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I have a benchtop CNC mill I use for occasional light machining projects. I keep it on its own, self-contained cart with a frame that encloses the machine on top of the cart. I've tucked a mini PC...

I want to attach a couple of labels to a thing I'm making. I'm engraving the labels out of .030 Flexicolor material from Rowmark. In my first test (see photo) I used CA but, as you can see, it...

Seems like what I’m looking for. Thanks!

I have a bench top CNC mill where the head moves up and down as the Z axis. The table moves left and right as the X axis, and in and out as the Y axis. The head can also manually rotate around an...

Btw, the first line sure looks like a closed comment to me. Can you explain why it's unclosed? Thanks.

Here are the first few lines, for reference:

( 1Mill_250.tap )
( File created: Friday,...

Huh. I was so focused on 4990 I didn't even look at 5000. That's crazy, especially since the code isn't written that way, as you can tell in the pdf. I'll load it up again tomorrow and see if I...

I'm bringing up my milling machine after replacing its ancient WinXP PC with a new Win10 one and a SmoothStepper. I thought I had everything dialed in, so I ran a program (admittedly a new one I'd...

I've been using a benchtop CNC mill (R8 taper) for a number of years as a hobby. The vast majority of my operations are profile cuts, pockets, and hole drilling in aluminum that's, at most, .25"...

Actually, I just remembered there's a gas strut on the left side of the toolhead that takes some of the load off the motor when moving the head up. It hasn't been replaced since it was new, 10+...

Thanks, Isces. I’ll try that. I’ve had this machine for about 10 years and it only recently started doing this. So, if the problem is the motor, it was properly sized initially (I don’t know what...

When I rapidly move my mill's toolhead up (z axis), it makes an awful groaning sound and eventually binds to a stop. Moving up slowly, or down, are no problem. The video below illustrates rapid up...

I'd like to back up the Windows XP machine I drive my mill with and want to make sure I get all the relevant Mach 3 files. Thanks.

In the attached image I'm milling a pocket in aluminum using a .375 Ti-Namite end mill at 1600 RPM and 5"/min. feed rate. It's turning clockwise, but I can never keep climb milling and conventional...

Thanks, but I don't have room for a dedicated buffer. I spoke to Norton and they recommended a couple of disks and an arbor which I ordered from Grainger, so hopefully those will solve my problem.

I often cut various aluminum shapes (typically .125" thick channel, angle, strip) on a cutoff saw for use in a finished piece. I.e. I can get enough accuracy from my saw for the intended...

I'm plunging .010" into aluminum with a .375" Ti coated steel, 2-flute end mill turning at 1600 RPM. Feed rate is .25"/min., and I'm using Fog Buster coolant. As the tool contacts the surface it...

I tried a variation your other suggestion and it worked fine. I cut a 4" scrap along its long axis with the bladed at about 75 degrees (i.e. 90 degrees would be vertical). I clamped another piece...

Thanks, Ian. My table is only 6" deep, so I'm not able to clamp the sides, only the ends, but I can try what you suggest subject to that limitation.

It's a 6" X 8" block of walnut, 1.25" thick. It seems like these would work, but I'm not sure.

I'm an occasional, light-duty, CNC milling enthusiast. Until recently, all my clamping needs have been met by the basic set that came with my machine, plus a vice. I now have a job that requires...

I've been emailing with a guy in my town who has an Epilog Helix for sale. The story is he's selling it for a friend who got it used in 2006, and who never used it since. Fishiness aside, how...

Newbie here. I've had a CNC milling machine for several years (so I'm familiar with making things), and have ordered a number of laser-cut parts from service bureaus, but I now have an opportunity...

Can anyone recommend types of paper (ideally available in colors) that can be cut by laser without leaving any marks (e.g. charring)? Or is it more a function of laser settings (speed, power, lens,...

Thanks, Neil. I understand now. Normally I'd use CAM, too, except mine (Cut2D) only cuts closed paths. I made a closed path that did this, with the intent of editing the code so it wouldn't take...

Thanks, Neil. This helps a lot. Since you bring it up, though, how would you program a tangential entry and exit?

As for the file suggestion, I may have to make as many as 50 of these, and my...

Couldn't find a g-code or Mach 3-specific forum so thought I'd post here (since I have a Syil SX3). I have a piece of rectangular aluminum tubing whose corners I'd like to round over using a...

I have a benchtop CNC milling machine. I'd also like a laser cutter, but don't have the space or $$$ for one. I was wondering if someone sells just the laser portion in such a package that I could...

CR:

Regarding the DRO short, are you referring to what happened to this guy (and, I guess, others)?

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35070&highlight=sx3+spindle+short

I haven't...

So, how'd you get your machine apart, OM? I'm thinking of either trying to sand down the pins, or drill out the holes, before putting it back together, so I don't have to go through this the next...

I managed to get it apart, but only by "gingerly" whacking the saddle with a small sledge hammer, creating a gap big enough to get a screwdriver into and then using that as a wedge. Now I'm having...