MadModder

I have not, dd. I have to admit that I'm mainly a manual machine person and get caught up in CNC every once in awhile when I have something very specific for it -- like lettering, or in a recent case, a milled out tiny yoke for a Scotch youke mechanism.

I was just thinking about what I really like is lathe work, more than milling. I'll go to great lengths to do something on the lathe that would be easier on a mill -- and I do own a round column mill. But It's a hike to get to from the house in an unheated shed, and like I said, I don 't really enjoy millwork.

The lathe was my first machine tool, and I built it from scratch, so I have a long term fondness for it. Actually thinking even more about it, I like casting even better than lathe work, and pattern making nearly as much as casting.

Okay, back to CNC, to me it's like a crossword puzzle -- I can get caught up in it temporarily, all the CAD, file generation, setup, etc. But for me it's mostly empty calories the only really enjoyable part is the result. While with pattern making, casting, lathework, it's the activities that I enjoy, at least as much as the product.

The other problem for me with CNC is that I tend to forget, and then have to re-learn all the details of programming, setup and operation. I just don't use it often enough to keep that stuff current in mind.

But I'm sure I'll return to it as I seem to circle back to most things I've done before, sooner or later, when a special need arises.

The quill is a cheap  Easson one but works ok.
The knee one is just over half of a broken Heidenhain that I was able to trim back and fix.
Both are 5um but the KQC box doesn't care what resolution (adjustable).

There seems to be some interest in making the thing read Mitutoyo SPC quill scales.
I may have to buy one to experiment. It requires an extra transistor to do the REQ output, and a couple of resister changes to sort out the logic levels, but looks easy enough to implement.

VORTRIXE & OKMO 1110 Classic Model Vintage Japanese Yanmar Gasoline Engine with metal piston rings.

1950s Yanmar diesel engines are prized vintage Japanese machines, especially from their pioneering K-Series (like the K1/K2) launched in the early '50s for farming, known for being small, light ("karui," "klein"), and reliable, with many still running today due to Japanese manufacturing quality, often used in small boats, generators, and farm equipment, showcasing Yanmar's early innovation after developing the world's first practical small diesel in the 1930s.

This absolutely beautifully detailed and ready to run model petrol/ gasoline 4 stroke horizontal engine is made by OKMO.  Beautiful miniature engineering, and craftsmanship from Jin.

First run -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8g5ozwKet0

Quote from: vtsteam on December 30, 2025, 08:59:36 AM

Ade, we're drowning in bot new user requests -- I can't handle them any more.

I can't help you here - I don't have the permissions - but try putting a block on any IPs from Singapore: Most of the bots seem to be in data centres there these days. Other countries which are problematic - China obviously, also Brazil to a slightly lesser extent.  But Singapore is likely your culprit. I've blocked them from MEM & LEF using iptables rules & just blocking out giant ranges of IP addresses. Sadly, that does cut a few legitimate users off, but it also keeps the server afloat.

Thanks Ade but I don't have the permissions either. Just a mod.

Ade, we're drowning in bot new user requests -- I can't handle them any more.

I can't help you here - I don't have the permissions - but try putting a block on any IPs from Singapore: Most of the bots seem to be in data centres there these days. Other countries which are problematic - China obviously, also Brazil to a slightly lesser extent.  But Singapore is likely your culprit. I've blocked them from MEM & LEF using iptables rules & just blocking out giant ranges of IP addresses. Sadly, that does cut a few legitimate users off, but it also keeps the server afloat.