Wow, you really ARE limited in the depth and breadth of your imagination, aren't you Rick.
You have no idea what can be done in inlay work when you AREN'T limited to a tiny little width on your X-axis. Your examples of how you do things and why you don't feel limited with your machine simply shout volumes about just how much you DON'T know.
You've brought up Jake, who actually DOES have a great imagination, so why don't you pose the question to him. Ask Jake if he would EVER - from his very first day of cuemaking - be satisfied with 1.4 inches of travel on one of his machine axes.
I'm not a "production" cuemaker either, but I do things in almost every cue I build that call for a large work envelope on my 3-axis machine. The fact that YOU don't know why that is so useful - actually necessary - does NOT mean it's of no value. It simply means you don't know enough to know what you don't know.
TW
TW,
This forum is all about people coming together to share ideas and comment about cue making. You made some comment and I posted an opinion and review of a machine and a company that builds same. Comparing the economics of your DIY machine to a custom design build machine engineered for cue makers makes no sense to me. Why? Because a business has a ton of expenses that any DIY person is burdened by working in his basement. That's all.
Now you say I am changing the subject because I answer some direct question or aqua actions. Boulderdash!!
So you berate a company because you don't like the parameters of their design and now me because I share my views with the forum. I personally don't care that you say things like, "I don't know what I don't know" because there in some truth in what you say. I am someone who has only been doing inlays for 2 years. In that time no one can expect to attain expert knowledge.
There are many things that I have attained a great deal of experience in over my 60 years on this planet and the are things that I am considered to be an expert by reputation. So not being expert status in all the facets of using CNC is not something that I or anyone else should expect to gain in doing 40 to 50 cues.
So now where does it leave the discussion. Allow me to expound on the attributes of Uniques Product called the Cue Monster. I will not dwell on any negative aspect of same and will acknowledge your disdain for less than the 1.5 Y travel. To me it is not that big of a deal but WTF do I know.
You say there are things that you do on the CNC that I can't or don't understand or have a clue. While I only use my CNC for inlay type work these days because of other dedicated machines and fixtures I use in my shop, here are operations I have done with a great degree of accuracy on Unique's Machine.
Turn Shafts
Turn butts
Cutting point grooves in forearm utilizing the offset feature that moves the datum of the Y envelop
Squared up point stock blanks using table fixture clamping device
Milled 90 degree angles on veneer stacks edges for mitering point assemblies using table fixture
Engraving
Nesting Parts
Cutting wrap groove edges after installing rough wrap groove with my saw machine
Milling simple parts I needed
Cutting parts out if stacked veneer combos for bridging points.
Slotting ring billets
Experimenting with 4 axis work freezing the Y using the x, a and z after plotting the geometry within the circumference of the specific area of the cue's longitudinal area and taper parameters.
I am sure I am forgetting some things but my point is during all of these functions. Are those the things you were referring to that you do on your DIY machine that I was not capable if understanding in my limited little brain. Your a funny guy TW, why ?, cause you make me laugh out loud. A belly laugh. Laughing is good for one's soul and well being so I thank you for that buddy!
While I acknowledge your machine must be a beast with off the wall state of the art stuff going on, that does not give you the right to knock someone else's work as a machine designer and his offering. While you certainly have the right to express your opinions the is an area, most would agree it serves no purpose and is in bad taste exposing the sour grapes component of your being.
Here is a example to that expression.
Since I was a kid I have been involve in many maritime activities and as an adult recieved my Coast Guard Captains Licence. I raced in 13 meter sailboats for many years and own and operated commercial vessels on Lake Michigan. So what I am about to say is based on fifty years of gained knowledge and experience as a Marine ameture and then professional for for over 30 years. This comparison is Germaine to the subject at hand and is the best analogy I can offer describing the Cue Monster and your disdain for same as is surly noted in this thread and archived for anyone who want to go back and sift through the minutia.
Boats are what I will use for my analogy as they are a functional item that has many design features and parameters for many different application secenerios.
There are basically two types of vessels, motor powered and sail powered. We will catoragize oar power as motor just for the record.
There are many types of sailboat designs ranging from windmills, sloops, ketches, windjammers, cutters, catamarans and the list goes on. Today the fastest racers are the 22 meter America's Cup Catamarans that are the pinnacle of speed and reduced drag on all surfaces both in and out if the water.
There are also many type of motorboats designs, speed, cruiser, tug, cargo, liner, ferry and this list also goes on.
So what is Rick's point you may inquire at this point?
While there are sailboats that do many things very well within their specific design criterial and motor boat that do many things well they must be viewed and judged within the parameters of there design and functionality.
Then there is some thing called a Motor-sailor. This unit sails and also motors with functionality but it does not compete well when compared to boat specifically designed within a certain envelop . The guy that owns one of these babies understand that there are some limitations but when he wants to motor or sail his boat he can do just that.
So if you take all the people that own Uniques Cue Monster they will tell you that they understand that it has some limitations concerning the y envelope and the worm gear backlash on the A axis but those thing are just part if the ability to motor or sail.
I am sure your index on you X does not have the capacity to be belted to a DC drive motor to spin your cue at a turning rpm rate. The Cue Monster can do that. So why you may need your working platform to include a different station for turning the cue monster does not.
Anyone who own one if these machines does not expect to compete with a world record holding 22 meter racing catamarans. They are fine with having a motor sailor.
So you critical or jaundice eye can be compared to Dennis Connor or Ted Turner being critical about someone who operated a motor sailor. You would never see world class America's Cup racing champions making such a comments because it would certainly serve no purpose and would be viewed as sour grape and bad form.
Not where does that put you Mr. Solipsist. Sour grapes for not good reason I say!
JMO,
Rick
