Metalworking Class

CGW has been running monthly classes, and last month’s was machining. Jeff walked members through the methods used on the two machines at the heart of the metal shop: the manual milling machine and the lathe.

Those two machines are what turn “I need a part that does not exist” into a part. The mill cuts flat faces, slots, pockets and holes in a solid block. The lathe turns round things: shafts, bushings, knobs, and anything else that needs to be true about its axis. Between them they cover most of what a small shop needs to make in metal, and they are the reason members can repair equipment that stopped being sold decades ago.

Machining is also the area where knowing what you are doing matters most. Both machines require a sign-off from the zone lead before you use them alone, which is exactly what classes like this one lead to.

Want to learn the mill or the lathe yourself? See the metal shop page for what is in the zone and what training involves, then watch the events calendar for the next session. You can also just come by on a Thursday evening and ask for a demonstration.