Re: Do Learn Build

Peter Chen wrote:

> Plan to cut wood, then later – plastic. Metal is low
> priority.
> Using a machine with micron resolution for wood (and
> plastic?) will be like using a canon to swat mosquito?
> (responses welcome)

Peter,

As Jon E said, you CAN do it. But he was talking .001, and you're
at .000001 !!!

I have found that most people new to "the CNC thing" tend to over-
spec their needs... And confuse resolution with accuracy...

A plus or minus .001 machine will be MORE than enough for nearly ALL
wood and plastic work. In fact, if the machine is in an unheated
area, even this will be wasted. The reason is that the material
itself is moving (due to humidity and temperature) more than the
machine accuracy. You will then have to 'relax the tolerance' on your
cuts (make an inlay .005 or .010 smaller than the pocket) just so you
can get things to fit together...

I am reminded of the many times I have seen "new" people come to play
tennis or golf. They've got the best stuff (clothes, raquets, clubs,
accesories) and they can't play! And they want to "play from
the 'blue' tees (expert level in golf)so they can 'experience the
game as the pro's do..." What they usually experience is frustration.
The Japanese have a tradition of being sure the worker is "up to" the
tool. A harsh, but realistic view. A micron capable machine
could/would? easily be destroyed by a novice, who might not even
realise he or she had done anything wrong... Better to walk, then
run, IMO.

The other side of this is getting 'enough' tool to do the job. A
novice will not have the ability to "work around" a poor tools'
problems...

This is the classic problem, and there is no easy answer. Look for
clues in what people doing WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING are using, and
resist the temptation to just get a "little" more. And since we're
now so close to the "next" level, why not just... Ask LOTS of
questions. LISTEN to the answers (DO consider the source).

Hope this helps.

Ballendo

P.S. I'm not sure why we're talking microns when your previous post
spelled out low cost, beginner, low budget. Or did I miss something?