If you have a flex shaft for your Dremel and an A2Z quick change tool post, you already have all you need. While the mounting isn't ideal, it works. Ultimately I plan to machine a dedicated tool holder, but so far this has worked.

using an engraving bit to cut slots:


using a drill bit to drill offset holes:

Nice Mark.....

Neat to see What you guys are doing with your Lathes.....

What were you Making there....?

Ahhh....I knew someone would ask ;-)

My metalworking interest came out of my obsession with 1:20 scale live steam locomotives. That tiny part is a miniature valve handle. Here it is controlling the gas line on a locomotive I'm modifying:


And here is what these things look like under steam in my garden railroad:




BTW - the trees are real, the buildings are wood (windows and doors work, framed just like the real thing), bridges and trestles are just scaled down versions of the real thing (OK, I used brass not cast iron), you get the idea. The locomotives are usually purchased as kits or pre-built, but are generally heavily modified with detailing, working lights, working steam whistles, radio control, etc. Some people scratch build their locomotives, which is my goal...but for the moment I'm just kit building and modifying existing locomotives.

Thats Really cool.....is that your Backyard...?

well, my front yard actually.

Very nice Mark.....

yea you could do alot with a Mill.......

If you only knew how much time I spend swapping the milling attachment in an out on my lathe!

A buddy is trying to convince me that I should get an X3 and keep it manual, but I'm still inclined to go with the CNC Taig. I have a friend who has a large floor mill and I'm at his place most Saturdays, so I have plenty of access to a manual mill - so why not go CNC.

Now if I can just get a job or win the lottery to pay my mortgage, daughters college tuition, and all the other expenses I'd order a mill post haste!

I agree.....with CNC you are able to learn so much more,

I am on my 2nd CNC Taig Mill, in between the two I had a Super X3 and it was a Nice Machine, though it was very noisy with the geared head,

I can honestly say that the Taig can do anything the X3 can do from my Experience, except tapping, the x3 has a Button on the Handle that reverses the Spindle for tapping which was a nice feature

Good Luck to you Mark on the Job Search, Its really tough out there right now but Hopefully something comes your way soon....

Look forward to the Day when you post......My new CNC Taig Mill....

Mark,

That is some beautiful stuff there. I love the train scenes and there's a guy down the block from me who has a pretty slick setup in his side yard. Can't help but stare at the setup and think about the hours he's put into it.

Looks like yours is a beautiful little "world" in its own right. Good luck on finding that job and hopefully it comes very very soon.

Thanks for sharing as always-

Dave

Very impressive Mark, both the Trains and the Dremel attachment. Great idea that works well I see. I guess the entire motortool cound me mounted someway also. If not using a flex shaft. i'll have to look into it.

Tony

Wow, that is very cool! The pictures look like real trains/scenery!

I'd like to see a picture with a tarantula in it