HeeksCNC 1.0

I made a release of HeeksCNC 1.0, my CAD/CAM software, for Windows.

You can program drilling, profile and pocket operations.

You can then run a simulation of solid removal.

This amazing software is less than $20. Get it here

model exhaust cone

I made a model exhaust cone from aluminium, to fit a friend's 1/5th scale Bloodhound SSC model.
I used the manual lathe for most of it, but did the bore with a 16mm tool on the Bridgeport milling machine.
The details were done using the 4th axis on my Sieg KX1 and a 3mm milling cutter. I made a bit of a mistake when I forgot to set the profile operation to the surface, so it dug into the part. Hopefully still looks good enough, though.

My 3D Printer now has a webcam

I've set up a webcam on the 3D printer, which is in it's own room. So I can spend the day watching it from downstairs. :)

We moved the CNC Bridgeport to the new workshop and it got connected up today and it still works. :)
We milled some slots in some steel, to celebrate.

Today, we have mostly been milling plastic.

Moving the milling machine

We took the table of the manual milling machine, because we kept bumping our hips on the handles when trying to squeeze past it. This gave us more space, so I thought: let's move it completely; we never use it. We spent 4 or 5 hours on Friday moving it the 4 metres to sit by the doors. We used the crowbar to lift it onto steel bar to roll it along the floor. Next job will be to try to sell it on ebay.

I lost my previous home-made phone cover last week sometime. When I checked my phone this morning, it turns out that I had accidentally phoned someone last night while my phone was in my pocket. It was the chinese take-away that I phoned, so it could have been worse. This morning I designed and made a better cover for my phone, using HeeksCAD software and my 3D printer.