Anything Manufacturing - Small to Medium Scale Metal Work (CAD/CAM included!)

Got a few things to cut tomorrow - some more internal stiffener sets, a stool kit, and even some filler plates for some sliders.

Best part? I drew everything up within minutes and I'm done.

Seeing as how all my CAM is done right at the computer, not to mention how fast the actual process is, I'm spending less time dealing with save files on Fusion, skipping creating my cut paths, then waiting to post process everything on my laptop when I'm ready to cut.

This whole Optimum setup has made me much more efficient now that I just have to create the DXF.

 

Very nice accuracy.

 

Consistent accuracy, that's where I'm seeing the big difference here. I can cut anywhere on the table and it is both accurate and consistent from one part to another.

But I think the biggest take away going from my old Langmuir table to my STV table is that I can walk away knowing all my parts will cut without issue.

The curved slats are preventing specific items like my internal stiffeners (the smaller L shaped one) from falling in and causing a tip up. The magnetic break-away handles that anyway but the slats are preventing it from happening to begin with.

The floating head setup uses a different type of switch; I've had IHS set itself off prematurely causing Firecontrol to "think" it touched off the metal already and proceed firing above the surface of my metal. This is because the IHS contacts are thin copper tabs that are exposed to gunk and anything else that kicks up onto the Z axis assembly.

The rack and pinion setup means no possibility of a leadnut failure (had one strip before), or couplers that suddenly get loose causing an axis to slip.

This isn't a knock on the Langmuir table of course, I ran them for a good minute but with continued use of the STV, I feel more at ease just letting the table do its thing.

 

Quiet in here

All I can say is I've been cutting stuff here and there, and the statement I made earlier holds true - I can just walk away knowing everything will be alright.

Aside from maybe brand loyalty, location, software, or a few other nit picks, I can't see why anyone would want to spend say $12k vs $8k on a similarly sized table. Not to say there's anything wrong with offerings from Spark Robotics, Arclight Dynamics, and a few others that are constructed similarly, I'd love to hear from others that do run some of the tables I just mentioned.

I think one or a few others have upgrade options for adding tube notching, so that could be one reason.

 

Really think there is no limit to depth of the rabbit hole. We have so many options. Im just happy with 2 dimensional work (3 if your work with the sheetmetal tab).

We already are a pretty elite group, not many peeps will invest the time to educate themselves on CNC.

I do enjoy knowing that we can add another dimension with little investment, but I have so many other hobbies, I can't afford to go balls deep on CNC.

 

Hopefully soon there will be more updates on my table.

Sign the lease on the new shop space. Pretty excited on that one.

Two days later end up in the ICU with diabetic ketoacidosis and had a mild heart attack as a result. So right now recovering from that. Up until this had no idea I was diabetic...

After I got out an went to the new shop to try an get an idea on layout. I found it full of construction debris. So you can imagine I was not real happy about that.

Perhaps tomorrow i will feel up to driving back out an doing that premove in layout

 

Oh fuck, crossing my fingers and hoping for the better for ya

 

Looking forward to thoughts and pics on the layout of the new shop.

Heal up, brother. You got this.