I’ve always been fascinated by CNC machines. They fall pretty squarely in the middle of my interests: computers, electronics, mechanical widgets, and makin’ stuff.
I was inspired a few years back when I saw a colleague’s home-brew CNC conversion in his basement. I had idle thoughts of doing such a thing myself someday, but the thoughts sat mostly dormant all this time.
Then, a few weeks back, while wrestling with my primitive metalworking equipment in the shop at home, I started daydreaming a bit again. This time, I had a larger-than-expected tax return burning a hole in my pocket, and a strong desire to immerse myself in a new project.
So I’ve ordered an inexpensive, medium sized benchtop milling machine, and I’m collecting notes and planning out the conversion over on a wiki.
I expect to be taking delivery of the machine some time this week. Anyone want to help me move 350lbs of steel into my basement?
Nice and congrats. Just imagining all the fun that can be had with one of those.
If you need help, let me know. If there is one thing I’m good at, it’s moving stuff.
I’m happy to trade help moving and anything I can do further down the conversion process for time on the machine when it’s done. Bye bye front panel express. 🙂
Thanks both for the offer of help. Dave’s got a truck now and he’s offered to help. It may be easiest with a 3rd body, so I’ll let you know. Still not sure when it’s arriving – I’m guessing Wed or Thu. Hoping to be able to pick it up at the freight depot since I don’t think they can get a tractor trailer to my house.
Jeff: Headphone amp enclosure projects are definitely on the agenda once things are going. I expect it’s several months out though – there’s a LOT to do. Even just getting the basic machine up and running will be a fair bit of work.