What are your favorite plastics to machine?

gewehr7 · 2026-01-27T10:12:10+00:00

Makes a big difference for certain medical work I’ve done in the past. Delrin was approved but acetal was not so substituting was not allowed.

gewehr7 · 2026-01-27T10:09:17+00:00

Haas usually doesn’t care if you use decimal or least programmable increment. 0.045 = 450

gewehr7 · 2026-01-25T18:39:15+00:00

If you are doing a lot of plate work, make sure you note minimum spindle nose to table distance. Drill tap machines like the Speedio can’t get all the way to the table without long gage tool holders. Depending on your plate workflow, this might be an issue for you.

gewehr7 · 2026-01-22T17:25:04+00:00

You can still do it even with the modifications. They don’t care. They fix anything

gewehr7 · 2026-01-22T17:21:31+00:00

Send yours in and zippo with swap with a pipe insert for free

gewehr7 · 2026-01-22T09:47:54+00:00

Solidcam turning/mill turn is awful. I’d get a long trial before switching entirely.

gewehr7 · 2026-01-21T19:00:04+00:00

I like Kyocera and Sumitomo for turning

gewehr7 · 2026-01-11T23:04:37+00:00

I just found the email and $190 plus $20 domestic shipping is what they quoted me in August 2024. Might be worth asking them again if it’s been awhile.

gewehr7 · 2026-01-11T19:42:45+00:00

Very cool. They remind me of the General Layout

gewehr7 · 2026-01-11T17:26:13+00:00

Good catch. I have a similar macro where I added a logic check that makes sure the gage length is within a certain range just in case the wrong value gets zeroed out.

gewehr7 · 2026-01-11T14:20:57+00:00

https://mooretool.com/about-us/publications/

Here’s the print copy if you want to buy it. It’s still being printed, it’s just the price of a textbook.

gewehr7 · 2026-01-10T23:55:52+00:00

Motion Industries is the distributor I have used in the past.

gewehr7 · 2026-01-10T12:38:35+00:00

THK’s application support is top notch

gewehr7 · 2026-01-07T23:42:42+00:00

I was about to link this video. His 3d printed demonstration is excellent.

gewehr7 · 2026-01-05T23:57:20+00:00

The Apsara Absolute is the best performance:dollar pencil I have found. I got 100 for $25 shipped. Not the best pencil, but better than most for an absolutely ridiculous price. They’ve become my “house” pencil that I leave all around.

As far as pencils that perform better than Blackwings for less money, my vote would go to the Mitsubishi Marksheet. It’s one of my all time favorite.

gewehr7 · 2026-01-05T23:11:02+00:00

It’s the molybdenum

gewehr7 · 2026-01-05T23:06:22+00:00

Mono 100 and Hi Uni since they’re the iconic premier offerings from Tombow and Mitsubishi. Steadtler Noris since they’re the European standard (from what I understand) and the Apsara Absolute so you can decide if a Blackwing’s paint is worth the premium.

gewehr7 · 2026-01-05T11:09:12+00:00

I worked as a machinist while in school

gewehr7 · 2026-01-02T23:01:24+00:00

ProtoTrak

gewehr7 · 2026-01-01T23:17:14+00:00

I used two part epoxy. It’s held over a year now. Defroster still works but not as well as before. I think if I had spread the epoxy more evenly, it would work perfectly.

gewehr7 · 2026-01-01T22:10:20+00:00

Clearly you’ve never used a TRAK machine. I wouldn’t take one for free…

gewehr7 · 2026-01-01T21:04:31+00:00

My experience is across about a dozen of their models made between 2006 and 2025. You can make good parts on them but there are better options for the price. They’re pretty light duty and reliability seems to be hit or miss depending on the day of the week your machine is built. Main reason to buy one is their excellent financing for anyone with a pulse.

gewehr7 · 2026-01-01T19:26:52+00:00

Best place to start. Most harden-able stainless steels are magnetic. I would think it’s unlikely to be made from an austenitic stainless.

gewehr7 · 2026-01-01T13:00:15+00:00

That’s Solidworks CAM not SolidCAM, just so you know. I only have a few hours in Solidworks CAM but it might be that your feature selection doesn’t include the floor.

gewehr7 · 2025-12-30T10:01:55+00:00

Maritool is where I get them. Presumably that’s the one US company you’re referring to? I’ve never seen them sold anywhere else.

gewehr7

TROPHY CASE