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I stumbled across this video on a science web site. These machines use a diamond tool + air, and some unbelievably rigid machinery, to turn copper down to nearly the atomic level for some sort of optical purpose. Neat stuff! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAvfrrlMZg4&feature=player_embedded

Glass bead or abrasive blasting is something that doesn't come up too often here. As a means of obtaining a uniform, pleasing finish, it's hard to beat. A few years back, I invested in a benchtop blasting setup, and filled it with glass beads. At 80 PSI, a few passes with a cheap gun does nice...

Anyone know if imported or cloned varieties of these (AXA) are available? I refer to something along these lines: The one on the right is pretty slick... it can be used both for turning and facing operations. A clone that makes use of inexpensive TPG inserts would be killer. If I was Bill...

Hi all - there's a guy selling Hardinge radius cutting devices on eBay for the DV-59 second op lathe. I have an HLV-B which is essentially a narrow-bed HLV-H. The Hardinge radius device is made like a Swiss watch, and I'd like to pick one up, but I am unsure whether the HLV-B bed is the same...

Our hobby is full of choices, which is certainly good. 40 years ago, our world consisted of names like Myford, Bridgeport, Hardinge, Starrett, Monarch, Brown & Sharpe, Atlas, South Bend. Now, we have Import (usually Chinese) imports competing with these honored names. Some of it is decent, and...

Guys - I'm working on a project where I'm going to engrave into aluminum, mostly text. I'm using Rhino 3D, which is saved to a .DXF file. This is them imported into a DXF --> G code utility. Essentially, any 2D lines I can draw (or import) can be engraved. I can't draw. I'm looking for...

??? Fellas - Anyone know how to do this? I'd rather not attack a particular aluminum part with abrasives, but the current anodizing must come off. It's not hard-coat, just regular black anodize on what I am guessing is either 7075 or 6061. I have a pretty-much full chemistry lab at my...

I need to do some silver soldering today. It's been a while and I can't find my regular flux! I am using Harris Safety-silv for the job. I have some Lincoln brazing flux that contains boric acid and borax. Will this be suitable? If not, is there any "home brew" substitute? I've got a lot of...

A while back, we had a thread about how to store raw stock. I had promised some pictures but lost the original thread. Anyway, maybe this will give somebody some ideas. The rack is constructed of standard timber and peg board to create division areas (and also hang stuff on the peg board)...

I've always enjoyed foundry work, but have limited myself to aluminum so far. I've got one of the old "Pyramid" brand furnaces, the company that used to advertise heavily in HSM magazine and other hobby 'zines, and I've always been impressed with it... it appears to be a pretty capable and gutsy...

As many know, I've been working on my CNC bench mill that has a small and very fast spindle. The largest tooling it can accept is 1/4" or 6.35mm, and I have been missing the use of my edge finders, the smallest of which is 3/8" shanked. I decided to make my own. They seem simple, but I found it...

Sorry to be asking so many questions lately. I just feel left behind with technology, and I really need to get better at some CNC basics. Here's what I want to machine from aluminum stock. The ring is 0.375" thick, and about 1.4" in diameter. I want to use 1.5" wide and 0.375" thick aluminum...

^^ That's my tricky title for yet another feeds & speeds question! I've never been big on mathematically-derived feeds/speeds for manual work. I usually speed things up until I can physically feel a bit of laboring going on, or the cut doesn't work out right, but under NC, there is no feel...

I am more and more tuning to solid carbide end mill cutters for a number of tasks. I am sold on their longevity and especially their rigidity, despite the cost, which can be pretty wicked. I would like to place a rather large order for various styles including roughers, and am wondering if any...

Sorry for the slew of questions, but I've got some engraving work to do, and it's been a while. Engraving software is ridiculously overpriced, IMO, for what it does. I refuse to pay $250 for software that I'll use once a year. So for simple jobs, I've been using a freeware program called...

The use of lasers in all facets of industry has exploded. You'd think there'd be all sorts of cool stuff for the home shop guy that use lasers... but there aren't. Browsing eBay, I saw an ad for "Laser edge finder". It is what you'd expect, a diode laser in the spindle. I guess you could find...

A while back, I picked one of these up to help determine pesky z-axis settings for spindles without fixed tooling. Here's what it looks like: In use, it's a nifty tool. You touch your tool tip to the button, slowly move the Z, and when the indicator is zero'd, your tool is exactly 2.000"...

I have a question for experienced hobbyists... how often do you actually use your R/T? Many years ago, when I was into acquiring tools and tooling, I picked up a truly sweet Yuasa 5" R/T. I cleaned and oiled it, and put it on the top shelf. Decade(s) later, it has never been used. I have used...

At last! During the last few weeks, I've been doing a lot of fine-tuning to this engine, and I believe I am finally done with it. It has never looked as good or run as nice as it did today. Usually, a cylinder or two won't fire consistently, or there'll be some other problem. All it took was...

I have a setup where I'd like to measure engine oil pressure, but I've got a problem - the pressure pulsates violently. Rather than a nice, steady reading, like 30 PSI, my pressure gauge needle flails through +/- 10 PSI. Besides being distracting and not particularly elegant, it's destined to...