Anyone else here from Arkansas? I can both mentor and am in need of mentoring. I can help with most any type of wood work as well as some machine design, a little electronics and cad. I am in need of Mach2 instruction as well as Rhino 3d instruction.

Mike

I'm in Arkansas.

Hoping to be making items in the next 3 months. Once workshop, and shopping is complete.

Mike,

Where in Arkansas are you? I'm in NW Arkansas.

Matt

Cool....do any of you ever go crystal hunting??

Arkansas Side of Memphis, Tn here.

Don't know anything about crystal hunting.

But most everything else that walks,flys or slithers is open for fair game. (grins)

Matt I live 40 miles sw of Hot Springs.

ViperTx, 30 miles from the largest crystal mines in the world and 28 miles from the only public Diamond mine in the world.

Deviant West Memphis?? You forgot swims in that fair game description! :)

Any of you guys use Mach2/3? Do you need any help with wood parts cut?

Mike

Swims yes. = )

Almost catfishing time.

I have mach2, but haven't gotten the point of using it. I've been working on my shop mostly. That and digging holes for my wifes rose bushes.

*laughs*

I am also in Arkansas and new to the board and looking for all the info i can get. I have not yet built anything cnc I am trying to do as much research as possible prior to actually purchasing anything.

Chris

Chris what city?

Mike

I live in Conway

Hi Chris,

I live 35 miles s/w of Hot Springs. What are you wanting to build? I'll help all I can. I may even have parts if you are interested?

Mike

Mike

I am wanting to build a 3 axis router based on jgro's design(I think). I am still researching to make sure that is the way that i want to go. I want the ability to cut mild steel and aluminum (like found in computer cases), some wood (want to build a new bass guitar), and etch plexiglass. beyound this im not sure what else i will want to do with this I guess i need to get one built and start to see where i need or want to upgrade. I am not even sure what router to use. I have seen several plans that have dremel tools mounted on Z. I figure this would work for etching the plex but not sure beyond that as to how it would handle the rest it would probably do ok on the wood as well.

any help or insight provided greatly appreciated.

I'm a hobby guitar builder from Arkansas, and live near Camden. I mostly build by hand, but have used a wood duplicating device some. I would really be interested in learning about CNC's but I have no clue about them. Here's a picture of the last guitar I built.

http://www.guitarfrenzy.com/jv-1/jv1finished02.jpg

I would like to speed up the process of carving the guitar tops, so it can be accurate and faster. I'm working with Rhino 3D right now trying to get good at it and hopefully I can use it to design guitars for a CNC.

Very nice Matt! I will be in touch in a few days. I think we need to have a meeting of those of us here in Arkansas maybe for lunch??

Mike

Hey Matt

Welcome aboard. Great looking guitar :cheers: . that is actually one of the reasons that have started the process of building a CNC machine. I play bass and I have a desire to build my own bass.

Chris.

Mike, you know quite a bit about cnc's right? Just let me know when and where you guys are going to meet to talk cnc stuff, etc. and I'll find a way to make it.

Chris what kind of bass are you looking to make? I've built a couple of P-Bass and a Jazz Bass, mostly bolt on necks. I have quite a bit of Swamp Ash wood that I use for building, that I might could part with, it would make an extremely light and awesome sounding bass for you. My wifes grandpaw and me started building guitars for fun about 2-1/2 years ago, he plays bass. Funny story, he was off for a week one time, and he decided he was going to build a 60's P-Bass Sunburst finish, 3 days later he was playing it totally finished.. lol I've helped and built over 10 guitars the last two years, just to learn the trade, but now I build them myself with my own designs. I have a P-Bass and Jazz Bass template if your interested in building a standard bass. It's not that hard to build an instrument, but the fretting tools is what cost so much.

keep in touch guys

Later

Matt, Chris,

I wouldn't say I know a lot about cnc but I have run my own cnc router for 11 years. During this time I have had it upgraded once and then did a major upgrade two years ago myself. I learned more about cnc during that time than all the rest of the time I have had the machine. Since Chris is from Conway and you are from Camden we might just meet at my shop if you guy want to. I need plenty of notice cause I will have to clean big time if I have visitors! :p

I am currently doing the cad for a Mezzaluna light weight basses for my brother. I used to play bass and will build myself one sometime early next year.

I will be leaving the end of November to go to the gulf coast to help my son in law on his brush and tree clean-up truck for a few weeks. It will be tight for me to get with you guys for a while due to getting ready ( final orders filled) before I leave. I had hope to go to Dallas next week but that is looking like a possible wash out. Next week will be the only time I will have unless I get to go to Dallas. Let me know if ya'll can meet then.

Mike

Matt

I am currently playing a P Bass Special that has both precision and jazz pick ups on it. I want to build a 4 or 5 string active bass like the ones that are avaliable from carvin. I am know that the fretting tools can get quite expensive. I was actually looking at building mine as fretless because i want to learn to play fretless and unless i have one i wont learn how. I am also wanting to build it with stereo (dual) output for running straight to the amp and also through an effects processor.

Chris

turmite

I am new to the post. I live in Ashdown. I am interested in building a router. I could sure use help from someone with experience. I am a electrical/hvac supervisor at the paper mill so I have lots of experience with drives and computer driven equipment. Also have cutting and welding equipment. Just got into woodworking about 3 years ago. I built a grandfather clock and would like to build another. I had to really study and work to get some parts made. CNC would make it much easier. Do you have a machine built?

:p Gosh guys, I'm getting homesick. I'm originally from Osceola, right on the mighty muddy. Living now in South Carolina. Just converting a lathemaster mill to cnc with mach 3 and haven't a clue what cad/cam program I'm going to use. I build custom 1911 45's for a hobby and am going to use the cnc for that application and anything else I can come up with. Soooo, if I can help with questions, I'll be glad to share as a absentee arkansan. Welcome aboard for all the new guys.
:cheers:

bobbya47 you are welcome to come to the shop sometime. I did not build my machine from scratch. I bought one of the very first kit machine produced in the US called Digital Tool. I have used it for years in my rifle stock and pistol grip business.

bill you are talking my language. IMHO there is not a better choice of handgun than the 1911.

I have used Bobcad/cam for years but am learning to use Rhino 3d. I have a fellow from here on the zone that takes my inital wireframes and feeble 3d models and finishes the modeling and writes code for me. The last time we talked, late last week, he didn't think he would have time for any more customers right now. If it is 2d stuff I can help you with it.

Mike

turmite

I'll try to get your way when my son can come with me. He is a gun lover. I'll let you know sometime after the holidays.

Chris what kind of bass are you looking to make? I've built a couple of P-Bass and a Jazz Bass, mostly bolt on necks. I have quite a bit of Swamp Ash wood that I use for building, that I might could part with, it would make an extremely light and awesome sounding bass for you.

Matt I would be interested in some of that wood and those patterns how much would you want for a copy of the patterns and acouple of the body blanks?

Chris

Checking in from Arkansas. I'm in Greenbrier (14 mi. north of Conway) good to see some Arkansas folks here.

I don't have much interest in woodworking at this point, but I am into guns. i've mostly been focusing on the metal work. i have thought about trying to use the CNC mill to cut the cavities for some inlays on a rifle stock I have been working on.

I have been programming for 2 1/2 years, working at a job shop. We have a mixture of steady customers and repairs and other manual work that just comes in the door.

I just bought Peter Smid's book CNC Programming Handbook, to get better at manual programming. I'm quite a bit weaker on the lathes, as we have another guy who does most of the CNC lathe work.

I joined the forum after doing a Google search for help on programming thread mills. it seems like a great place with lots of knowledgeable people.

Hello from N. Arkansas here, just 35 miles S of Branson Mo.

It seems there are a few around and abouts my area so here is a 'HI NAYBOR!'.

Would anyone be interested in mentoring a wet behind the ears NEWBIE in the coming months?

I will post about me in another area as to keep this on topic.

OzarkCNC

Hi Ozark,

Tell us a little about what you do and your machine/s!

Mike

Hi Ozark,

Tell us a little about what you do and your machine/s!

Mike

Well mike,

There ain't much to tell yet.

Background:
I have a degree in electronics that I never really used since 1982 , and also an ASE certified auto mechanic retired/disabled, as well as computer guru. I don't know a lot about everything but I know a little about something, and I can usually figure stuff out. I am very hands on.

About 4 months ago, my S.O. wanted to update her bed/bath, so we started in. Well cabinets were so expensive but so inferior made that I decided to attempt making some oak ones for her.I constructed them at a fraction of the cost of buying too.

As for never picking up a stick of lumber to build furniture before, everyone that has seen them wants me to build cabinets for their homes.

I will try to post pictures when I get my camera hooked up to this computer.

So that is where the interest in CNC began. A way to shave some time off of the fabrication process and maybe help make my own home renovation a bit simpler when I get ready to do my master bath and kitchen. I have been looking at youtube, and a lot of CNC forums as well as following PATRICK's build.

As for tools/CNC machines, I don't have anything CNC to talk about. I have basic tools to get me started making one though.

A spare computer: With XP Pro or Ubuntu Linux
A Dewalt 625 router and a first generation RotoZip
Shopsmih Bandsaw and jointer
table saw
drill press
Dewalt 13" planer
A cheapo 40" wood turning lathe
biscuit jointer
Kreg pocket screw system for joining parts together. (I dont know how I ever got along without this!)
500' of 6 lead phone wire
Nearly 1000' of fiber optic cable. It was for a concrete countertop twinkling light project that got shelved.
Various sanders, air, & hand tools.
Oh yeah, I just picked up a 230Amp Century stick welder this week and a friend is selling me his Victor torch set.

And I built a CYCLONE wood dust collector out of 2 trash cans and a sheet of clear vinyl. I have a video of it in action. Nearly 99% efficient!

Thats my life story.:violin:

OzarkCNC - Mark

Well I hit H.D. today and spent 2 hours researching materials for my build.

This is worse than going to Golden Corral after being on a liquid diet for 2 months. So many choices. So many ideas.

I about died when I saw the price of 3/4 cabinet grade birch. It has gone up to $40 a sheet. So it looks like MDF@ $20 is the material of choice for the first incarnation. I do have a bit of left over red-oak, but that might just be for version 2.0. ;)

What about SuperStrut for the backbone? I've seen a post somewhere about using this. Here is runs $14.50 for a 10' rail.

Linear Rails: I looked at 1" black pipe and galvanized in 10' lengths. They are $13 and $19 respectively. Or if I go with Patricks design, I can use 1" aluminum angle stock.

I will go with ALLTHREAD for the screws. I dont like the 1/4". Too light duty. The 3/8 looked better, but I really liked the 1/2". THe only problem with using 1/2 is that I would have to find a different way to eliminate backlash since H.D. only carries 1/4 and 3/8 long nuts. (Or work on some other type of backlash damper as described elsewhere)

Remembering back to your first builds, can you give a newbie some practical advise so I dont have to fall off the horse to learn from my mistakes.

Dont tell me to search the forums either. I read here every spare moment I can muster.

Thanks!

OzarkCNC - Mark

Hey all, I to am from Arkansas. In Beebe about 30 miles north of Little Rock.

I am more into metalwork and have just started converting one of my mills to CNC. I have not been into machining long, but truely love the work as a hobby. It is a great feeling when you make something no one else has or something you need that you can't find.

I would be happy to get together with you guys and talk "shop" sometime. While I am new to all this, I have been interested for a long time. On;y recently have I been able to get the equipment. (But I have this problem of going a little overboard, the wife still admits to loving me though.)

So far my equipment list is this;

Grizzly G0516 Lathe/Mill (9x21 benchtop lathe, with built in X2 mini-mill)
Grizzly Super x3 mill (Current CNC project, using xylotex and CNC fusion kit. rest of parts should be here this week.)
HF x2 mini-mill (Long story, not really used)
SouthBend thirteen (40s vintage, restoring back to its glory)
Mori Sieki MV junior VMC. (Needs repair and is a future project.. once I build a small 3 phase nuclear power plant to power it... lol )

And all the other shop tools, metal bandsaw, more welders than I could possibly use, plasma cutter, etc etc. Like I said, I like tools.:rainfro:


Ozark, I drove thought your great city just yesterday. I had to go up to grizzly and Harrison is on my route. We ate at the Golden Corral on the way back to. lol.

On your acme screw thoughts, I had the same one as I am building a plasma table soon. I am getting the x3 cnc'ed to speed up making brackets etc for that. I will be doing the plasma on the cheap. So I will be using 1"x5tpi acme screws and using 2 1"x5 nuts on each side. I am going to put those in a tube and add a compression spring to the rear nut to keep the pressure on the screw and backlash reduced. I would be glad to post a pic when I am done with that. I ordered the Acme thread last week and should be here from Enco this week.

Hey guys great to see you posting. My machine uses rack and pinion instead of screw from motion so I can't help you out with the thread thing, other than to direct you to rack and pinion as a possible substitute. I can tell you this, you get much faster motion with rack and pinion than you will with the allthread. If you decide to go allthread I have all the uhmw you will need to make your nuts so let me know.

Mark if you are looking to cnc to be faster you may be dissappointed. Anything one off is much easier and faster to do by hand if you have the needed equipment. You will also find that doing it by hand can be just as accurate but where cnc comes in is if you need repeatability time and time again.

You will have to enlighten me on Superstrut?

CJ you know that too many tools is dangerous to your health.......so to keep you healthy I probably need to come get that vmc!

Guys I am located s/w of Hot Springs about 40 miles. While I am not a hobbiest I hope to build another cnc before Christmas. Another in the sense of another machine to use and not another that I have built. I did retrofit my current machine with new electronics and controller. If you guys have not yet made a decision on a controller take a look at Mach 2/3. It is inexpensive, the support is unparalled and it is very powerful. If you want to see it run you are welcome to come to the shop. It's bad dirty so don't complain or I might let you clean it!

Mike

You will have to enlighten me on Superstrut?
Mike

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/items/5YB87

CJ you know that too many tools is dangerous to your health.......so to keep you healthy I probably need to come get that vmc!


Mike

Hey Mike, you are closer to it right now than I am. lol.. I had it delivered to my dad's shop since he was getting a bunch of other large equipment to. We bought some equipment from a machine shop in Fort Smith that was selling off some of it's buildings. The machines had already been put out to pasture (read: put in storage) because of upgrades and expansions so we got this stuff dirt cheap really. My south bend thirteen came from that place also. I have been wanting to use it but I just got my phase converter hooked up late last night. I was a great thing to see that machine turn on for the first time here and it work like intended. It is worth way more than the $300 I paid for it.


My Dad lives at Malvern and right now that is where it is setting. I have the servo controller here (The part that is out), but still have to get it moved up here. It is about 9000 pounds and 8.5' square. But it least it has a hook to lift it with. :) I won't be pulling it with my pickup, that is for sure.

I have a new shop going up and once that is done, I will have that brought up here and put inside. But right now it would just set and I would have to move it again if it was here.

Cj was the shop in Ft Smith called Martin/Anderson or Anderson?

Are you going back with a full blown controller on the vmc?

Mike

No, it was a place called Butler and Cook. They still have quite a few machines left there in fact. But they are mostly HUGE. Things like 20ft tall radial Drill presses etc. They had a few small Rockwell lathes there but the other stuff like that is gone. Most everything was 3 Phase so keep that in mind. If anybody interested in equipment there, pm me and I can give you the contact person to look and purchase through.


I'm going to try and get the machine operation in it's current controller form. It shouldn't take to much based on what I see in the controller board. It looks like a couple of transistors overheated because they never cleaned the cooling system out.

If I can't get the original stuff running, I will replace the controller and use a PC and servo controls. I will probably loose the tool changer when I do that. I have the schematics and operation manual, so there is hope.

I've seen a 3-Phase generator that you hook to your regular power circuit. It might be a direction for you to look into.

I wish I could remember where I saw it. It looked like a 110/220 electric motor that drove a generator that output 3 phase.. My brain doesn't work like it should.

It might be called a PHASE CONVERTER. I have seen them before on that big auction site. Or on maybe look on google.

Looks like they start in the 300-400 range and go up from there. I couldnt find the exact one to show you.

Hope this helps.

OzarkCNC

Yep, I have been looking at those. I already have one that I hooked up to the southbend. It is a 3HP rotary Phase converter. it works great but it is pretty noisy. It used a 30 amp 220 circuit and was a breeze to install. I got it off of ebay for $275 shipped new.

I will need one in the 25 to 30 HP range for the Mori Sieki. It has a rating of 15KV so I will have to feed it some serious juice. I have no 3 phase power from the electric company anywhere close and the 25HP rotary converter will take a 150amp 220V circuit by itself. Man what did I get myself into. lol.

Yep, I have been looking at those. I already have one that I hooked up to the southbend. It is a 3HP rotary Phase converter. it works great but it is pretty noisy. It used a 30 amp 220 circuit and was a breeze to install. I got it off of ebay for $275 shipped new.

I will need one in the 25 to 30 HP range for the Mori Sieki. It has a rating of 15KV so I will have to feed it some serious juice. I have no 3 phase power from the electric company anywhere close and the 25HP rotary converter will take a 150amp 220V circuit by itself. Man what did I get myself into. lol.

Go to ebay and type in cnc machine and you will find tons of phase converters.

If you do decide to go with a pc based control don't lose the atc. mach3 can control the atc, the variable speed spindle etc and etc. It will be a lot less expensive than a new control as well.

Do you know if the table has glass encoder scales on it? If so you might want to go with a Galil card and the Mach 3 software and plugin that runs it. That way you have encoder feedback to the card and a closed loop system.

The reason I ask about the shop in Ft Smith is because I had an ex brother in law that worked at one of those I mentioned.

Mike

Hi
I am 18 miles west of Searcy, 18 miles south of Heber Springs. I operated my shop for 5 years with a home made phase converter, until I got regulat 3 phase. It was a 5 hp 3 phase motor wilth capacitors added to get it going. After the caps blowed out I operated the last 2 years by wraping a rope around the motor shaft, giving it a good spin and the turning the power on. My turrent lathe is 10 hp. To run it I had to start the converter, then the Bridgeport and 2 drill presses. With all the equipt. running the lathe would start and then I could turn off everything but the converter. Real 3 phase is sure alot better, but I turned out alot of work with the converter.

You must be around Rosebud if you are that far south. I bet I pass by you on Hwy 5 then. I have a few medical clinics I visit for work.

hwy 36 east of Rose Bud. what kind of machines are still available in F.S. I'm always looking, really have some I need to clear out now. I have been looking at new Haas tool room lathe and mill. will have to clear some equipment and get a little work first.

Mainly manual machines. I think they had one other VMC but i can't remember the name and the control box was gone.

They had a cleaveland tracer mill. It was about 12 foot tall with a 90" long table on it, Deckel Pantograph mill, American Pacer lathe that looked to be a 24" by 120 or so that also had a tracing bar. A few vertical bandsaws, and a few Radial Drill presses. Had a few miller welders that were 440 3phase. That is all I can remember, but there was alot more equipment then that alone. Also had some wood working items like industrial bandsaws and power belt feeders for panel cutting etc.

If your interested, pm me and I will give you the contact info. They can tell you where it is. They are emptying some buildings out that the City bought from them.

What are you trying to sell?

I've been reading and reading and reading this site. The more I read, the more ideas I come up with.

So I'm seeking a mentor(sort-of)...:drowning:

I'd like to have some 1 on 1 with someone not too far away that I can hash some ideas through or maybe even visit so I can get a visual of what I am up against. I am a very visual person when it comes to design and build.

I will be starting this project in the next 2 weeks.

As I posted earlier, I have a general idea of what I want. Then I will start posting in the DIY build section and keep the clutter out of this thread that was for MENTORS and APPRENTICES.

Thanks,

OzarkCNC - Mark

Hi guys,

I'm Tony Williams from Alma/Fort Smith area. I'm a millwright/carpenter who works Maint. at Whirlpool.
I started researching cnc routers sometime back when I made a few Texas Holdem poker tables.

I'm starting my build soon. I've salvaged some 4" heavey wall tubing, linear rails and bearings, and some acme screws.

I'm waiting to get some bottles in the next week or so, and borrowing a welder. Hope to have the frame together early Oct. then the gantry.

Any Help would be great.

Welcome TONY.

I too just started this endeavor. I have been showing my S.O. what a CNC router can do and now SHE is stoked and wants it built ASAP. This means that I as an apprentice also have her as an apprentice. (group)

Help me obi wan!

Now I dont have to worry about the W.A.F. (Wife acceptance factor) that most of you have to contend with. :banana:

My big problem is deciding ultimately what I want to build.

So far I have come up with something close to the JOES2006 and the JGRO machine.

There are so many options.

I will be creating a build thread to keep you all amused instead of clutterin this forum.

So jump in RZBKRAIN. I hope that we can learn from one another.

Your naybor in Harrison.

OzarkCNC

Welcome Tony,

I am in the southwest corner of the state about 40 miles from Hot Spgs.
I have a nephew that owns a business in Greenwood and a sister in Ft Smith.

Mark, did you ever get anyone to help you? My wife has been very ill for over 4 weeks and I basically have shut down till now. I hope to get back to work on Monday.

Mike

Welcome Tony,

I am in the southwest corner of the state about 40 miles from Hot Spgs.
I have a nephew that owns a business in Greenwood and a sister in Ft Smith.

Mark, did you ever get anyone to help you? My wife has been very ill for over 4 weeks and I basically have shut down till now. I hope to get back to work on Monday.

Mike

No one stepped up or even PM'd me. I figure everyone is busy so I would most likely have to go it alone. I think that everyone assumes I am the newbie that posts a few times and then fades away.

It might turn around once I start my build log.

OzarkCNC
Mark

Arkansas here as well. Straight up hwy 65 about 60 miles north of Chris in Marshall (adjacent to the Buffalo river) in Searcy county and about 35 south of Mark in Harrison, just drove through there earlier this evening as a matter of fact.

I picked an "auction special" CNC mill today in St Louis, just made it home about an hour ago and unloaded the beast. She needs a lot of attention, but at least the spindle motor runs and the control head lights up. That's as far as I have made it tonight. Leaving at 4am and not getting back until 9pm is hard an old man of 46.

I think I'll probably end up replacing the controls since they are so far outdated, but the actual iron is pretty solid and decent. I'll know more when I find an afternoon to clean and tinker with it a bit.

Mike,

I live in Glenwood, I am building a J.A. Bean design 3 axis router table. My first build.

Hello, I live in ashdown, building rack and pinion plasma table. Mach3, sheet cam, and delta cam. Might need help with programs.
dooley224

Hey guys good to hear Arkansas is finally getting more cnc interest. I went to visit incontrol this morning and saw his build, and we're gonna redo some of his parts to try to make the machine a little smoother. I know nothing about plasma, but I am so very familar with r/p I can help you out in that area if you need it. I will also be able to help you with your programming if you need it.

Mike

I thoroughly enjoyed the visit. Mike is a great guy and really knows his stuff when it comes to all aspects of CNC. I have been around industrial controls all of my working life (30 years) but am new to this type of stuff. He took time out of his busy schedule to come look at my build and offer advise that I desperately need. I am very lucky to have met him. I think I found my new Mentor.

Glad to see you guys working together and I too am glad to see there's some CNC interest in Arkansas.

In the last month while battling this %@#*$* flu I managed to get my milling machine up and running and have even made a few billable parts on it. It's a Tri onics CNC which is similar the larger Bridgeport series II. I'm running Gecko 203v's with a CNC4PC breakout board, Mach3 software using a 22" monitor. I still need to make brackets for my keyboard, trackpad and controls but at least it's making chips and it's a blast to play with. I intend to build a plasma/ router table now that I have the mill chugging along and CNC a small lathe I have stashed in the corner.

I never knew I needed a hobby 'til I got one....

Hybidder, where do you live? Sounds like you're makin' progress. Would love to see some pictures of your Mill.

I'm in Marshall about 40 miles down hwy 65 from Harrison and about 60 North of Conway. I'll take a couple of pictures this afternoon and post them but it isn't pretty. It's a work in progress and I still have to mount my drivers, breakout board and power supply. Right now they are laid out on table with wires running everywhere. The mill is filthy but I plan to clean it, replace anything that needs it and repaint it after I get all the electronics etc mounted.

Here a few pictures of the dirty beast. It will be looking better after I get everything fitted, mounted and wired and painted...