Things, People and Products that inspire me or fascinate me.
Like everyone I have a set of regular sites and resources that I monitor or use for references on CNC, CAD, live steam, clockmaking and Fusion 360. Some of these are listed below.
Metalworking / Clockmaking
Bill Smith is sadly no longer with us but his clock and telegraph key books and videos got me started and I learned so much from them. His wife Judy still maintains the website and the sales of his books and videos. You can also buy the books in the UK from Ian T Cobbs website.
Chris at Clickspring is a wonder to watch and his media is always professionally presented. I contribute to his work via Patreon.
There are some very good links about clocks on this site recommended to me by Anna, a member of a youth study group working on a clock project with her tutor Kelly.
Brian Mumford produced the Sherline CNC rotary table controller software and he also has a clock timing device called the Microset which is a fantastic piece of kit for analysing a clock or watch movement.
Ken Toonz at Zeamon is similar to Clickspring but with CNC content
Mike’s Workshop always gets me thinking. His many projects are inspiring and get you doing things as is Steve’s Workshop.
Malcolm Wild is world renown for his book on Pinon and Wheel Cutting and he offers many clock related tools and a fabulous wealth of knowledge and experience.
John Wilding, another clockmaking genius who is sadly no longer with us, has written many hands books on clockmaking and these can be viewed on Ian T Cobbs clock related site.
Delph site has a great clock wheel making application for CNC manufacture. There is also a US site by Bill Jones and Bill also has a ham radio site.
Anything related to Tom Lipton seems to be useful as does Harold Hall.
Jimmy Diresta is another Patreon site. This is a talented guy who just seems to know what to do with any tool to produce some fine work. Met him on a NYC CNC training course at Saunders Machine Works.
Stefan Gotteswinter makes some nice stuff and has both web site and YouTube channel.
Chris Raynerd has an interesting mix of clock and other mechanical projects.
Nigel at Glue-It.com has a good mix of projects and info relating to metalwork projects
CAD/CAM/CNC
Clough42 on YouTube is an excellent down to earth source of CAD, CAM and general electrical and mechanical knowledge. He also seems like a nice guy.
This Old Tony has one of the most entertaining YouTube presentation styles and covers all aspects of metalworking in the home workshop. His sense of humour will have you chuckling to yourself.
NYC CNC / Saunders Machine Works is my favourite resource for Fusion 360 and general machining knowledge. John Saunders is a font of knowledge imparted with enthusiasm.
I met Kevin Ellingson of Mechanical Advantage at Saunders Machine Works when he was my tutor on Fusion 360 training. Kevin has his own YouTube channel.
Lars Christensen is another Fusion resource for training lessons on YouTube as is Kevin Kennedy at Product Design Online
A good source for beginners on Fusion 360 is ‘Learn Fusion or Die Trying’ by Paul McWhorter YouTube channel.
Fusion 360 main site has so many learning resources and likewise Tormach site has lots of ‘how to’ videos.
CNC Cookbook and their GWizard program is indispensable.
Two books that should be on your shelf … a gentle GCode intro is Dr Marcus Bowman’s ‘CNC Milling in the Workshop’ and for a meaty reference Peter Smid’s ‘CNC Programming Handbook’. Both on Amazon.
There is a website called Sharpen Up which has an article on the history of CNC and various tool reviews which might be of interest.
Watch Related Sites You Might Want to Look At (and be in awe)
Cardew Watches – Mike is a fellow Tormach PCNC owner and and his stuff is magical.
Roger Smith and his watches – do I need to say more ?
Favourite Computer Apps
Top of the heap has to be Fusion 360. There is not a day goes by without something getting done on Fusion. I am finding that I am using the Electrical Module more and more to design Printed Circuit Boards but it is a steep learning curve and I have yet to find a YouTube learning resource other than Autodesk.
Mindmanager from MindJet as a planning tool using spider diagrams
Fing for network viewing and management
Gearwheel Designer for clock wheel cutting
CNC Cookbook GWizard GCode Editor and the associated GWizard feeds and speeds calculator
Canvas X for scale drawings that don’t need Fusion or similar
Corel WordPerfect Presentations old and quirky but good for simple sketches
Scrivener for book planning and writing
FlatCAM for converting PCB Gerber files to GCode
Start10, Fences, Object Dock and Groupy from Stardock for desktop management
PhaseExpress for often repeated phrases by shortcut keystrokes
FlatCAM for converting Gerber and Excellon files to GCode
Flashback Pro for PC screen activity recording
And finally – don’t forget to enable the Snipping Tool on Windows 10 so it automatically comes up with a rectangle selection when you press PrtScn.
Products
I have a workshop full of really useful gear and I admit to working to Jimmy Diresta’s policy … Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
The workshop contents aside, in my office I would not be without my 3DConnexions space mouse. You can’t really fuse with Fusion without one.
Books
CNC Milling in the Workshop by Marcus Bowman
Beginners Guide to Model Steam Locomotives by Tim Coles
Blurring the Edges by Steve Dunthorne is a blow by blow account of him taking delivery of a Tormach 770MX and learning how to use it from scratch.
One from left field ….The Ghengis Khan Guide to Business by Brian Warnes
Suppliers
Lots and lots our there to chose from so the list is limited to ones you might not normally find : –
Howard at Myford-Lathes keeps a large stockholding of tools and machines with a heavy Myford influence along with Live Steam and Clock related.
If you need a handbook for an existing machine or tool then Tony’s site at Lathes.co.uk is worth a look.
I like Steam Workshop and their set up for finding and repairing pre-owned live steam locomotives. (They also have a Tormach 1100).
That lot should keep you clicking for an hour our so ….