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Post by Deleted on Apr 5, 2008 10:41:42 GMT
A question here that might start a bit of a debate. As a toolmaker in a modern toolroom with state of the art everything from CNC Lathes right through to CNC Wire Erosion machines. Is it cheating to use these facilities or just taking advantage of what's available ? And as a get-out here I'll just let you know I do 90% of my engine building at home, in my shed, on my little Warco WM240 which I think is a brilliant bit of kit.
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paul
Member
Posts: 8
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Post by paul on Apr 5, 2008 11:36:29 GMT
Haha, that old chestnut again (not you Orville, I mean the question) - purists vs pragmatists. It's been discussed many times before and no doubt will be again. Yawn.
Whether it's kits or CNC tools, the bottom line is ---> if you're happy with it, do it.
There, that's saved another bomb-load of posts on this thread. As if.
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Post by dickdastardly40 on Apr 5, 2008 11:42:16 GMT
Nay, Nay, Nay!
Just wanted to be a Nay Sayer!
Frankly it doesn't bother me in the slightest whether all you use is a hacksaw and file or the latest VMC or Turning Centre. CNC is really about repeatabilty I believe, you still need the skill to programme the toolpath etc. It isn't necessarily the holy grail to model engineers, but possibly makes more difficult parts easier to make. If I had access to such esoteric stuff you can bet the farm I'd use it.
Al
PS can I borrow some machine time?
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Post by baggo on Apr 5, 2008 11:45:02 GMT
Whether it's kits or CNC tools, the bottom line is ---> if you're happy with it, do it. Sums it up exactly. Do your own thing and just enjoy it! Life's too short to waste it worrying that some people might think it cheating.
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Lurkio
Seasoned Member
Posts: 101
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Post by Lurkio on Apr 5, 2008 11:47:38 GMT
Orville,
If you've taken a stock piece of metal, and by your own hand converted it into a useable component, then you've made it yourself. Doesn't matter much what you've used to do it, you've still used the skills you have to make it. As a toolmaker you'll have the ability to do loads by hand, but why do it just for the sake of it? Make your parts any way you see fit.
Lurkio.
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Post by circlip on Apr 5, 2008 12:37:22 GMT
In the dim and distant days, when we had further education facilities, it was standard practice to "sign on" to be able to use equipment capable of machining far bigger lumps than we could at home, so how can it be cheating to use an enhanced facility?? Lucky bu**er.
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Post by Laurie_B on Apr 5, 2008 15:15:30 GMT
Throughout the history of the Industrial Revolution,engineers have always made the best use of new technology.One or two of our illustrious engineers of the past had been ahead of their time!
So I see no problem in model engineers making full use of the sorts of technology available these days,such as laser or water jet cutting,CNC machinery etc.I can certainly recommend water jet cutting as it saves a lot of time,and sometimes not very interesting effort.
There is equally no problem at all model engineers who prefer a more traditional approach.I think it's a case of personal preference.
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abby
Statesman
Posts: 927
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Post by abby on Apr 5, 2008 17:20:10 GMT
If I could get one of them replicators off startrek I would be happy as a dog with two thingy's.
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Post by havoc on Apr 5, 2008 20:47:30 GMT
Sure, but you first need something to replicate don't you?
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steam4ian
Elder Statesman
One good turn deserves another
Posts: 2,069
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Post by steam4ian on Apr 5, 2008 21:23:11 GMT
May be a "thingy" could be one of them!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 6, 2008 8:22:11 GMT
Sounds like it's ok to use what's available to you then. I must admit I only use the CNC stuff, especially the Wire EDM, for the small fidgety stuff. A lot of people don't seem to realise there could be hours of work setting up and programming before the part is produced, people always say "Oh, that's the easy way, the machine made it for you". Plus on the smaller parts, if you forget to leave a tag on you can spend a lot of time looking through the machine filters for the part you have just made.
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Post by alanstepney on Apr 6, 2008 8:34:46 GMT
I am waiting for the day when I can find a photograph of what I want, hold it up to the screen, and tell it to make one, oh, about 5ft long, and ten minutes later, a complete loco drops out of a slot.
I reckon I'll have a long wait, in fact, almost as long as it would take me to learn how to programme a cnc machine.
Meanwhile, I'll stick to what I can do, (which isnt much), and leave all the high tech to those that can cope with it.
The main thing is that this is a hobby. As long as the individual gets pleasure from it, no matter what tools he (or she) may use, that is the most important aspect.
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Post by silverfox on Apr 7, 2008 8:11:06 GMT
go back to the beginning of time
Caveman rubbed two sticks to create fire
Then someone 'invented' Flint and so on
It is just progression
Go for it
PS would you like to practice by doing my valve gear? I have all the material
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Post by baggo on Apr 7, 2008 9:55:41 GMT
I am waiting for the day when I can find a photograph of what I want, hold it up to the screen, and tell it to make one, oh, about 5ft long, and ten minutes later, a complete loco drops out of a slot. Alan, you need a machine like that 'dreamed up' by Chuck in ME Vol.123 No. 3091 ;D
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ianmac
Part of the e-furniture
Posts: 308
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Post by ianmac on Apr 7, 2008 10:30:13 GMT
I guess a good way to look at it is.....my work shop hasn't acquired as many tools as and old fella who has been doing this for years. ;D i remember the grandfathers workshop, most of it had Sydney Uni stamped in it for some reason. Must have forgotten to return it after he retired. ;D but he had a tool for almost everything you could imagine. Makes me really love the 3 blunt files i own So really its just like another tool isn't it. Some guys have verticals mills others do with out. No one turns around and says .....he hes got a Mill ....you cheating bu**ER. For those who are PC savvy and know Linux check out emc...type emc lathe mill into goggle and take a look. Ian
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paul
Member
Posts: 8
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Post by paul on Apr 7, 2008 20:19:59 GMT
See orville I told you there'd hardly be any replies ;D ;D
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Post by houstonceng on Apr 8, 2008 16:51:37 GMT
Well, I suppose, we all cheat to some extent. We don't all make our own Nuts, Screws, Washers and Bolts. We - most of us - buy castings.
Come to that, we (usually) buy metal. We don't convert coal to coke, mine iron ore and smelt same into - - - (Sorry, there's probably someone in the group who has a scale blast furnace & Bessemer Converter in his back-yard)
No need to go on is there !
If it works for you, then do it - so long as "it's legal and don't scare the 'orses"
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