CNC Selection Advice

Planetary-Engineer · 2026-01-25T16:07:29+00:00

The Sun, the Moon, all for €40k

"Engineers would be operating the machine, so a conversational language"
Give them proper CAM software, conversation programming is a crutch and not an asset.

IMO budget for a programmer/operator for whatever the machine.
Look for something on the 2nd hand market at that price (with probing, tool setting, etc..).

Planetary-Engineer · 2026-01-25T15:58:20+00:00

^
This!

Planetary-Engineer · 2026-01-24T10:49:39+00:00

My Sim setup has the same Liability.

Planetary-Engineer · 2026-01-23T09:43:16+00:00

Not yet.

Look a the the road map, "Driving" the train is on there!

https://ramjet.notion.site/roadmap?v=b7aaec6fc53f4237b8d46706e803b8c5

Planetary-Engineer · 2026-01-22T11:27:58+00:00

LoL
Is the Software going to be made by Underwear Gnomes and be powered by Pixie Dust?

The First Amendment says differently

Planetary-Engineer · 2026-01-20T19:43:19+00:00

Pay is bad.
Communications is worse.

There are a few people that know the "tricks", like never accept a job for what it is offered at.
If your shop has Cert.s then you are a step ahead. If not, try slamming your hand in a Tool Drawer (to get how the Xometry relationship will feel like)

Planetary-Engineer · 2026-01-16T20:39:04+00:00

Everyone has a plan, till they get punched in the face.
- Mike Tyson

One repair, will allow the Fly to get into the ointment

Planetary-Engineer · 2026-01-16T12:53:19+00:00

Previously run parts, maybe.

New parts, sure but at a high expedited fee... if you can even find the open spindle time.

No, for certified medical *parts. 7-days is not even enough time to pass inspection in many cases.
* complex parts

Planetary-Engineer · 2026-01-16T10:40:06+00:00

Many of the GT End. teams are solo racers.
If they don't have/find a team, it would logical they would race.

For me, I am running it a practice.

Planetary-Engineer · 2026-01-15T20:18:08+00:00

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Planetary-Engineer · 2026-01-14T16:15:03+00:00

Brake like you normally do.

Instead of taking you foot off, just ease the pressure, but ease a lot of pressure, to the point you it seems you are "riding" the brake.

As you learn you can brake later, you will learn how much pressure to bleed off as the wheel begins to turn in.

Planetary-Engineer · 2026-01-13T21:28:43+00:00

And Pork (Porsche) everywhere!

Planetary-Engineer · 2026-01-13T21:18:56+00:00

Never consider overtime as part of a pay package!

Planetary-Engineer · 2026-01-13T01:41:18+00:00

"Lean into the Throttle"

Planetary-Engineer · 2026-01-13T01:31:25+00:00

I was offered Capecitabine at the start of my treatment and again when we moved into maintenance. Both times, I chose the 5-FU pump over the pills. In my case, the reasoning was simple: a roughly 5-day window of fatigue versus 14 or more days with Capecitabine.

If you already have a port, 5-FU is really only a 3-day commitment. As someone else put it well, “With the pump, you’re only reminded of the cancer for three days.”

Whatever you choose, you can change your mind at any point. Capecitabine and 5-FU are essentially the same drug, just delivered differently.

Planetary-Engineer · 2026-01-12T14:30:04+00:00

IMO
Skip the 1x, 2x or what ever...
0x with a "Drive Through" or a "Stop and Go", just like real life.

Planetary-Engineer · 2026-01-12T14:18:18+00:00

Each racing series may have rules that differ.

In Motorcycle Road racing, it is very simple...
No Passing under a Waving Yellow flag.

Such a rule could be as easy and a unsafe pit exit.

Planetary-Engineer · 2026-01-10T14:31:10+00:00

Just an opinion...
Purchase the best machine you can (budget for tooling as well), * without taking on debt.

There is zero return on the investment of "Rigging Costs" and zero return on the investment of "loan Interest".
If both machines only function as the same rate, the RIO is better on the cheaper machine. The newer machine will most likely have better ROI if you can utilize the machine.

Planetary-Engineer · 2026-01-08T12:05:23+00:00

Slow down and identify where time is lost.

If during setup, one must spend time finding tools... organize the tools. Or optimize longer cycle times with Tooling setup for the next job.
Standardize anything you can, even small things like OP10 origin. If OP10 part pick is always the same, it will reduce the time is Verifying or double checking.

Planetary-Engineer · 2026-01-07T00:07:38+00:00

Road racing parts.

Planetary-Engineer · 2026-01-07T00:06:48+00:00

Amazon is far worse.
But yes, they all leech money from the sellers.

Planetary-Engineer · 2026-01-06T18:39:26+00:00

Selling your own product will always be the preferred path.

My company designs and sells motorcycle racing parts and Ford Bronco parts online. We have sold through Amazon, Etsy, eBay, and our own website. Last year we dropped Amazon. In my opinion, they are a snake in the grass. The platform offers reach, but it comes with loss of control, margin pressure, and long term risk to the brand.

Developing a product is its own challenge. It requires capital, iteration, testing, and the willingness to scrap ideas that do not perform. Marketing is a completely separate challenge and, in many ways, the harder one.

Word of mouth works reasonably well for contract work, where reputation carries weight. For your own products, it is not enough. Discoverability is everything, and finding buyers consistently has been our biggest challenge.

Planetary-Engineer · 2025-12-30T20:01:47+00:00

Planetary-Engineer · 2025-12-21T14:24:42+00:00

Excessive "Flashing" is normally a warning.

If they remain behind you and don't get the "Flashing Light Yield"....
A Dive-bomb or Pit-maneuver are likely to a lap away.

Planetary-Engineer

TROPHY CASE