Trying now. Thanks for posting this. I will throw some data up after I run this and analyze it under the Zygo

You are correct about the the aluminum, grow nickel, then re machine for a molding process. This diamond turning/milling is something I kind of fell into. Its a whole new world of machining and a very small one at that. People tend to be very secretive when they prove a process out or find something that works in their favor. The machine is a precitech. Its setup like an lathe but with a B axis and a milling spindle, its basically a mill tipped on its side. Its a 5 axis machine built on granite, air bearing spindles, and hydrostatic ways. They are very precise and repeatable. Tooling is an actual diamond cutting edge, yes.......... the type of jewelry you buy for the wife. I am in a situation where the machine is only as good as the code generated. In a 2D test its pretty easy to get down into the single digit RA nanometer finishes. Once we go to 3d and even simple 3d shapes Mastercam will give a banding effect when we check the surface with our measuring equipment. Thanks for the replies!

Hello I need some advice on machining this and getting the most from mastercam. Were in the early testing stages of trying to cut this and we are trying to work on surface finish. Needs to be optical quality. The machine is a Ultra precision diamond turning machine. Program is in metric and using a .5mm diamond ball nose. Currently I am only testing on about 4 of the squares using Surface/Parrallel and just using 3 Axis. I will go to multi axis later but I need to get the surface finish better Material Alum 35000 RPM Step Over .01um Total Tolerance .00005 Line/Arc Filter checked but xy, xz, yz, is unchecked One way filtering on Is there a better toolpath to use? We do not want arcs in the program. We require the code to be broken into .005 micron segments. I know the code is huge but this not a problem for us. Any help would be appreciated. I know this is out of the normal

Years ago I believe I got a Haas post from you to do the same thing. We just migrated to 15 and the post no longer works. Where can I locate this post? Doing all the translating is a pain. Thanks

Anyone here have the Gates belts tooth profiles for the 8mm htd belts or the GT2 belts. Looking to make some custom pulleys for a personal application. Thanks in advance

I have aq325 sodick as well. Didnt have a clue to edm machining before we got this thing. After a couple weeks it was as easy as pie. The sodick has been a great machine for us and is very easy to operate. Plus it was almost 60k cheaper than that of the Mits.

We are paying 350 for them. I will take a look into a local repair shop for ***** and giggles. Thanks for the replys!

Anyone have a haas monitor last more than three years? We are now getting to replace our seventh monitor on a different machine. We have even had some that have only lasted as little as 6 months. The mini mills seem to be the worst with replacement rate. We even keep a spare around so when goes we can replace it. When i call Haas today for another replacement i am gonnna ask for a buy two get one free deal! Sorry all, rant over!

quote: Kids in their 20's, if they start now putting 3% or so will retire millionaires. (Assuming moderate risk investing) I dunno about that one. I have put into a 401 since i was 22 with 8% and a 4% company match up to 8%. I am 28 now and invested risky, moderate, and safley and i am not impressed at all with what i currenty have and i am 29 now. I doubt i will see it ever hit the million mark, even if i dont touch it and work another 40 years. But then again starnger things have happened.

Hello and good luck Bob! Word of advice........pad your walls because there will be days you want to beat your head against the wall. It does get simple over time.

quote: A kid (19 or 20 ish) came in here last week to deliver some parts... Told me he wanted to get into the Racing business... Gave me his resume then proceeded to tell me that he literally knew EVERYTHING about Racing Engines and building them... He said all you really needed to know was how to "torque stuff"... His exact words. He told me he would have no problem telling people what they were doing wrong, then said he wouldn't sweep floors. Sweeping floors was something people BELOW him were supposed to do. His reason for this was that all the other places he worked that he swept floors, thats all they ever had him do. OBVIOUSLY a true waste of his talent and abilities. I couldn't get away from this guy... He tried to talk my ear off. I told him one of the Dodge teams was hiring. The sad part is, that he probably truly believes it.

That side project is finshed for now. It is a 64 fairlane.

About a month or so ago I posted needing help on a raster to vec translation. Hardmill helped me out and gave me some geo to start with. It was rough but a big thanks goes out to you Hardmill. The parts i made were for a friends 30 ft checkmate with twin blown 454's. I made a new swim platform, new air cleaner lids for the K&N's, and engraved all of his valve covers. Below is the out come. I am still polishing some of the pieces then when i am done our idea is to get them blue anodized. What side projects have any of you been working on?

Yea........box.........Duh! 4000lbs is size of a large car! We run all haas here and i do like them. I run a VF6 and except for a couple little quirks it has been a good machine for general machining.

My vote would be for an okuma lathe. As as far weight is concerned with the mills the haas uses linear bearing ways instead of the "damn cant think of the word" ways.

Thanks Hardmill Ill show you all what i am buidin when i am done. [email protected]

Those are the best I could come up with so if i have to spend alot of time i am ready to do so. Hardmill and Keith.........thanks for taking the time to try for me. Chad

I hate to have to ask for this but could someone possibly convert two small files using the rast2vec converter, I have a side project I am doing for a friend. There names are Chad1 and Chad2 and are located here in ppcadcams folder. I know i will have to spend sometime cleaning them up, but i cant freehand draw worth a poop! If anyone can and will do this a big thanks goes out to you. Chad

This is sickening that they are trying to do away with this program. They did it to my vocational school a year after i had graduated for lack of student interest. Phil this statement below i believe to be so true as my parents tried to do the same but i wouldnt have it. He said that after tooling up our factories during WWII and become the world leader, parents having the best intentions, wanted a better life for the baby boom generation. Becoming Drs, lawyers, scientists, accountants etc. would be a far greater prospect than the dirty hands, sweaty, hard working mfg. and shop trades.

Hey guys, hats off to you for helping him. I directed him to this site for the single fact that i knew you guys might have some good info. And as usuall you guys pull threw! Hats Off!

I use 17-4 stainless. Its magnetic and can be hardened to a certain degree.

As the saying goes "xxxx or tires your gonna have trouble with both" With that saying i could knock the bottome end outta both!

Geesh...........how could you wrong! Kit hands down.

I am fortunate enough to be the only one that runs my programs. So if its scrap its either "I" the programmer fault or "I" the machinist fault or the inspector if hes been drinkin the night before

Dam, at the rate i am going it will take another 8 years to make 1000.