CNC & Machining

The latest DIY ideas, techniques and tools for the manufacture of metal, wood, plastic, ceramic and composites. We talk about machining, using a lathe to machine metals like steel, brass, and aluminium. We make chips fly!

MIT machine shop vids

I can’t believe we haven’t posted about these in the past (unless I missed them) — it’s a series of instructional MIT videos on “Machining Skills for Prototype Development.” Quite a nice little introduction to basic machine shop skills. [Thanks to Riley Porter, who posted this on the HacDC e-list] MIT TechTV — Machine Shop […]

FPS gaming with actual firearms

Though it sort of negates some of the best aspects of video gaming, this experiment from Waterloo Labs does outline a useful method for mapping projectile impacts on a projection screen using accelerometers. As suggested at the end of the above vid, there a number of infinitely safer methods for registering the desired mouse clicks […]

Theo Gray on electrochemical machining

Theo Gray on electrochemical machining

In this Boing Boing Video, PopSci columnist and author of the splendid and high-recommend Theo Gray’s Mad Science, explains how electrochemical machining (ECM) works and shows off a rig he put together to do ECM in his shop. The entire how-to can be found at popsci.com. Carve Steel with Saltwater, Electricity and a Tin Earring […]