I started at a new company to do Diamond Machining... but! look what I found round the back of my lab.. a whole machine shop!

And NOBODY uses it!

*sticks a flag in the floor* It's mine! all mine!

Already cut a sample piece on the Turret Mill, Tried the Lathe and apart from a worn X leadscrew it seems ok.. scarry though! never worked any of these things before. I don't know what's scarier.. the big angry looking saw or the Oxy Acetylene thingies :)

Here's some piccies.

1. Angy Saw thing.
2. Vertical Drill and Bench Grinder (there's two of them Grinders) and a belt grinder too :)
3. Oxy Acetylene thingy.
4. Another Oxy Acetylene thingy (I could use two at a time! like lightsabres!) and a big welder thing.
5. The CNC Turret Mill which moves so fast you can feel it shake!
6. A dinky lathe.

Since my Diamond Turning lathe takes about 20 mins per component I shall be experimenting.. I'm taking spread betting on what kills me first lol (kidding).

Apologies for the poor quality of piccies, but the overhead lighting is broken and I aint changing the bullbs- they're about 20 feet up- I aint climbing a ladder and falling on all this stuff!

I started at a new company never worked any of these things before. I don't know what's scarier..
3. Oxy Acetylene thingy.
4. Another Oxy Acetylene thingy (I could use two at a time! like lightsabres!) and a big welder thing.


If the oxy-acetylene welding thingy with the cutting torch attached, or the big wire feed (MIG) welder thing, scares you to the point that you shake so much you can't herd your cats, I have a suggestion.:devious:

Box them up, pay the shipping, & send them to "the colonies" for me to take them off your hands.
:banana: Hope that will help to calm your fears.

You could always CNC the lot, (in your spare time of course) so they can be operated remotely from your PC.:)

That`s a REAL shame no one seems to be using it! REAL shame!!! I can see that it will tear you up inside to have to check all of the machines for proper operation on an unscheduled & frequent basis! Hehehehe!
Enjoy!!!!
:)

OMG! it works! I did a sample design in AutoCAD, imported it into Dolphin (cos Dolphin CAD is pants), exported it to Dolphin CAM, post processed it to G Code and imported it into the Turret Mill... and it WORKED! my first ever programmed part! (I tried engraving on it earlier, but that dun count).

I know nothing about feedrates etc, so am winging it here hehe

Will post some piccies Monday :)

I feel quite proud, it's only a simple milled part, but I actualy feel like comming in at the weekend for free to mess about with it :)

Some guys have all the luck! I think I hate you--just kidding.What a find. Allen