Thomas Martinez

So you see a shiny new fillet weld and think: nice big leg = good strength. This is where danger of structural steel begins. That … Read more

The sound was right. There’s that particular noise that tells you something ain’t quite right. No, it wasn’t a crash. It was just the familiar … Read more

Ever watch a CNC machine cut out a smooth piece of MDF only for that cut to go coarse? You didn’t change anything on your … Read more

When you burn out an oak board instead of cutting a neat groove in it, it teaches you something about physics. And that blackened, charred … Read more

Speed makes all of the difference between a sharp tool and a destroyed one. Yes, you might own the worlds best carbide end mill but … Read more

There’s nothing like hearing a bad cut. When it sounds like your drill bit is rubbing metal together, you know that the bit (and probably … Read more

When a carbide end mill rubs steel at an improper speed, there’s a certain sound. It is a high pitched squeal which typically indicate a … Read more

When you have a plasma cutter humming along it has a distinctive tone. Kind of like a jet plane idling on the tarmac. A nice, … Read more

If you’ve ever had a tap break off in a newly drilled hole, you know what I’m talking about. If an operator doesn’t understand how … Read more

When a drill is doing its job well, you know it by the smell of hot metal and cutting fluid. That means you’re getting somewhere. … Read more

Silence is golden on a good-running wire EDM floor. It is not silent void of unoccupied space. It is the almost inaudible sound of dielectric … Read more

First you imagined what this place would look like after. Then it was off to building supply yard with plenty of decisions ahead of you. … Read more

Don’t guess your feed rate… This will both dull your tool and damage your wood. Burning toast smelling wood and a screaming spindle are signs … Read more

How fast does the extruder move? That’s the question we’re trying to answer here. If you’ve printed before, I’m sure you’ve seen this happen: Your … Read more