<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><br class=""><div><blockquote type="cite" class=""><div class="">On Feb 19, 2025, at 4:25 PM, cheater cheater via Synth-diy <<a href="mailto:synth-diy@synth-diy.org" class="">synth-diy@synth-diy.org</a>> wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><div class=""><div class="">I was wondering what people would use a CNC mill for if they had one,<br class="">for synth diy stuff. It seems like almost all the hardware is already<br class="">easily available or made.<br class=""></div></div></blockquote><div><br class=""></div><div>I'll veer somewhat off-topic here. CNC mills are probably more commonplace at this point but laser engravers are exploding in popularity. They both use the same basic mechanisms so there's a useful crossover between the two.</div><div><br class=""></div><div>You can always go down the DIY path but it can be very frustrating. I'm definitely not cut out for building my own gadget but if you like a challenge go for it.</div></div><div><br class=""></div><div>I have a blue diode laser engraver that's the best straight-out-box-the-box 400mm x 400mm available right now that isn't running in closed ecosystem (and even then...). It costs more, comes fully assembled and calibrated for LightBurn, includes EVERYTHING you actually NEED to use it and it simply works. </div><div><br class=""></div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Roly-LaserMATIC10-Integrated-Enclosure-Honeycomb/dp/B0BNBPRKWW/" class="">https://www.amazon.com/Roly-LaserMATIC10-Integrated-Enclosure-Honeycomb/dp/B0BNBPRKWW/</a></div><div><br class=""></div><div>It was $1000 when I bought mine. This newer model is even better as it can switch between four and six laser diodes for finer detail or cutting. The enclosure is opaque at 455nm so you don't have to wear goggles all the time. If there are kids around you make everyone wear them anyway.</div><div><br class=""></div><div><div>The bad news: blue doesn't cut clear, white...or blue. If you need that you're looking at an infrared CO2. The good news that the ubiquitous "K40" CO2 laser is less than $500! The bad news is that you have to spend a lot of time and (more) money getting it up to speed. The "chiller" that most ship with is just a radiator with a fan, no actual refrigeration. This doesn't work well when it's hot in your shop and killing a 40W tube is all too easy. There's also no air assist, no honeycomb table etc. This wheel has been invented too many times already.</div></div><div><br class=""></div><div>More on-topic: with any fabrication machine there are a million noob mistakes to be made and you have to test and dial in every batch of wood but it also comes with a pile of stock settings that will save you lots of time and material. In the end you skip at least 50% of the frustration. My point is that you get what you pay for when it comes to 400mm x 400mm lasers. </div><div><br class=""></div><div>Watch out for the "useful information" from clueless idiots on YouTube.</div><div><br class=""></div><div><br class=""><blockquote type="cite" class=""><div class=""><div class="">I know front panels are one suggestion (eg one manufacturer makes<br class="">front panels out of brass) but I'm sure there are other, maybe even<br class="">more creative, uses of a CNC mill, so I'm curious.<br class=""></div></div></blockquote><div><br class=""></div>PC boards. It even drills the holes. Front panels out of acrylic.</div><div><br class=""></div><div><div>The developer of LightBurn is working on a milling app. It's probably going to be a game-changer as well.</div><div><br class=""></div><br class=""><blockquote type="cite" class=""><div class=""><div class="">Injection molds for light pipes? Gear systems for concentric<br class="">potentiometers? Surprise me.<br class=""></div></div></blockquote><div><br class=""></div><div>I'd LOVE to see a practical planetary drive for VCO frequency à la the Oberheim SEM. I looked into dual concentric pots and all of them had pots that were the same value. Something like 100kΩ and 10kΩ would be nice. I have a use for that right now.</div><br class=""></div><br class=""><div class="">
<div dir="auto" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class="">Terry Bowman, KA4HJH<br class="">"The Mac Doctor"<br class=""><br class=""><a href="https://www.astarcloseup.com" class="">https://www.astarcloseup.com</a><br class=""><br class="">"Every kid starts out as a natural-born scientist, and then we beat it out of them. A few trickle through the system with their wonder and enthusiasm for science intact."—Carl Sagan, <i class="">Psychology Today</i>, 1996</div></div>
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