- Joined
- Aug 22, 2012
- Messages
- 4,115
It wasnt too long ago that I was one of these.(I still am really) and I remember how scary it felt if I damaged something or stuffed up a part.
All I knew about maching was from a couple of classes around 52 years ago.
I purchased my generic 9x20 lathe about 3+ years ago (I think but cant fully remember) knowing nothing but with a million questions.
With those and the awesome help freely given on this forum I have been able to progress in leaps and bounds.
A special thanks goes out to all those fantastic people.
I've just been reading my build thread of the 80mm long focal length refractor from start to date (still not finished) and cannot believe how far I've come in that time and what lessons I have learnt along the way.
Admittedly its been a long project but the knowledge I've gained in the journey has been amazing and priceless.
In this quest I have made tools to do a small job, larger tools that will be used many times, additives to the lathe and so on.
Many techniques and processes that I would never even have thought of before and the problem solving required for a small part came together at the right time to enable me to do what I wanted.
So, I would like to give what I believe is one piece of advise that will help all the beginners and newbs who are finding it all a bit daunting is to think of a project you really want that doesnt have a time deadline and start building, ask all those questions no matter how silly you think they are but above all have fun.
There is one downside to this system though, as my knowledge base and skill level increases I have a habit of returning to something I did at the beginning to do it better and refine it.
Thats why the telescope is not quite finished.
All I knew about maching was from a couple of classes around 52 years ago.
I purchased my generic 9x20 lathe about 3+ years ago (I think but cant fully remember) knowing nothing but with a million questions.
With those and the awesome help freely given on this forum I have been able to progress in leaps and bounds.
A special thanks goes out to all those fantastic people.
I've just been reading my build thread of the 80mm long focal length refractor from start to date (still not finished) and cannot believe how far I've come in that time and what lessons I have learnt along the way.
Admittedly its been a long project but the knowledge I've gained in the journey has been amazing and priceless.
In this quest I have made tools to do a small job, larger tools that will be used many times, additives to the lathe and so on.
Many techniques and processes that I would never even have thought of before and the problem solving required for a small part came together at the right time to enable me to do what I wanted.
So, I would like to give what I believe is one piece of advise that will help all the beginners and newbs who are finding it all a bit daunting is to think of a project you really want that doesnt have a time deadline and start building, ask all those questions no matter how silly you think they are but above all have fun.
There is one downside to this system though, as my knowledge base and skill level increases I have a habit of returning to something I did at the beginning to do it better and refine it.
Thats why the telescope is not quite finished.