TLDRFinally getting my watchmaking setup dialed in! 🛠️ The new lathe is a game-changer—solid, simple, and way more reliable than my last pricey mistake. With an upgraded microscope and dual screens, my space is now a hub for precision. Excited to keep pushing forward! 😎
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Watchmaker’s Corner Coming Together 🛠️
Today I spent some time giving love to the watchmaker’s lathe—a beautifully made machine by @watchmakerlathe. It’s seriously well-built and feels like it’s going to be the heart of the fine finishing process. ❤️
So far, this lathe—at a fifth of the price—has proven to be much better than the NSCNC lathe I unfortunately purchased. That one ended up feeling like a useless scam, unfortunately. This new setup? Solid, simple, and precise.
I also set up the microscope—yes, it’s a Chinese body, but I upgraded it with AmScope lenses, and paired it with two 24" screens. The result is a seriously comfy and capable workspace. 🔬💻
Bit by bit, the workstation is becoming a proper watchmaking lab. Super excited to keep refining and moving forward. 😎
TLDRToday’s project involved making four M4 clearance holes for an engine-supporting plate using Fusion 360 and ChatGPT for tool setup and speed adjustments. Even though the tool was a bit large for the Elara machine, some creative tweaks made it work smoothly, turning a simple task into a satisfying accomplishment. Small steps can lead to tangible real-world results, showing how technology and creativity can work hand in hand. 🔩
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Simple but Satisfying: M4 Clearance Holes 💡
Today I did a small but meaningful exercise—making 4 clearance holes for M4 screws on a plate that will eventually support an engine. 🔩
I modeled the part in Fusion 360, created the tool setup using the tool’s actual specs, and got help from ChatGPT to figure out the right feeds and speeds. It worked surprisingly well!
The tool I used was a bit big for the Elara, so I had to do some creative adjustments to make everything fit and run smoothly—but it held up, and honestly, I think it did a great job. 😊
Always fun to turn small steps into real-world parts!
TLDRHey, guess what? Incabloc got back to me and even suggested cool tweaks to my balance staff design, which is a huge win! 🎉 This means I'm finally on the way to creating a proper spring-shock system—super pumped for this milestone! 🚀
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Exciting News: Incabloc Replied! 🎉
I’m very pleasantly surprised—Incabloc finally replied to my inquiry! 😍 Not only did they answer, but they also suggested some awesome changes to the balance staff design, which I’m more than happy to implement.
It feels incredible to finally be on the path to having a proper spring-shock system for my balance. This is a major milestone, and I couldn't be more excited! 😄
Big step forward—woho! Onward to updating the design and bringing this movement closer to life! 🚀
TLDRRefactoring the Elara's codebase turned a few small tweaks into a major overhaul, leading to a cleaner, more efficient system that's easier to maintain. Key improvements include reducing UI clutter, correcting tool placement issues, and organizing code into a self-contained class with better version control. 🎨 The result? A more stable and organized experience that runs smoother and is easier on the eyes, thanks to some UI help from ChatGPT. 🚀
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Deep Dive: Refactoring the Elara’s Codebase 🚀
I started noticing some quirks on the Elara that I wasn’t very happy with, and what began as simple tweaks turned into a deep rabbit hole that lasted a few weeks. 🕳️😅
In the end, I ended up refactoring the entire codebase for the mill system. It was a huge learning experience—and now, I truly understand the ins and outs of the Elara.
Main Things I Didn’t Like:
Cluttered UI with lots of elements I didn’t use at all
The spindle Z-point without a tool was incorrectly placed in the air, causing negative dimensions on shorter tools
Hardcoded access to machine variables (e.g., #1229) instead of using mc constants—making Mach4 upgrades risky
Inconsistent ways of storing data (profileWrite vs RegWrite)—making it hard to know the source of truth; I simplified it
A bunch of unused macros
Lots of global variables and dead code cluttering things up
No Ui blocking functions
The module is now a self-contained class that is instantiated properly on the respective threads (UI and macro)—making everything more stable and organized
Implemented a friendly VSCode project with a proper building mechanism and version control for better maintainability and upgrades
ChatGPT even helped me reach a nice balance on UI colors, though unfortunately the Mach4 UI editor is pretty limited. 🎨
For now, it looks like this—and I’m much happier with how everything runs and feels. Clean, simplified, and way easier to maintain. Onward! 🚀
TLDRUsing new fixtures for my 50x50mm stock has revolutionized my workflow by boosting precision and consistency, especially for multi-pass setups. Big shout-out to Paul from Roysdon Watch Co. for sharing the fixture files and Dimitri from NSCNC for sending some fixtures along with the machine. It's incredible how the right tools—and people—can transform your process! 🙌
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Fixture Game Changer—Thanks Paul! 🙌
Using these fixtures that hold 50x50mm stock—in 3.175mm, 3mm, or 2mm thickness—has been an absolute lifesaver. They've brought much-needed consistency and precision to my workflow, especially for multi-pass setups. 🔧
Huge thanks to Paul from Roysdon Watch Co. for generously sharing the fixture STEP files, and also to Dimitri from NSCNC as he sent a few fixtures with the machine. 🙏
It’s amazing how the right tools—and the right people—can make such a big difference. This setup has leveled up my machining process in a huge way!
TLDRThe mainspring barrel is finally shaping up after several milling attempts, with each iteration bringing us closer to a precise, functional part. It's been rewarding to see the geometry and fit come together, though there's still some refining ahead. 🚀 If you're into craftsmanship or watchmaking, this is where the magic happens!
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Mainspring Barrel In Progress! 🔧
Today we worked on the full mainspring barrel—straight off the machine after a rough pass! It’s been a journey of 4–5 milling attempts to fine-tune tolerances and polish the details, but wow, it’s starting to look amazing. 😍
Each iteration gets us closer to a precise and functional part. Seeing the geometry come together with proper fit and finish is incredibly satisfying. Still some refining left, but it’s definitely coming to life!
TLDRAlexis just upgraded my Elara machine to hold 10 tools, thanks to his custom expansion adding 4 extra slots. This means smoother multi-tool jobs with less manual swapping, making room for more creativity. Alexis didn't just help out; he seriously leveled up my workflow, and you can check out his artistic side on Instagram too! 🙌🚀
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Tool Expansion! Huge Thanks to Alexis 🙌
Big shoutout to my friend Alexis, who during his visit made something absolutely awesome—a custom expansion that adds 4 extra tool slots to the Elara! 😍
That means I can now hold a total of 10 tools on the machine. WOW. This is going to make multi-tool jobs so much smoother, with less manual swapping and more room to experiment and refine. 🛠️
It’s always amazing when friends lend a hand and leave behind something that levels up the entire workflow. Thanks again, Alexis—this is a game changer! 🚀
TLDRBig news: The Elara machine has reached 2 micron precision on all axes, meaning it's perfectly tuned for creating intricate parts like watch components. This was achieved by solving alignment issues when rotating parts, ensuring the Z and Y axes align perfectly with the A axis. Now, they're ready to start producing high-precision components. 🚀
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2 Micron Precision Achieved! 🎉
WOW! It’s so exciting!!! We finally reached 2 micron precision on the Elara—across all three axes: X, Y, and Z! 😱
This has been a huge goal, and hitting this level of accuracy means we’re officially ready to start making parts. Every axis is now dialed in, stable, and repeatable—exactly what’s needed for micro-mechanical work like watchmaking. 🔧
The breakthrough came from fixing a tricky issue: since we’re using the A axis to mill, the part is milled, then rotated 180 degrees and milled again. That means the Z and Y axes must be absolutely centered to the A axis. Any offset—even just a few microns—causes a massive misalignment when the part is flipped. 😬
Now that the setup is truly centered and locked in, we’re ready to move forward. Time to bring some real components to life! 🚀
TLDRI've been diving into the NSCNC Lathe3 and it's been a steep learning curve, thanks to a lack of initial configuration. Setting up Mach4, tweaking Fusion 360, and modifying post processor code have all been necessary steps to get things running smoothly. While there's still a lot to master, especially clean cuts and tool centering, each experiment is a step closer to precision. 💪
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Finally Back—Learning the Lathe the Hard Way
Wow, it’s been a while since my last post! I’ve been deep in the trenches learning how to use the NSCNC Lathe3, and let’s just say—it hasn’t been plug-and-play. 😅
The manufacturer didn’t send it fully configured, so I had to learn how to set up Mach4, tweak post processor code, and fine-tune Fusion 360 just to get accurate results. It’s been intense, but I’m slowly getting there.
Still a lot to learn—especially when it comes to centering tools and actually achieving clean cuts with good tolerances. I’ve been experimenting with HSS tools for learning, but Fusion’s setup for that is a bit... strange.
Mach4 Setup
Machine configured as: "Lathe Diameter"
Tool 1: Tip placed at the center of the stock. On G54, measure XYZ, and in tool offsets, everything is zeroed.
Tool 2+:
Z → Face of stock (WCS)
X → Center of stock
In tool offsets, measure XYZ offsets
Post processor had to modify the startSpindle(), to add a hold of 1 second, to allow the change of spindle rotation and allow the motor to rest.
if (typeof startSpindle.lastDirection !== "undefined" && startSpindle.lastDirection !== spindleDir) {
writeBlock(mFormat.format(5)); // M5 - Stop spindle
writeBlock(gFormat.format(4), "P1.0"); // G4 P1 - Dwell for 1 second
}
startSpindle.lastDirection = spindleDir;}
Fusion 360 Setup
Upper Tools:
Post Turret: 104
Setup: Orientation: 0°, Spindle Rotation: CW
Holder: If it’s a -R tool → Left Handed, if -L tool → Right Handed
Lower Tools:
Post Turret: 103
Setup: Orientation: 0°, Spindle Rotation: CCW
Holder: If it’s a -R tool → Left Handed, if -L tool → Right Handed
This is what’s working so far! Still a long road ahead, but progress is being made—one cut at a time. 💪
TLDRStill tweaking the barrel arbor on test #15, and while progress is happening, perfection is elusive. Even a 0.05-degree misalignment can cause big issues, but improvements have been made with innovative setup tweaks using a digital inclinometer. In watchmaking, every tiny adjustment counts, so it’s a journey of precision and patience. 🚀
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Barrel Arbor: Test #15 and Still Going!
The barrel arbor is one of the toughest parts to machine by hand. This is test #15 on the Elara with the 4th axis, and while I’m making progress, there’s still a long way to go before it’s perfect. 😅
Axis alignment has been a serious challenge. A small misalignment of just 0.05 degrees can cause a 0.125mm Z error at 20mm from center—enough to throw everything off. Right now, we’ve gotten it down to 0.065 degrees, which is great, but still not quite where it needs to be.
That 0.06mm difference may not seem like much, but in watchmaking, it absolutely is. Every micron counts when working at this scale, and even the slightest misalignment can affect fit, function, and aesthetics.
To align the 4th axis, I added a piece of aluminum to the 3-axis fixture, flattened it, and used that as a base for the digital inclinometer (with a precision of two decimal places). Then, I mounted the fixture onto the 4th axis and rotated it until it hit 0.00. This setup has improved accuracy significantly, but there's still a little room for refinement.
Precision at this level is no joke, but every test brings new insights. Onward to the next iteration! 🚀
