n_maher

Semi-random help request - anyone still have the original Exstata setup and adjustment instructions? I went searching last night and haven't been able to track them down yet. Thanks in advance.

3-5" predicted for tomorrow night into Monday. At least the car is ready.

Peter, My 2c - for pork, yes I use brown sugar in my rubs. For beef, no, I only use salt and pepper. I might feel differently about a marinade, depending on the flavor that I was going for but I generally don't do my own marinades for any non-mexican dish and again, in those regardless of meat, I don't use sugar. Citrus juice absolutely, but no added sugar.

A very happy birthday to you, Bryan!

For the record, if there's something that you want engraved/etched, just let me know. I'm happy to have a go at it and see if it's capable.

Oh I didn't buy it Kerry, I just have access.

Dremel DigiLab LC40. Not cheap ($6k) but work needed something UL rated that wouldn't let people kill/blind themselves. https://digilab.dremel.com/products/lc40-laser-cutter

The laser has been successfully tested with logos from work. Each of those is about 2" across so the level of detail that can be achieved is (at least in my opinion) impressive.

Happy Birthday, Nums! Don't be such a stranger.

Happy Birthday!

One might sense from the fact that you are the only one posting in this thread that there's little interest in this discussion. If anyone is curious, they can PM me to re-open the topic.

Good reminder, I need to go stir/shake mine.

Started the day helping some neighbors build a work-around for a trail that an asshole neighbor decided to block despite it being a right-of-way. My buddy Jim got busy after I left and got the whole thing decked. So I got busy and made a sign for the new trail.

Throw me into the mix for one of these to run the CNC or serve as a music server.

Happy Birthday!

For drinking, of course.

Attempting mass production.

Working on a prototype tonight...

Knucks, if I can find it, I think I have one of those Airport Extremes kicking around and if so, you're welcome to it for free.

#noexcuses Went high brow for the booze cause HC.

Actually had a reminder in my fricken calendar and still boned starting this on time. Will plan a trip to the liquor store tomorrow.

Good luck!

This. Stay safe.

I'll certainly share them. I can't quite tell if I've got a persistent z-axis issue or not. It seems to do some weird things every once in a while where it plunges to a different depth than it finishes but I haven't really taken the proper time to troubleshoot it. It's essentially doing what I ask if it right now but there's no freakin' way that it could do metal as-configured. The z-axis is not rigid enough and can't develop enough down pressure to hold position. I think the first upgrade I'm likely to make is the HDZ option. Today's handiwork, which Andrew requested so that we could have a gravestone outside for Thursday. It's pretty fun to be able to whip something up like this and have it cut out in less than an hour.

Yes, there were definitely reasons. 1. The Shapeoko is, in many ways, an evolutionary step forward from the X-carve. They started as the same company and split somewhere after their initial few designs. Its chassis is supposed to be more rigid and with add ons like the HDZ it can be even more capable. 2. I don't like that the X-carve software requires a network connection. That said, I think their software might be slightly more capable than Carbide's but you can use the X-carve software to generate g-code that the Shapeoko can read so if push comes to shove I'll do that. It's mostly related to inlay work, which I'd like to try at some point but I'm not there yet. 3. I was lucky enough to find a new in box Shapeoko XXL for sale locally for about 40% off, basically the cost of the smallest one. It was too good a deal to pass up. The main board toasted itself within the first few weeks and while Carbide wouldn't warranty it, they did sell me one at cost which was nice of them. I don't think there's a bad choice as both are really capable when used within their limits. Both can be significantly upgraded and appear to have similar community and commercial support. If I continue to have as much fun as I am I can see myself building my own machine at some point. I don't need the entire size of the XXL and think a ball screw or linear bearing based machine with way more rigidity would be sweet with a cutting area of maybe 20" x 20" or so. Trying not to give that much thought at this point...