Re: DBUG> DataCAD: CNC Sunflower Grille

[James Horecka <jhorecka@verizon.net>]

David,

Yep. The fellows who did the metalwork also do stone, I believe. Kinda doesn't matter to them.

When I first asked if they could handle half-inch steel, the guy's answer was, "We cut half-inch steel all day long."

We chose aluminum as it won't rust through the powder coating.

By contrast: The other iron fabricator on the job, who supplied some "old school" decorative "wrought iron" scrolls and such, installed his work the very same day as I installed my Sunflower Grille. Much gnashing of teeth, heavy lifting, fit problems, etc. And, to boot, by the next morning, his painted ironwork was ALREADY exhibiting signs of rust in several areas. After just ONE night of exposure!

The CNC-machined billet aluminum grille was light as a feather, installed in a flash, and the aluminum won't rust through the powder-coated finished that was applied under carefully-controlled factory conditions.

Anyway, neat stuff. CAD-driven precision and speed. Super sweet. Come up with a design, e-mail it, pick it up, install it.

This kind of thing is making work easy and broadening horizons for "MAKERS," by the way. There are more and more outfits now that cater to the one-off part. If a regular guy needs a special part for a contraption he is making, he just draws it up and the finished part arrives UPS. Done.

Take the Puppy Mover Monorail, for example. There are a bunch of parts in there that are unique animals, which I designed, drafted, then sent off to a machinist. He used his fancy equipment to create the CNC-machined billet aluminum precision parts that I required. Four custom bogies and a bunch of pillow blocks. Exactly what I needed, from my CAD drawings. Correct the first time. Yes, I could have made them in my own workshop. But his machines did them better and faster.

In short, just about whatever we can think up these days we can have made.

Here's a true anecdote from just yesterday: A client was asked by a visitor, "How on earth did you get that curved beam?" (referring to a somewhat large custom curved timber). The Owner's response: "I wrote a check." It's pretty much that simple. Come up with the idea, shoot it off to the people that specialize in that sort of thing, wait a short time, take delivery, write a check. GRIN. Might cost a little bit, but compared to doing wild work all yourself or worse, NOT doing interesting stuff, well, you know.

MAKE IT!
 
James Horecka, AIA
Architect

PS: Which reminds me: I was pretty disappointed that ZERO DataCAD Users visited me at the Maker Faire this year. I met several UdderCAD users, tho, and Sketch-Up seems to be gaining a following. I don't know the final attendance figures for the Maker Faire. I heard that 60,000 visitors were projected. Of those, I only met a scant few who, in discussions, demonstrated basic math knowledge. And, happily, one gent who knew and appreciated the numbers behind all this.
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