In which a collection of lathe parts are assembled into something like a working machine tool.
In which the mill encoders are replaced, improving their resolution from 5μm to 1μm and allowing the full Y travel to be used.
31st August 2020 – the old X encoder is removed
1st September 2020 – the full Y travel is foiled again
In which the mill and lathe are fitted with motors and drivers, and controlled from software.
In which the mill is adapted to serve as a poor man's CMM.
In which a frame is fitted around the bench to improve the lighting and keep flying metal chips out of the electronics lab on the other side of the room.
In which an off-the-shelf case is modified to mount a small PCB.
5th November 2020 – correcting PCB mounting holes
8th November 2020 – modifiying the case
In which actual paying work is performed.
19th October 2019 – making some parts on the half-assembled lathe
21st October 2019 – finishing the parts on the mill
17th January 2021 – salvaging some stock
18th March 2023 – gripping a soft part
In which a hand-wired aluminium part is replaced with a PCB on a polymer base.
In which defenceless workshop equipment is generally abused.
30th August 2019 – reducing solvent waste
20th April 2020 – the world's longest jackscrews