Model Boat Mayhem
Mess Deck: General Section => Chit-Chat => Topic started by: Brian60 on October 01, 2015, 10:40:01 am
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........money to buy one expensive tool, which of these would be your option?
small lathe/mill (unimat type)
3D printer
desktop cnc router
I'm seriously thinking of buying the cnc router. it would then let me do the design work on the computer and let the router cut all my straight lines for me.
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I already have the mill and lathe (not expensive models but they work) so I think I would go the same way with a cnc router. First, though, I would need a cad program and I would have to learn how to use it.
Tom
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I have all three & a laser cutter as well... The lathe & milling machine gets used the most.
Paul
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It took me a few years of thinking before I got my laser but I'm glad I went that way, I had a CNC router in the shed for a while but I always came back to the laser, she won't cut everything I know but there's no tricky clamping involved, no dust, far less noise and the biggy for me was that I get square internal corners, can't cut a square with a round cutter :)
Phill
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I already have a 3D printer and when funds allow I will buy another with higher resolution
I bought a laser cutter, but had to sell it on as I miscalculated the amount of space it required.
I think the laser cutter would be next on my list once I have a bigger workshop
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I can only dream of such equipment :embarrassed:
My favourite tool acquisition is a multipurpose mobile device that has so many useful applications in specialist model making applications, and was entirely within my limited budget. Please consider the ubiquitous electrical screwdriver.
Not only useful for making or adjusting wiring connections, compact enough for both the workshop and travel to the lake, but is invaluable for opening Humbrol paint tins and scraping filler putty corners in awkward recesses. Also great for scoring litho plate to simulate armour plating, poking sealant into awkward corners, uncoupling servo arm ball joints, and holding small parts down whilst the superglue sets.
With magnetised blade it is perfect for recovering small steel screws that always disappear into hull recesses and for pressure-scoring 3mm deck plank joints. It can be used as a mandrel for forming corners on small copper pipe, and to poke into mini Plastruct assemblies to hold for painting.
Oh yes, and undoing screws.
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If you have CAD skills, then the CNC router.
Otherwise the Mill, lathe combo.
If you can't use CAD drafting software, the 3d printer, and CNC machines make nice paperweights.
ok2
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A small-medium mill would be nice.
To be honest though, a Laser and CAD package to herd it would be nice, though space is at a premium.
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I was not just being flippant about the electrical screwdriver, but the kind of machinery I had access to as a qualified toolmaker are way beyond affordability and vastly too big for a home model making workshop.
I also used to run a 3D design office with pukka PTC 3D modelling software running on full Apollo workstations, way beyond mere AutoCAD on a PC. I would need a Lottery jackpot plus a small industrial unit.
I will stick with what I can afford, and fit in my fairly large home shipyard. Scratch building is ever about improvisation and ingenuity, mostly using hand tools.
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Well, you do bloomin well with what you have considering the Poly.
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I have a friend building one of the larger versions of the X-carve.
https://www.inventables.com/technologies/x-carve
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If my numbers came up on the lotory,
A vertical machining centre, a 3d printer.
In the mean time, I have a 2x mini mill a compact 5 lathe and a coffee maker.
Regards,
Gerald.
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I have a friend building one of the larger versions of the X-carve.
https://www.inventables.com/technologies/x-carve (https://www.inventables.com/technologies/x-carve)
Looks nice.... quite fancy one of those as it should do everything a laser cutter can do and a lot that the 3d printer can
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If you're going to be making lots of round bits and pieces, then a lathe is the best tool to purchase first.
You can carry out basic milling tasks in a lathe too, providing you have a tool post attachment.
A CNC router is great too if you're machining lots of flat sheet stock, and need things with windows, slots etc. Or if your making boats with lots of complex superstructure parts. plus you can router out frames etc.
A 3D printer I personally wouldn't bother with, except if you're curious about the technology. Learn some 3D CAD and get items done by a bureau. Their results will be much better, and the cost is fairly small unless you're printing very large items.
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Lathe and mill every time, you can cut a kit with a fret saw in a week of evenings, you cant hammer into shape, for instance, a set of pullys, or a prop shaft, and 3 d printing isvstill in its infancy, but great things are comng for it,