I agree with all that you say; Glidergider and Zippy building machines is likely the most rewarding experience I can think of (I don’t have offspring).
Sometimes I get our company in trouble by giving a customer a reasonable quote for a machine, well with in the confines of what a quality, well made machine would cost. Then I go into psyco-mode and pimp the thing out so it looks like a show piece, has to many bells and whistles and we end up making it for cost. My partners freak out and the customer expects this level of workmanship the next time.
I understand industrial strength masochism. My gig is, lets get real. Think of how many more psyco projects you can perform with a beastie piece of iron on your floor, hogging of material, the wind in your hair, the roar of the spindle, chicks falling at you feet because you reek of flood coolant and being covered in the industrial glitter of metal chips. Now were talking.
Not to mention the fact that people are sometimes selling these old NC machines for scrap metal, that is until you ask to take it off their hands, then they want $3000. Think of it like this; viable awesome pieces of industrial antiquity are being melted down and sent to the far east. Let us who would like to have a metal working machine and who are willing and obviously able to deal with the technical problems unite, separately of coarse. And capitalize on the tragedy that is occurring all around us.
Free---dom!!!! (Gratuitous Braveheart reference)  |