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MEW 186, Best ever issue

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Ian P18/01/2012 11:22:21
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Its just dropped through the postbox and I have had a quick scan, I'm very impressed, a really full magazine with articles to suit everyone.
 
My compliments to the editor (and the various authors/contributors)
 
Ian
David Clark 118/01/2012 11:42:58
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Thank you Ian.
However, I do need more articles or I will have to run lots of CNC ones.
regards David
 
 
Steve Garnett18/01/2012 14:12:57
837 forum posts
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Not quite sure whether that's a threat or a promise!
Ady118/01/2012 14:13:02
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Maybe CNC is going to become a big part of the hobby, the bits are definitely getting cheaper and easier to acquire.
 
Digital bits have transformed my old Drummond.
Backlash eliminated, 100th of a millimetre accuracy, inches or metric
Constant power threading now possible
 
Guys like Sparey and Westbury would probably have embraced the new cheap technologies
 
John Stevenson18/01/2012 15:26:40
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More to the point if David already has CNC articles as he's hinted here and on the editor page then it proves interested people are writing for CNC wheras if he has no manual projects then they are not.
 
Perhaps this is pointing the way things are going ?
 
EDIT 
Did the results of the last survey ever get published ?
 
John S.

Edited By John Stevenson on 18/01/2012 15:27:41

NJH18/01/2012 15:37:07
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Ah John
 
For ever optimistic!
 
Norman
David Clark 118/01/2012 15:45:03
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3357 forum posts
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10 articles
Hi There
About 50 % of people were happy with CNC being included although a small percentage said they would never do CNC but it had its place in MEW.
The majority wanted 2, 3 or 4 pages of CNC. That leaves a lot to fill up with non CNC articles and they are going down fast.
regards David
 
 
 
John Stevenson18/01/2012 15:53:11
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Norman,
No I don't want to see a purely CNC edition of MEW, I already buy Digital Machinist from Village Press just for that.
 
I'd like to see a balanced approach to MEW but in the past when CNC gets published the flat earth society get all revved up and start rattling walking sticks. Long short is David can only publish what he has.
 
All I'm saying is that if he only has predominantly CNC articles then is this the way the workshop side of the hobby is going ?
 
One thing to bear in mind is that CNC is relatively new in the home shop whereas on the manual side, toolposts, bed stops rotary tables and knurling tools have been flogged to death since the start of the mag back in 19 ought plonk.
 
Answers in G-Code please no longer than 999 lines long so the older CNC's can understand it.
 
John S.
Ray Lyons18/01/2012 18:41:52
200 forum posts
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Too old to learn G- code now. I have a large file on CNC programming but after about the first couple of pages, my eyes glaze over and I am lost.
 
It is ok for those of us lucky enough to have learned in the course of a profession. I think that my need is for practical demonstration or one - to - one tuition.
 
What little metalworking skills I have, were learned at evening classes before the " Iron Lady " came along and placed a commercial value on everything. Now such classes are rare and if available cost the earth.
 
I remember some time ago, Tony Jeffree wrote in these pages that there is no need to learn G-Code. He said that using a CAD programme the drawing can be transferred to the computer for cutting.
 
I believe he was preparing an article on this for MEW which would be great for many of us trying to understand the system and could be a better way of introducing CNC
blowlamp18/01/2012 19:18:47
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Posted by Ray Lyons on 18/01/2012 18:41:52:
Too old to learn G- code now. I have a large file on CNC programming but after about the first couple of pages, my eyes glaze over and I am lost.
 
 
 
You don't need to learn G-code anymore Ray
I prepared a step-by-step article on the use of CAD and CAM for the absolute beginner and sent it off to MEW, but so far it hasn't been published.
 
It's a pity really, because it was written specifically to try and bring the home workshop community up to date with the opportunities that CNC brings, as well as show that it is quite an interesting subject if it's given a chance - and no G-codes either.
 
 
Martin..
Gray6218/01/2012 19:21:45
1058 forum posts
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The 'Best yet' ?
Not sure I agree with that, the articles are interesting and varied but why oh why did an article on tee nuts need 3 pages!
I thought Tony Jeffree's article on electronic lathe control was excellent and as alway with his articles, well written and presented. A great halfway house between manual and CNC.
Maybe a beginners guide to CNC could be included every other issue, that may appease the flat earthers and leave room for the knob twiddlers to have their bit as well.
David Clark 118/01/2012 19:27:53
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3357 forum posts
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10 articles
Hi Martin
Article not forgotten.
Finishing off Tom Senior first.
Might well be in MEW 188.
Will pencil it in.
regards David
 
 
Michael Horner18/01/2012 19:34:26
229 forum posts
63 photos
Hi Ray
 
Too old to learn G-code! There's a guy built a model deltec diesel engine with the help of CNC from what I can remember he didn't take up CNC until after he retired. In his biograpghy he mused that he was to old but had a play, found out he could do it and the rest is history.
I've taught my self G-code, I'm not an expert but get it to do what I want JS did a posting with some G-code this was added to my knowledge and now has added some flexibility to my code.
 
My method of learning is to create desire, I am building the Whittle V8. For me to produce 8 of everything would drive me nuts, so for me CNC is the answer.
 
If you can produce a drawing in cad save it into a dxf format you can then open it in cut2d
save this to mach3 it's then ready to mill. JS has mentioned this in a recent post where he was doing a demonstration at arceuro.
 
Hope this helps
Cheers Mike.
Ady118/01/2012 19:54:46
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For me to produce 8 of everything would drive me nuts, so for me CNC is the answer.
 
Guys like Gerald Smith only ever made one masterpiece
18 cylinders...holy smoke
 
http://www.onthewire.co.uk/smith.htm
John Stevenson18/01/2012 20:01:26
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5068 forum posts
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G Code consists of a text file full of numbers, fortunately there are only 10 of them 0 to 9, the average careful person has 10 digits on their hands so it's not that hard, Anyone not that careful need to take their shoes and socks off

Seriously though no matter how big the code is it can be split into three part, beginning, middle and end.
All is written by the computer and if the Post Processor file is setup correctly for your machine then it should be automatic.

The first part basically sets the machine up, normally the first line has a multitude of code that basically puts the machine into neutral, no offsets, no spindle etc, usually called the safety line.
After this it sets the tool being used, spindle speed [ if applicable ] feed rate and starts the program.

It's really only this part you need to be able to read as this is where it starts off from at what rate and revs and how deep.

The middle bit is just way points that tells it the next point to move to.

The last bit is basically the park up bit, stop spindle, coolant rewind the program and make the tool go to a safe place, again written by the computer and once it's done this routine once and you are happy with it then basically forget it.

So to recap it's only the first 10 lines or so that matter and you soon come to be able to spot an error by osmosis.

I have lost count how many people I have trained and believe me most get it within half a day, no-one has taken more than a day. Not saying they will never make a mistake but at least they will know what to do when they spot the mistake.

John S.
John Coates18/01/2012 20:07:43
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558 forum posts
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's easy. Put all the CNC articles in the mag for about three issues consecutively and see what happens. If sales don't fall then no problem. If they do then maybe the flat earthers have their place.
 
For me learning the G code would not be a problem as I did C coding at night school and other languages at home. It's replacing the manual lathe and milling machine I bought and all the tooling I have bought to go with them.
 
So for the time being I am a flat earther I guess who cannot afford to be anything else
David Clark 118/01/2012 20:21:47
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3357 forum posts
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Hi There
If I put all the CNC articles into the next three issues, the new editor will know not to do that if he wants to keep his job.
regards David
 
 
John Coates18/01/2012 20:31:57
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That gave me a chuckle Dave!
matt18/01/2012 21:17:49
24 forum posts


Not sure about MEW 186 being best ever TBH. Concern for me is the letter in 'scribe a line' from the contributor who wrote the articles about wiring a inverter. He states that a ten turn potentiometer allows ten different speeds whereas a single turn pot allow variable speed. If a contributor writing electrical based articles has such a fundamental misunderstanding of his subject matter then its a bit worrying TBH. Also fact that editorial staff havent picked up the error.
A ten turn potentiometer acts exactly the same as a single turn one it just allows a finer adjustment of the speed. Maybe the authr was thinking of some arrangement with a ten position switch with different resistors being selected by the switch positions?

Matt
Ian P18/01/2012 21:32:14
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Posted by matt on 18/01/2012 21:17:49:


Not sure about MEW 186 being best ever TBH.
Snip
Matt
 
 
When I made the initial post I had only flicked through the magazine, my comment/compliments were mainly in regard to the variety and breadth of he articles which I stand by.
I agree that like many other issues (and many other magazines) there are lots of errors and discrepancies to be found. I would consider myself to be very pedantic and some of the errors really annoy me but I dont think it is my place to criticise because I am not qualified to do so. If I ever get to writing articles I am sure I will make mistakes!
 
Ian
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