• Darkard@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        63
        ·
        8 months ago

        Self replicating CNC Machines. That’s not even a guy operating it, it’s 3 smaller CNC machines in a trench coat and hat

      • SlopppyEngineer@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        19
        arrow-down
        2
        ·
        8 months ago

        It would be very very impressive if your CNC machine can produce and assemble electric motors, wiring and circuit boards from raw materials. But then it would not be a CNC machine anymore.

        • theneverfox@pawb.social
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          6
          ·
          8 months ago

          Sure it could. A 5 axis CNC head could mill out the shape for a motor and be given a tool that spools out wire… It wouldn’t be easy, but it could build a motor with just that

          It could also be given a head to solder circuit boards

          CNC (computer numerical control) refers to the control systems rather than the act of milling materials, a 3D printer is a sub category of CNC. They can even use the same control boards.

          You also usually process materials before putting them in - they’re good at detail work, but if you start with a block of steel you’re going to lose a fortune changing out expensive heads (and take forever). So it’s fair to assume you’re not using raw materials

    • dangblingus@lemmy.dbzer0.com
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      19
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      8 months ago

      These machines are absolutely under a million dollars. You can even buy used ones right now for pennies on the dollar because a shitload of American metal shops just went out of business.

      • Xhieron@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        5
        ·
        8 months ago

        Pennies on the dollar? I don’t necessarily doubt you, but where do I get that machine for less than 10 grand?

          • grue@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            3
            ·
            8 months ago

            Hmm, that site has a very different definition of “mini mill” than I do.

          • Billygoat@catata.fish
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            2
            ·
            edit-2
            8 months ago

            I don’t understand the point of hiding the price but then having an ai bot email it when someone asks it in the comments. Just list the damn price

            • fishos@lemmy.world
              link
              fedilink
              English
              arrow-up
              2
              arrow-down
              2
              ·
              8 months ago

              Prevents bots scraping the site and either buying it all themselves or getting listed elsewhere.

              • Billygoat@catata.fish
                link
                fedilink
                English
                arrow-up
                4
                ·
                8 months ago

                I can understand that when the site is selling sneakers or a PS3 but is there a big market on scalping CNC machines? Plus I figure it would be trivial to create a bot that would create a comment on each post asking for the price so the sites bot sends the email with the price.

                • fishos@lemmy.world
                  link
                  fedilink
                  English
                  arrow-up
                  1
                  arrow-down
                  2
                  ·
                  8 months ago

                  Makes it harder for your competitors to undercut you in prices. Not impossible, just harder. Most locks are just to make something more difficult so you give up. They aren’t impossible.

                  Another likely reason is that the price varies based on material/labor cost and they don’t want a set price being advertised. The price probably dynamically varies.

        • dangblingus@lemmy.dbzer0.com
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          2
          ·
          edit-2
          8 months ago

          Ahhh just a turn of phrase. Not literally pennies on the dollar, but very cheap compared to new!

          Literally, on CNCmachines.com they sell 5 axis milling machines for as low as 50K i’ve seen. There’s also tons of auctions on cnc machines due to all of the shops closing like I said.

      • cathyk@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        8 months ago

        How much do you suppose it costs to move and set up one of these babies in a new location? I bet the sellers would be happy to have a buyer just get it out of their building.

    • jawa21@lemmy.sdf.org
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      7
      ·
      8 months ago

      This isn’t even close to a million dollar machine. Those are all at least 6 axis mill turns with full enclosures and insane software packages in the control.