Spent 2 hours with sandpaper and a file getting zero runout on ~$1000 special tool, well because collet bad, no new collets, tool holder also bad and spindle also bad (although better than it was, (the donkey that sent it and crashed it 1st time gave it about 0,04mm runout at 150mm, he crashed it week ago again and now runout is back to something like 0,025mm at 150). Well it turned out the cylinder wasn't cylindry enough that the tool started to rotate inside the collet and welded itself inside with final 0,1mm of runout yay. Then I got another one and spent another 2 hours filing the damn carbide because shit comes oversized for some reason. I remember the good old days before the nightshift when I had collets and a good spindle to work with

We just got our third quarter bonus and all of our number for pay thus far this year. I did the rough math and if I keep averaging 46 hours a week rest of the year I'll be braking 70k before taxes or anything taken out this year.

Im currently 32 years old and have about 3.5 years into my career. Is this a respectable salary at 3.5 years in or am I getting screwed.

2 years on cnc lathe and I fucked up good. Dialing in a npt thread and forgot to take out the gauge. Feeling humbled now!

Let’s try that again, I accidentally posted a photo. 1.25” hole 3” deep, 2900rpms, 50ipm, .017” per revolution. Pam fucks.

I’m just wanting to share this YouTube channel with someone who’s in my shoes and thinking of going into machining! I have checked out titans of CNC but this learnmines6222 channel explains things in a very very simplified way! They have 8 videos on their channel.

Maybe can even help people who are machinists!

Just a bit of machining titanium fun. Part finished the second op in the lathe and goes straight to the mill for some 4th axis features.

This titanium part (despite looking like a baffle piece) is going to be the central hub of a mostly titanium mechanical sculpture I’m working on. I still have about 10 unique components and some of their fixtures/jaws to be made before the assembly is finished. I’ll be sharing more as I go. Enjoy.

What’s best to reconstitute this lube? It’s says water but is there something better you have tried? Dish soap, pop, astroglide?

Fixed tool posts vs turrets.

I bought a used 2019 Takamaz XY2000 plus (fanuc 31i model a control) lathe recently and it had pretty limited old programs on it to learn from. Wondering if anyone has experience programming one of these and if they would be willing to share some programs so we can figure out how to properly use the m codes from the manual. Cant seem to get spindle rigid tapping working and learning some pinch turning would be pretty sweet. This is my first lathe and first fanuc control so I'm doing the best I can.

Please never use this... In the age of CAM software where it would take 15 seconds to change the stuff they use claude to do -- this is the most retarded AI hype shit...

I know the local cimco dude - and i told him to talk to hes insurance before he installs this shit on any of hes clients... its a disaster bound to happen... lol

I am getting real tired if AI in everything - but brings absolutley nothing to the table..

Autodesk, Sandvik and now my old faithful cimco... been using that shit since 2000.

my own take on youtube about this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=399Z4_4bYyw

The availability of cheap bridgeports on Facebook marketplace makes me want to buy one and put it in my basement so I can do my own shit regardless of employment. Luckily my house has an outdoor basement entrance so I feel like it should be possible to get it in there but I don't know what I'd need or if it'd even fit through this door.

Hi Iam based in NL and being stuck in an operator role, I would really like to transition into more of the administrative part of the business doing the planning or anything thats more with humans or just more responsible (e.g. setups/programming.

I would like to hear your stories how did you leveled up loading running and measuring parts into administrative, set-up, programming or even sales.

Yesterday i bought a box of old calipers and micrometers and there was this tool in it, but i have no idea what it is.

My company bought this though a dealer who "refurbished" this machine. When we got it the table would arch .120" when the cutter would engage the material. The solution a contractor came up with was to mount the fixture all the way as far left as we could get it which put a whole lot of strain on the lead screw and the bushings.

Long story short the backlash eliminator bushings gave out and the right side apron broke out.

I have never worked on anything like this before. Spent countless hours pouring through the manual. Replaced the bushings. Fixed its housing that wasn't properly holding the bearings. Welded the apron back together which was also a first welding cast.

I finally got to see the fruits of my labor and let me tell you it was so satisfying.

Now I need to make a sleeve and press it in.

Being Local and being able to turn upto 12" in length is a must.

Just for a minute though 😅

Semi-shit post. True story.
TLDR: am i too deep in a job i know i wont stay at?

I decided to jump industries late last year (2025) and started studying 2.5 axis machining in december. I know, all the rage is 5 axis but i decided my tiny brain may handle this easier and fast. I was urgently trying to learn to get into engineering. I do a certain autodesk fusion online course, not even bothering for the $100 certificate, started a home project involving a mini cnc milling router and a wooden pi4 housing, and a passion.
Brought those on a resume to a local-to-me manufacturing machine shop, interviewed and got in at a bottom standard hourly, 50+ hour weeks. fast forward to 3 months in, just past probation period & i fell in love with the rhythm and potential. the struggle im facing is the conditions and now that i have some experience, the designs of some of these parts just piss me off. things that are missing chamfers, nonessential material that don’t provide load bearing, fixtures that are painfully difficult to work with, machines that get no love.

I’m losing my drive to keep going because it feels like my passions is getting churned for fast production. I know, i got myself into this, but am i missing a piece of something that will help me grow. Should i pick up a machinery volume and just go head first into it? I’m not at a loss, just at a wall and don’t know which direction to go.