Is CNC cheating

The 3 per cent of people who voted that CNC is cheating would have been Luddites in a previous age. In my one area of speciality - writing about the building of shotguns and rifles - we have seen Britain fade into insignificance on the world scene in every aspect except in the super-expensive "Purdey " class because of a pig-headed insistence that CNC was bad.

Back in the 1980s I visited a factory producing one of the last of Britain's "affordable" guns and was urged not to photograph a small CNC machining centre because "we only use it for roughing out gun actions and we don't want people to know about it." Their pride was a long line of blokes at benches,wielding files. When I noticed that the machine's tool magazine was covered by a cloth, I was told "that's because it's secret." I ask you! Needless to say, the firm is out of business.

Only a few weeks previously I had been round the Mandelli factory in Piacenza, Italy, who in the era were among world leaders in CNC. I only got in because my sister was their technical translator. When I asked why they were using robotic probes to ensure that workpieces were firmly clamped before machining began, when it would have been easy to walk up to the machine and check, the answer was, to me, a classic: "That's all very well, but what if you are using the machine from your office in Chicago, and the machine is in Taiwan?"

Why don't I use CNC for the modest amount of machining I do? Because, although the equipment is now affordable for amateur use, at 75 I am too ancient to learn a new skill. But I am full of admiration for those who have acquired it, and my admiration is even greater for those who develop new CNC techniques.

I think you're treading dangerous ground here.

The luddites were fighting a social cause, not a technological one. They were very good at it by the looks of it by how few of them were actually prosecuted. The local populace harbored them because they believed in their cause.

What it takes to be a gunsmith is way beyond any technical college training, you're scrutinized heavily on all aspects of handiwork.

I happen to be one of that percentile, if i can see beyond popular conception about Luddites i should hardly call that ignorant, so i'm a thug? dig your own ditch.

Michael W

Edited By Michael Walters on 03/09/2016 17:58:04

The saddest thing about this thread, aside from the bickering, is that Neil's poll has only attracted 103 votes.

... Where are the other thousands [?] of readers ?

MichaelG.

There is an obvious trend from those votes.

That's why I didn't vote, you could even start another vote. Is having an electric motor on your lathe cheating.

A final word, get over it and get on with it. Model engineering that is however you wish to approach it, it's a hobby.

Regards Lee

I daresay you're hardly the shrinking violet, Mr Stevenson. If you truly believe it then say it. I don't see what on earth you could be scared of?

If i can, anyone can do it. 

Michael W

Edited By Michael Walters on 03/09/2016 18:29:05

Ya know, it takes skilled hands and a skilled mind to make an exceptional model, it also takes a skilled hands and skilled mind to do it with CNC. End of journey is the same just slightly different roundabouts to get there.

You got the last bit wrong so I changed it.

Martin.

.

... But that is "amongst those that can be bothered to vote"

Will we ever know what [or indeed, if] the silent majority thinks

MichaelG.

Failed joke...  Sorry

Edited By SillyOldDuffer on 03/09/2016 19:58:35

If it weren't for the sake of free speech i'd say let's put this thread out of it's misery before WW3 breaks loose. Clearly we've struck a chord here which is just too much fuss to argue over.

Michael W

Edited By Michael Walters on 03/09/2016 20:05:03

No. If someone designs a simple oscillating engine from scratch they are unlikely to get the same amount of marks as the person who has researched and measured say a full size loco and then built that. Or in the tool section a design for a stepperhead lathe would score more than say a simple machine vice. Though in both cases the own design would score better in that section than a similar item from a published design.

Also worth bearing in mind that Gold, silver or bronze may not be awarded, so even if you were to have the best model/tool amoung those entered at that years exhibition if it did not get the marks it would not get gold.

J

Edited By JasonB on 03/09/2016 20:09:39

ROFLMAO!

Ah well, that's me ****ed. I'll get me coat on the way out.

Andrew

I would love to know how many of the 3% that voted could actually use a CNC, cheating, Ha yeah right all CNC users just load magic into the machines and press the green button and a thing of total beauty drops out of the sky!!!

In reality using a CNC mill to make a good job takes more skill than any old school manufacturing techniques in fact you need to be able to machine conventionally before you can even contemplate using a CNC machine.

In reality it maters not a bit what people use to build their machines as long as they enjoy the process.

That's me ****ed as well.

Where do you want me to send my Gold Medal and the Bradbury Winter Trophy to?

Mike

In this debate , will we ever know what (or indeed, if) the silent minority thinks ??

Neutral Dod

Perhaps those of the silent majority who have followed this posting do not want to vote.

An ancient Greek play, Aristophanes, all but satirized a lot of this debate in his play The Wasps.

JA