Home Video, CNC machine, and life updates!

I'm always amazed at how infrequently I post to this blog.  Perhaps it is just the flying of time, or that there are other things keeping me busy?  Either way, I have fantasies about creating more "content" on a regular basis, but I'll probably take this year in baby steps.

I've got some ideas on goals for this year, but time is short and I'm just going to cover what is fresh!

1. I acquired a CNC machine two weeks ago, for a SCREAMING deal.  I paid $200 and a tank of gas for a $1200 nearly-new Shapeoko 2 CNC router.  Then I spent a few weeknights and last weekend tuning it up and pimping it out a bit.  It makes me glow with pride.  I have plans to make it bigger, build an Arduino closed-loop spindle speed controller, and build a noise/dust enclosure, but those things will come with time.  I've been dreaming about building/buying one of these for the past year or so, and the price and timing couldn't have been better.

ShapeOko2 CNC router and Mic6 aluminum table.

2.  I made it to my 3-month review at work, got my retroactive holiday pay (basically a week's worth of compensation), and we got on the company medical/dental coverage plan (100% employer covered, for both of us).

3.  AND....I'm working on a new CNC machine at work...again.  The monthly machine-change has been an epic onslaught of learning (which I love, to a point), but I think I might get to hone my craft on my latest machine for a bit longer than the previous two.  That said, in another month or so I'll probably be OKK (that is a pun, btw, as the manufacture of my current machine is in fact the Japanese machine builder OKK, which stands for "Osaka Kikai Kosakusho" Corporation) moving onto something a bit less huge and physical.  People who know things say that describing an OKK as a "tank" is an understatement, and thus far I'd have to agree.  The pieces of steel that I make fly out of this machine are impressive, and it makes me giggle to run the spindle at full load and it's max feedrate while literally shaking the earth all around me.

"OKK II" as my machine is known.  My CAD/CAM station, toolboxes, and tool racks.

4.  I'm still working 6 days/week, doing five 10's and one 5 on Saturday.  So nothing new there.  But I'm learning to maximize the time I have, and do a "quick charge" to get me ready for the next week.

5.  Sunlight, and warmth....there is so much more of it now that winter is fading.  It was 69-degrees yesterday, and tonight I took Charlie on a sunset/podcast/Woodford Reserve walk IN DAYLIGHT.  It was great.  I'm not a fan of the deep winter, no ma'am.  I'm also not looking forward to epic humidity and heat of the summer, so I'm hoping for a LONNNNNNNG Spring.

6.  Aimee and I saw the Lego Batmam movie, and it was great.  Many laughs and smiles.  Life is good with those things.  Aimee continues to kick ass at school and be a super nerd.  She's one sharp cookie, and I couldn't be prouder! : )

7. Charlie ate the remaining bits of fake bacon-flavored goop out of his prized dog toy....and has tossed it aside like a sweaty gym towel.  Dog life.

That's all for tonight, thanks for reading/viewing!

Wait: I forgot!  I started playing with my old (sadly poor quality) video cameras a few weeks ago, and bought some software to go with my new computer... and this is my first little project.  Certainly a bit long-winded, but hey, you can see a few different angles on the home workshop!  I hope to have time to publish some more thought-out content in the future, but we'll see what time allows for.

Cheers,

Danny