Depending on where you live, you might check your local community or
vocational college and see if they have any CNC classes or general machining
classes with CNC equipment.
The teachers love to get real-world projects for the students to work on.
Offer to buy them something for the shop - plan on spending $50 or so
depending on how much stuff you want done.
You might even consider taking one semester's worth of classes - programming
GCode is not rocket science especially since you are only doing 2.5D (X and
Y with either in or out for Z). This way, you do not need to use a GCode
compatible CAD program to do your layout, you can just hand code it.
If you want to play around, check out MACH3
http://www.machsupp ort.com/
It is a full-fledged CNC controller that runs on Windows. It has a tool-path
indicator so you can load in your GCode and watch it run on a virtual
machine. Free download with 500 line capacity.
Dave (who is building a couple CNC machines)
> -----Original Message-----
> From: ModularSynthPanels@ yahoogroups. com
> [mailto:ModularSynthPanels@ yahoogroups. com] On Behalf Of Kyle Stephens
> Sent: Monday, November 16, 2009 7:56 PM
> To: ModularSynthPanels@ yahoogroups. com
> Subject: [ModularSynthPanels ] Learning CNC Specs
>
> So I'm new here. Hey all :)
>
> For a long time, for my (still being built up) modular synth,
> I had been planning to use these prototype panels I got at a
> surplus shop, see here:
>
> http://tinyurl. com/y96pd8e
>
> They've a lot of real estate to work with, and have these
> nice built-in spring loaded thumbcrews for easy removal.
> Problem is though I've only 10 of them, and as I expand my
> case won't be comparable with any other format. I forget
> their dimensions off the top of my head, but they're roughly
> Wiard size. As it stands I've also accumulated more PCBs on
> my bench than panels (and those are just ones I physically
> have, let alone future plans and purchases), and I don't want
> to confuse my layout with two or three odd modules crammed in
> one panel space for lack of room elsewhere.
>
> So I'm think of adopting the MOTM standard, as I like big
> control surfaces. There's various preexisting projects and
> novel DIY ones I'd like to implement, so making/sourcing my
> own panels would make things easier on me (or so I think - do
> tell if you think/know otherwise). And to that end, I Googled
> for CNC shops in my area, and literally dozens of places
> popped up - so no problem there.
>
> Question(s) at now though, are what should I ask of these
> shops in terms of capabilities? I know the MOTM panels are
> eight inch aluminum, and aside that I'm not sure what degree
> of accuracy is necessary or any number of variables I'd have
> to explain over the phone or put on an online quote request page.
>
> Any leads on where I should look to get educated on that kind
> of stuff? Sorry if it's a pretty open ended question :[
>
>
> _Kyle
>
> http://de-engineere d.livejournal. com/profile
>
>
>
>
>
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>