Hello Everyone

Hello,
Well I found this site online and thought that I would join up, looks like a really nice site to collaborate on different machining tooling and techniques. I have been a Mechanical Designer for the last 20+ years and just started my own Design Firm which has allowed me to follow some of my other passions in life, machining and building is one of them.
I am a little embarrassed to admit this but we all have to start off somewhere right? Well right now I have a Smithy Mill/Lathe setup. I know it is the Harbor Freight equivalent of a multi-function machine but it works. I have gone through it and made things as tight as I can and I have been able to hold +/- .001" on it so it does work alright.
I do own my own seat of SolidWorks and would be more than happy to lend my expertiese to anyone that might need it. Like I mentioned I have been using SolidWorks since version '98 and know the program inside and out. I also know a variety of programming languages. One of the first projects that I am going to undertake is making atleast a feedback setup for my Smithy to display absolute coordinates and possibly hook up some Stepper Motors. I don't know if I want to go all the way to a full CNC but having the ability to manually enter feeds and coordinates would be very helpful as the Smithy doesn't have a feed when in Mill mode.
Anyways that is my introduction, look forward to chatting with y'all....

Andy Braham

Hi Andy - welcome to HomemadeTools.net :welcome:

Lot of Harbor Freight equivalent guys here, and they are doing amazing things. :)

Feel free to link up your design firm in your forum signature, if your website is online.

Hi Andy,

Welcome - glad to have you here! :welcome:

Given a bit of tweaking and an appreciation for their limitations, the HF machine tools can definitely get the job done. Ideas on how to modify them abound here; jump right in with any questions as they arise and you should have answers directly.

What's next on your build list?

Ken

Glad you joined us, Andy. Care to show us some of the mods you did to your mill/lathe? Welcome to the forums! :welcome: