Noob from Ontario, Canada
 

Morning, Afternoon and Evening everyone. There I think my ass is covered, I'm totally new to CNC machining/routering (<spell check aisle 6) but I own a large format print shop where we do everything from simple Business Cards all the way to Back-lit signs and billboards. I'm hoping to expand my product offerings by adding a MechMate to allow me to get into dimensional signage. So be prepared I'm going to be asking lots of questions.

Good morning Richard. Welcome to the Forum.

Welcome to the forum, Richard.

Welcome Richard...grab a cup of coffee and read, read, read!
Best
Mark

I'm already on my third cup and forth cigerette

Put on another pot of coffee..I started my build 14 months ago, I hope to have it making dust in the next 2 weeks! It's a long road...but a great machine for the shop!
Mark

Get a carton of ciggi. :)
I burnt through at least 3 cartons... & nearly a kg of coffee beans. :P

Welcome Richard! :)

Well if I get all my ducks in a row I hope to fast track this build but the term "Fast Track" is ambiguous to say the least lol

What is the current Drawing rev#
 

I have a set of drawings and have been looking things over first question I have is how do I know I have the most current revisions? Is there a key drawing I should look at or spot in the package?

Check to see if the spider has 6 wheels. If you have the dwgs with that then you have the latest set.

KK I'll have a boo in the morning when I get into the shop Thanks...

also, if your drawing set has pages that reference the alternate rail method (preground vee rail caps), then you have the newest drawing package.

Well guys true to my nature I couldn't wait, so I made an excuse to my wife "gee honey I should get some "TP" for the house, I'll be right back" and off to the shop I went. Seems I do have the most current drawing package....

Nice little trick there Richard.:) I'll have to save that one for future use.

Tom just a word of warning don't forget the "TP" or you'll be in shit lol:D:eek:

Whats a TP?

Toilet paper...

:) Thats funny!

Now I get it :D !!!

stupid questions time
 

Let me first say I'm really eager to get building my MechMate. But my Accountant/financial source for floating my company AKA Dad. Wants a cost projection. To that end I'm trying to build a B.O.M. I found one on another forum (ODD) also thought it was odd there was not one in the plans, but hay. Anyway I'm assuming there are no issues with me taking the drawings and reworking them to round up some of the measurements like the one stating X+23.6" making it a logical 24". My main issue is even though I live in Canada it's a 50/50 chance the company you are trying to deal with has embraced the metric system.

Question on prices
 

Talking with my local hell my only local supplier of steel I got a price of $115.00 for a 20' length of 1.92x6 channel and $147.00 for a 2.26x8 are these good prices in peoples experience? Should I start browsing the recyclers instead.

You are correct to say there are no BOM provided. & it was so intentionally.
This force the builder to study the design thoroughly in the process of making up their own BOM.
as a side note, as the design can be customized easily to cater for individual needs, there are no point in having a standard BOM.

As for the rounding off the decimal points, you just have to decide what is logical & practical. you gotta decide if you want to go though the BOM again when you start building.

Thanks Ken.

Don’t get me wrong here, but it should be you who does some of this little basic homework and ….shopping in this case….before asking any forum !
No offence intended…simple basics !
Good luck, Robert ;)

Another friendly reminder.
Please keep your questions a single threads, or you will be completely lost in the threads you created. This is not Facebook.

Robert,

I am sorry, I feel you are a little harsh with a simple questions about the price of steel. He is trying to get an idea if the price is in the ball park of others have paid.

I bought my steel back in 2008 and the prices are a lot different. I think some one that is more current will chime in.

Richard, what happens many times, new builders want the answered feed to them with out researching and spending time reading. All of us that completed our machines have spent lots of time reading and learning. We expect others to do the same.

Good luck with you build.

@ Robert M sorry for any confusion but my question was based on some initial homework I was simply looking for a frame of reference.

@ KenC I'll keep that in mind about the threads but I thought they were totally different topics hence the second thread. Oh P.S. I detest Facebook lol ( Oh look a cute kitty pic)

@ sailfi thanks for the info you're totally right that most ppl on the forum may have built their mechmate's one or more years ago so any pricing advise or comparison becomes moot.

Richard, even they seems like different topics, they have one thing in common, they are your questions :)