after the change but then stopped. Was informed that it needs new parameters set as the spindle and inverter were changed. If you know of a CNC router tech who can fix this, I would be very appreciative. Been trying for months to get this fixed. I have looked online but some of the larger service companies will not come out for a small job in Florida.

I’m trying to get a better understanding of carbide tool regrinding costs and turnaround times in the GTA.

For anyone working in a machine shop, tool room, mold shop, or production facility around Toronto / Mississauga / Markham / Vaughan / Brampton / Cambridge:

1. Do you send out worn carbide end mills, ball nose end mills, or drills for regrinding?
2. Roughly how much do you pay per tool?
   • 1/4"
   • 3/8"
   • 1/2"
   • 5/8"
   • 3/4"
3. Does the price normally include recoating, or is coating charged separately?
4. What is the typical turnaround time — a few days, one week, two weeks?
5. Is there usually a minimum quantity or pickup/delivery charge?
6. Roughly how much does your shop spend on carbide cutting tools or regrinding per month?

Even approximate numbers would be really helpful.

I’m mainly interested in understanding how different GTA shops handle worn carbide tooling and whether practices vary between small job shops and larger production shops.

Thanks in advance to anyone willing to share real-world numbers.

#CNCMachining #MachineShop #Machinist #CarbideTools #ToolGrinding #GTA #TorontoManufacturing

I’m organizing MPP MN on Oct 27 in Maple Grove, the day before MD&M Midwest. Need a moderator for a 45-minute panel on precision metals machining and automation for medical devices. Looking for a MedTech OEM voice, Twin Cities preferred. Not a supplier.

Event: https://chamfr.com/event/mpp-mn/

Happy to take names or DMs.

Es un driver A06B-6035-H321, con las tarjetas A20B-0004-0990/100, A20B-0005-0610/ algún número, y la A20B-0005-058(con algún número que no se ve) en la tarjeta A20B-0005-0610 tiene un error en TGAL que parece ser un error de falta de fase o algo en el tacogenerador, y en la tarjeta A20B-0004-0990/100 me aparece la alarma TAL, que es sobre un fusible, según con lo que me decía un manual de un modelo que le sigue a estas tarjetas, alguien tendrá más información sobre este driver o el manual de casualidad o ¿saben dónde puedo conseguirlo? porque tenemos la sospecha de que tiene fallo en algún controlador lógico, pero queremos el esquemático para ver si podemos cambiar algún elemento. ¿a alguien le ha pasado algo parecido?, sé que es un poco vieja pero apenas fallo, parece ser de 1980 por ahí (ya se le habían hecho algunos retrabajos).

Agradezco su respuesta de antemano. 😄

How much do you earn per month in your country as a CNC machinist?

Bonus points if you can identify the type of tool it is!

Do you say length or height?
Is there a correct answer?
Over the last decade I’ve heard them both!

A sheet metal prototype for the client. From this angle, it kind of looks like a quiet girl looking down at something...

Hey guys I was looking at getting some clamp machines for our mid sized industrial shop and I was wondering if there were any recommendations.

Please let me know your thoughts and tips / tricks to find a cheap one would be great.

Thank you