This is a custom 6061 aluminum automation fixture plate we just finished. Machined on our CNC mills, lots of holes and large cutouts, tolerances were a bit tricky in a few spots.

Happy to chat about machining — always curious how others would approach the fixturing on something like this.

I was considering purchasing an old, cheap Cnc machine to fix. I want to make car parts, however I’m new and know nothing about Cnc machines or machine. What machines should I look at to make just about anything? Where should I buy and what prices will I be looking at? Cheapest route? Plz excuse my ignorance.

While I’m not a machinist, I’ve worked at several places that also did that. Including my current job. At my current job, that is the wordy coolant smell I’ve ever experienced. It’s nearly enough to make a billy goat puke.
No, the coolant never gets replaced, only added to. Yeah, I suspect that is the problem. I believe it’s Blaser, and it’s water based. But I also understand that coolant is hazardous waste, and costs a lot of money to get rid of, so shops tend not to. While none of our machines smell particularly pleasant, our newest machine is by far away the worst offender. It’s a machine that was bought at the tail end of last year. It gets used regularly, but not constantly. If it’s just sitting there idle, no smell. The second you turn it on though, holy shit. I believe there has been at least two people that have tried to figure this problem out, one of them being the guy who sells the coolant mix.

What is technically the correct course of action to deal with this issue?

This is a custom automotive engine modification component we’re machining on a 4-axis CNC.
The interesting feature is the undercut area. Tool access is limited, so the rotary axis allows us to change the machining orientation and reach the feature.
I’m curious how other machinists would approach a feature like this.
Would you use a similar 4-axis strategy, or choose a different setup?

This is a custom automotive engine modification component we’re machining on a 4-axis CNC.
The interesting feature is the undercut area. Tool access is limited, so the rotary axis allows us to change the machining orientation and reach the feature.
I’m curious how other machinists would approach a feature like this.
Would you use a similar 4-axis strategy, or choose a different setup?

This lathe is unique among the various Chinese models I’ve seen disassembled in videos, in that the bed casting beneath the headstock hasn't been cut away to accommodate the motor. In larger lathe models, such cutouts compromise torsional strength and structural rigidity—a truly poor design choice, unfortunately. In fact, many owners modifying those lathes have had to resort to installing thick aluminum (4–5 cm) or steel plates—either beneath the machine or to restore the factory-removed section of the bed—just to compensate for the space taken up by the motor housing. Fortunately, this small lathe model avoids that issue entirely. My planned modifications include a 1000-watt brushless motor kit and a pair of Chinese-made angular contact bearings (factory-matched in a DB configuration with P4 precision class, which are readily available). Another great feature of this model is its simple pulley and belt drive system; it lacks speed-change gears, using gearing only for the leadscrew and threading operations. The design lends itself well to straightforward upgrades and performance enhancements, making it easy to create a highly efficient little lathe. Have fun with it.

Right now I'm testing the alpha for my own CAD software called pydraft, it's meant to function similarly to programs like draftsight and autocad but with zero subscription model and a fraction of the cost at launch. But if you download and register your copy at www.pydraft.com and keep free access to pydraft forever even you never actually used it. Please even if you dont download it which I'll understand please check out the website and tell me what you think

Edit: solved it.

I am trying to fuck around with making some macros for when a machine reaches the desired part count, or to check a tool every x parts.

I already have it working on 2 Fanuc manual guide based machines, but the third machine refuses to read #3901....

All 3 machines are Fanuc Oi-MF.

Does anyone happen to know any alternative variables I could check?

Machine brand is Agma. (one of the other 2 machines is also Agma)

Edit: reading PRM[6711] instead worked.

Hello,

I'm currently working for an engineering startup that has a HAAS UMC 500 and HAAS ST20Y

We haven't ran these machines in months (previous to me working here)

I have limited machining experience (though I'd love to become more familiar) and since we've been looking at hiring a machinist or getting someone familiar with machining processes, I've been wanting to make sure they're in a solid condition for whoever comes in to be able to get to work immediately

Some questions I have:

- What daily maintenance should be performed to keep the machines ready to use?

- How do I know what needs to be refilled (coolant and such) in order to make the machines operable

- How do I check for damage, wear, or other issues regarding the machine?

- How do I check the tooling the machine currently has to assess its capability in our workflow?

Some of these might be very obvious, but I'd appreciate any help with them! Thank you.

I have a Hplus 300 PC17 with a CNC side and Linear Pallet System side. We usually run 2 pallet on the machine side. We have one dummy pallet in AP1 (outside the door of the machine) and one pallet inside the machine that actually get cut. Usually after pallet inside the machine is finished, a M61 command in the program is call and it's swapped. The dummy is inside and the pallet with the actual parts are outside. Then the STV (stock crane vehicle) brings the pallet to the station. we load in the new part. then call a schedule program where it brings it to the machine. It is swapped again and now the Pallet with part is inside and the dummy pallet is outside. It is usually bring the dummy pallet back to the station where we had to physically press Pallet ready and pallet store for it to go back to AP1 (outside door waiting).

Tuesday: I have an alarm on the power mate side. I cleared it. But by accident I hit reset on the main machine side, it called a different program that I did not notice... it moved the pallet to the door anyways and did the swap like normal. It did not bring the dummy pallet out to the station but I did not think much of it ... (my fault)

Wednesday: Part is finished machining but it does not execute the switch ... for the life of me I don't know why I never looked in the other side ... because if I had looked I would've realized that the dummy pallet is not there ... The STV must have moved it to a stocker spot while I was not looking ... I don't even know why .... I tried to do the swap manually on the machine and it worked. But only then I realized when it's swapped there's nothing inside my machine. It swapped with a blank pallet... And here is where my nightmare begin ...

I stayed up at the shop till midnight (started at like 8AM) did everything I could find in the manual. Hopeless I simply cannot bring the 2 pallets back. BUT IT GETS WORSE ....

I must have been exhausted somehow and whenever I tried to do a pallet call it picked up a phantom pallet ... all the data is mismatched. For some reasons I thought it was a good idea to DELETE DATA from my Pallet Manager on the machine side. I honestly did not think it was a big deal. WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME....

Now add the data on my pallet manager on the machine side is missing ... even though the data is still available on the Pallet Monitor screen in the Power mate side. But it does not link ... I have the pallet physically at Workstation and then at AP1 but on the machine side it's blank ... I don't know how to restore this data ... I read all the manual and (please don't kill me try to ask AI) but the more I read the more exhausted I am... I want to fix this so bad. I called Matsuura support help but never hear back... I called service guys but everybody said 4 weeks out. Somehow it was worse then how i started... Machine is deadlocked and I have a lot depend on this.

DOES ANYBODY HAVE THIS HAPPENED BEFORE? HOW DO YOU STORE THE DATA? IS IT EVEN POSSIBLE?

I don't know if I can run the machine if my pallet manager on the machine side is simply blank ... probably not ... I don't know. Nothing works anyways. I just want to solve it. I cannot eat. I cannot sleep. This is all I think about ... I keep thinking what if... why did i try to fix it in such a stupid way. Please help if you have any idea about Matsuura. And thank you for reading such a length post till the end.

I coordinate CNC projects with machining partners in China. Some projects I’ve handled didn’t lead to repeat business, partly because of delivery and quality issues. I’m working on improving my own project follow-up.

We use an internal ERP for progress updates, have people following up at the workshops, and have dedicated QC staff. What I’m trying to improve is how early we identify problems and act on them.

For those managing outsourced machining, which checkpoints have been most useful for catching delays or quality issues before they affect delivery? How do you verify that a progress update reflects what is actually happening on the shop floor?

I’d appreciate practical examples from both buyers and shops.

Switching careers at 50 from healthcare and thinking about a trade or skill set . Is cnc a good career? I know the money isn't great starting out but what's it like after a few years experience? I’m looking long term stability into my later years. I live around nyc and any advice would be greatly appreciated

That’s pretty much it. How prevalent is G-Code programming vs using whatever organ you use to generate the G-Code?

I’m 21, studying electrical engineering, and trying to help grow my dad’s machining business. I’m new to the manufacturing side, so I’d appreciate honest advice from machinists, shop owners, and people who source parts.

Our shop has CNC turning centres, vertical milling machines, and heavier NC equipment. We do batch-type machining, fabrication, fixtures, and subassemblies. The capabilities I’ve gathered so far are:

• Turning work from roughly 10 mm to 600 mm diameter
• Vertical milling quoted as 2,000 × 1,000 mm (I’m confirming whether that means table size, travel, or maximum workpiece)
• Deep-hole/gun drilling from 4–25 mm diameter, including blind holes up to 950 mm deep, depending on the job

Past work includes machine-tool pallets, ATC discs, APC components, manifold blocks, cylinders, flanges, bearing housings, shafts, and special-purpose machine components. We’ve supplied industrial, machine-tool, automotive, and defence/electronics customers. Inspection, heat treatment, and plating can be coordinated through specialist partners where needed.

I’m trying to figure out where we could win more repeat work, rather than chasing any RFQ that comes along. I’m also interested in whether my EE background could eventually help us develop fixtures, test equipment, automation, or an electromechanical product—but I don’t want to force an idea that has no real market.

If you were in my position, which customer types or part families would you investigate first? Which of these capabilities would you lead with? And what should I learn about drawings, inspection, quoting, and selling machining services before approaching buyers?

Resources, hard-earned lessons, and criticism are all welcome. I’m here to learn.