Prototyping via 3D Printing and CNC — From Design to Flying Prototype
The fastest path from a drone design file to a flying prototype usually runs through two different machines, not one.
Articles
CNC Controller Retrofit: Upgrading an Older CNC Machine with Mach3
An aging CNC machine’s mechanical structure often has plenty of life left — it’s the control system that falls behind.
Mach3 Troubleshooting and Calibration: Finding the Real Cause
Most CNC control problems trace back to one of a handful of usual suspects — the trick is knowing where to look first.
Mach3 Custom Macros and Screen Sets: Fitting the Control to Your Workflow
Mach3 custom macros and screen sets explained: how macro scripts work, three example macros, and how to build a screen around the way your shop runs.
Mach3 Motor Tuning: How to Set Steps per Unit, Velocity, and Acceleration
Learn how to tune stepper motors in Mach3: calculate and verify steps per unit, find the maximum safe velocity and acceleration for each axis, and set driver current correctly.
Mach3 Setup Guide: Installation and Configuration from Scratch
A step-by-step Mach3 setup guide covering installation, motion controller plugins, ports and pins, limit switches, homing, E-stop, and spindle control.
CNC Milling & Turning for Metal and Plastic Parts
Milling and turning remain the two core processes behind almost every precision-machined part.
Precision Tolerancing — Machining to Tight Dimensional Tolerances
A tolerance is a promise about how much a part is allowed to vary — and keeping that promise is what precision machining is built around.
Small-Batch Production Runs — Consistent Quality at Scale
Small-batch production sits in the gap between a one-off prototype and full mass manufacturing.
Prototype Machining — Fast Turnaround From Design to Part
A prototype’s real value comes from how quickly it turns an idea into something you can actually hold and test.