Peter Dohm wrote:
"R" wrote in message
...
Anthony W wrote:
Can anyone recommend a good forum for home machine work? Not the news
group, that's a madhouse...

Tony
The Home Machinist
http://www.chaski.org/homemachinist/

The Home Shop Machinist & Machinist's Workshop BBS
http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/


If you have some metalworking or machining experience this group has the
most expertise. They do not tolerate well inane questions from wannabes. A
wealth of knowledge can be gained by, even, lurking here.

Practical Machinist
http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/

Looking at this thread makes me just a little curious whether the
relationship of cost and capability may have brought the CNC routing/milling
process to make precision foam cores--such as used in the Vari-Eze and its
derivatives--within reasonable reach of the home builder. The hot wire
method worked reasonably well in its day; but was limited to certain types
of foam and also resulted in a slight sag in the shape of the resulting
parts.

Of course, I have kept a list of the above forum locations; and I am curious
if anyone happens to know the present cost of setting up that sort of CNC
system for the cores in something like a Vari-Eze.

Peter


I would imagine it's a matter of scale. In theory it would be
possible, I have seen kits for 2 dimensional systems for using
oxy-acetylene torches to cut sheet metal and a home PC. I wonder if such
a sytem could be modified to 3 dimensions. Rigidity of the machinery
would require a rather massive frame. One additional consideration would
be dust collection.

I wonder if the system could also be used to finish the part after
layup.

A creative mind would be able make some amazing shapes.

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired