New member from Montana

[mtvet06]

Hello everyone,

A little about me. I'm 41, retired from the U.S. Army. Used my g.i. bill to attend gunsmithing school, machining, and finishing a welding degree later this year. After learning about C.N.C mills and lathes I got into water jets and now C.N.C plasma cutters. I really enjoy fabrication whether it is for a one off part, agriculture, gang saws, signs, or anything ordered. If there is anything else anyone would like to know please ask.

Mtvet06

[plasmanewbie]

Welcome to the site, and thank you for your service. You will enjoy this site, lots of fab projects to see and lots of great folks to learn from. Do you have a plasma table yet?

[mtvet06]

Welcome to the site, and thank you for your service. You will enjoy this site, lots of fab projects to see and lots of great folks to learn from. Do you have a plasma table yet?

Plasmanewbie,

No I do not have a personal plasma table at the moment (working on getting bigger shop first). I use the schools plasma table when I'm there and a buddy has a water jet that I can use on the weekends. I have taken a look around and that is what helped me decide to join. Thank you for your reply!

Mtvet06

[adbuch]

Welcome aboard! And thank you for your service. You have a pretty impressive set of skills you are developing, and these should serve you well as you start out along your journey. Do you have experience yet using cad design software? If so, which particular programs are you using - or attempting to learn? Much of the cnc machining stuff applies as well to cnc plasma - g-code editing, etc.

I happen to do both cnc machining and cnc plasma cutting/engraving/wood routing and there is most definitely an overlap of the skill sets involved. In my case, I happen to use AutoCad for design work and import the saved dxf file to MasterCam for solid modeling, tool path creation, post processing, etc. But for cnc plasma I use programs such as Design Edge, Inkscape, CorelDraw, Fusion 360, etc. and many times a combination of several programs to achieve my end goal to cut a particular part.

If you are already using a water jet table, then I do expect you are using some design programs to generate your files. What sorts of things are you cutting with the water jet? As you are probably aware, there a very many cut files here at this site and available to contributing members. If you need help finding a particular file, or need help designing something a little different, then let us know and there are many here ready and willing to help.

David

[mtvet06]

Adbuch,

Thank you for your reply! I learned mastercam in college for design, tooling path, and what not. I have a lot of experience with autocad, fusion 360, qcad, and some experience with sheetcam (school program). Very limited experience with inkscape.

Zach


I will be figuring out how I can post some of my projects on here.

[mtvet06]

Here are some of the projects I have been either involved with or helped with. fabrication table I made 1st semester in welding school (welds have improved! haha), sign I designed on the water jet. Then I remade it this week for you can actually read the sign lol. Machinist jacks I made out of scrap aluminum, bolts, and nuts, big foot cut out, and Montana silhouette. Also old shears from the family farm I decided to refurbish and hang on the shop wall. The fabrication table was made with rectangle tubing top slats and flat slats to accommodate any shape or size of project for different clamping or welding positions.

zach


Some files were taken from the internet on free .dxf sights I just tweaked them a bit for my style.

[adbuch]

That is some nice work Zach! A nice cross section of different skill sets to make these. Very clever design for the machinists jacks.
David

[Fabbedlife91]

Hi there! What part of Montana are you in? I’m a USMC vet running my own small fab company by Helen and would trade plasma table usage for some gunsmith knowledge. Or better yet some side work for you

[mtvet06]

Hi there! What part of Montana are you in? I’m a USMC vet running my own small fab company by Helen and would trade plasma table usage for some gunsmith knowledge. Or better yet some side work for you

My apologies for taking so long to get back with you. I live in the Dixon, Mt area, which is north west of Missoula. please feel free to private message me with any gunsmithing questions if I don't know the answer I will get it for you.


Zach