Brian Lawson wrote:
On Wed, 24 Sep 2008 22:49:48 -0700, Winston
wrote:

(...)

Hey Winston,

Super answer!! Wish we could all take the time to do that nice stuff.

Thank you, sir.

I agree with what you say. CNC versus manual machines is the
equivalent to doing thesis work in chemistry after the junior year.
You still need to know the basics.

Now CAD-CAM, on the other hand, is a way to produce acceptable
drawings without the draftsman's full skill-set. Makes life and
learning easy.

I love CAD! (Yay Rhino! http://www.rhino3d.com/)

An intro drafting course would be a great idea. If none are available,
careful attention to competent drawings will reveal hints on how to
represent an item clearly and how to dimension it properly.

Hint:
1) Let your drawing 'cool' over night. Look at it the next
morning from the perspective of the machinist who has to make
the part.
2) Chuckle sheepishly at the specification or dimension that you
forgot. (This works for me!)

To Vernon:

(...) But if a bit more money and a bit more
room is available, then get the two as separate tools. There are
quite affordable separate machines in the same size range as the
EMCO -5, for close to the same dollars.

Plus, while your son is hogging out the crankcase on the mill,
you can be turning the cylinders and pistons on the lathe.



--Winston