Matt,
I’ll join the chorus and say this is some very nice work. I want to especially compliment you on your styling. In this project and the repackaging of your Emotiva gear you have developed a design language that is bold and visually arresting. CNC cased hi-fi gear is quite the thing these days and you are avoiding the all too common follow the leader syndrome with too many designs looking like Jeff Roland Design Group or Ayre Acoustics Inc..
From design to process now I have a couple of questions. You may want to answer these now or just tell me “wait and see”.
Why did you complete the top, sides, and ends first and save “hogging out the bottom” until the end? To this wannabe machinist it seems you have to clamp the cases in your mill using already finished surfaces.
How do you intend to de-burr and prep the metal for finishing? Much as I love the dramatic angled fin features ending in the wave cuts it seems you could make a career out of de-burring those features and getting the mill marks off prior to anodizing. Can you just bead blast it and off to the plating shop?
Again, kudos for your design chops and craftsmanship.
Norman Tracy
Hi Norman,
I've ran this part (case) just like i would anything else i do here. You need to establish good edges and parallel/perpendicular sides. This sets you up for the best outcome. If we started with the bottom first, it would make it hard to do the sides, top and bottom, since i would need very tall vice jaws to securely hold onto the part (case).
You never want to get cornered being a machinist. The first operation is the most critical. Sometimes i sit for an hour just turning the solid model on my computer screen, which side should i do first.
I will be using 3m scotch brite pads. They are the aggressive type ones. Takes all the mill lines and machining marks off. It'll look very consistent after using these pads.
Tonight i will be starting (hopefully finishing) the last operation, which is the bottom.
Matt
