Here is a thread for CNC users, and those who want to be CNC users, etc. Another thread went way off topic.

ok, i thought it would be a good idea to share what i've got to work with. I have a bridgeport mill with an anilam crusader II controller. the controller is too old to do any good programming through so i do everything through mastercam x, then send it over to the mill via serial cable. The mill has a 48" table so i can mill rather large stuff, yet it is very precise making engraving possible as well.

If i were to mass produce some hackaday swag i would really like it to be something simple. something that doesnt require any extra fabrication, so a simple keychain would be easy, just some engraving and a hole. however the clock idea seems like a little too much work to mass produce.

I did not mean to mass produce a clock, but instead to make 1 or 2 of them for like 'awards' for a "most points for a new member" or someting... get eliot to put it on the main page (which im sure he would), to try and increase forum membership, and therefore points.

as for the keychains, im sure they would be easy to do, just might have to notch the part that holds the "bones" on to the skull so you don't lose the shape of the skull... maybe make the metal half thickness, single sided. keep in mind you need a little loop on top to loop a 'chain' through.

btw, why do you have a cnc mill laying around in your basement?

goliath, if your bridgeport can handle steel or iron you could make a mold of the keychains or whatever and I could use it to cast them in aluminum, injection mold style.

that could work, but wouldn’t he just as well cnc some out of aluminum? cut out the middleman and all the extra work?
little more wear and tear on his machine, but not a lot comparatively

true, but permanent mold casting on a hobby/DIY scale is very rare (I've only seen one instance and it wasn't very succesful) so it's a built in HaD article if we can make it work.

Plus, what's cheaper billet aluminum that can be milled or scrap alumminum that can be melted down and cast?

True that, and... True that.

I have some CNC experience. I'd like to set up a rig, but that is certainly incompatible with college/nomad/broke lifestyle that comes with being my age. The casting idea sounds great to me, that would definitely bring some noise to the team.

TelePunk, I would recommend these plans if you wanna get started. This guy's plans are specifically designed to be easy and cheap to build and they are relatively small so moving them is easily done by one person (unless you do like me and build it way bigger than specified). Plus he has a support forum that is really good (it's one of the few forums that I really frequent).

Badass. That is exactly what I was looking for. I'll definitely set up the Brute. CNC is addicting. Thanks.

I got a little bored yesterday evening and decided to whip up a quick keychain design.



Next week I'll run a prototype. I am debating whether to make the skull raised like pictured above, or engrave the scull. It is much easier to just engrave the skull, cuz then u dont have as many tool changes. perhaps i can make a limited quantity with the raised skull, and then do the others as an engraved skull.

I recognize that shade of blue. Got the .sldprt/.sldasm files for that?

per billy's request:

http://goliathdrakken.teamhackaday.com/store/keychain.SLDPRT

I think just an engraved outline would look cool.

could anyof you CNC milling people use sketch up models for designs...