@AlanRail posted:You can move the mill in the x, y and z directions fairly easily .
But to make a circle you need to be able to move the x and y together....a real challenge.
Automatic is the best for sure but I have been able to do a lot of work with my hand wheel Bridgeport. Not even any readouts just look at the dials. For circles I have a couple of rotary tables. Someday, especially if I get into production work, I will get a small computer driven machine. For simple shapes though in small quantity its faster to just clamp some material in a vise and start making chips. You will spend more time programing a piece than it takes to cut one by hand.
BTW impressive work on your homemade machine. 👍
Pete
