AF Machining Forum link in the Car Modeling section?

[MPWR]

Since the recent discussion about an OT section came up, I've been thinking about another forum with regards to the Car Modeling section- machining.

A number of regular users of the Car Modeling section are machinists, who create machined parts to supplement their scale car modeleing. I suspect there are likely a number of regular users here that would be interested in machining- be it with consideration to beginning machining themselves, or just with curiousity about how machining is done.

It turns out that there is already a machining forum on AF- AF Machine Tools, in the Fabrication & Tools section. It was started more than a year ago (by members of the Car Modeling section who are machinists also). The Machining forum is obviously open to all machining discussions, whether or not they are related to scale modeling.

However the Machining forum has seen very little use. My guess is that it's largely because the forum is unknown and somewhat hidden away. (I'm not suggesting at all that it was intentionally hidden- Fabrication seems an entirely logical place to put it. It's just that it doesn't get seen very often.) Even as a machinist myself, I almost never think to check it, let alone post in it.

So I've been wondering if adding a link to it from the Car Modeling section would be useful (and used). Obviously, this would not turn the Machining forum into an exclusive Car Modeling Machining forum- nor should it. Non car-modeling machining discussions would be just as welcome as they are now. However there is a group of members here in the Car Modeling section who might well make (more) reguar use of it. I see nothing at all wrong with 'modeling machining' making up a significant portion, or even the majority of the traffic in the Machining forum. But it would be great to see some traffic stimulated in this forum, and I wonder if a link from Car Modeling would do that. It seems the link could go right about where the new link to the OT section is.

If the AF Machining forum does become home for regular scale modeling related traffic, it could offer something that would be unique (to my knowledge) on the internet. I know of nowhere else that machining with regards to scale plastic modeling is regularly discussed. In scale modeling communities, machining parts for models is a relatively obscure topic (as it generally is in the Car Modeling section here). In machining communities, 'modeling' generally refers to building funtional scale models of engines and tools. Machining parts for 'static' models is almost never discussed.

It would be nice to come to a consensus amongst the regular users of the Car Modeling section first. Generally I'm rather against changes to the Car Modeling section based on the desires/requests of a couple of members without regard to the wishes of the of the whole of the regular usership of this section. Perhaps a discussion here can be had to determine if a link would be used and appreciated. If we conclude that it would be, than perhaps AF admin could be asked to add the link.

So with that in mind, I'm curious to hear thoughts and opinions on it.

-If you are a machinist, do you think you'd be more likely to use the Machining forum if there was a link to it from here, and there was regular traffic there with interest to scale modeling machining?

-If you are not a machinist, but are 'machining curious', do you think you'd find a link to the Machining forum (and the forum itself) useful or interesting?

-If you don't have interest in machinging, do you think that you'd find another link in the Car Modeling section to be bothersome or distracting?

-Would you just rather see no further changes at all made to the Car Modeling section?

Thanks for your thoughts!

[twospirits]

Seeing the resistance the staff got from the last major change in CM, I doubt this idea will take fruit. Most of the members from what I have gathered don't want more links/subsections and alot really don't care to go outside of CM, which is a shame since as this example shows there are lots of other forums within AF that are worth looking into.

Personnally, I like the idea.

TS

[bigfrit]

Originally Posted by twospirits

Seeing the resistance the staff got from the last major change in CM, I doubt this idea will take fruit. Most of the members from what I have gathered don't want more links/subsections and alot really don't care to go outside of CM, which is a shame since as this example shows there are lots of other forums within AF that are worth looking into.

TS

Interesting, I m neither against nor for.

But hey, i have an insight,maybe.

The reason why modeler's weren't happy with the changes is because what was 1 thing, suddenly became 4 subsections. Meaning splitting up existing forums isn't neccesarily a good thing. On the other hand, adding stuff might work.

good to see people thinking

[88Porsche944]

Originally Posted by MPWR

--If you are not a machinist, but are 'machining curious', do you think you'd find a link to the Machining forum (and the forum itself) useful or interesting?


Thanks for your thoughts!

Personally I like the idea.

[MidMazar]

I think its a good idea, I'm still saving for my lathe. I personally think the more sub forums the better.

[mikemechanic]

First off thanks Andy, never even knew there was a machining section on AF.

I have a lathe but don't really consider myself a machinist. I work more trial and error than anything but would love to have a link here to the machining section. After viewing p9o1r1sche's thread of his 1/12 Ferrari I would love to learn how to do some of this stuff. It's the things like what tools to use and when that are the basics that get you laughed out of some forums for even asking. Many of the members in the modeling section are the ones that have posted in the link you gave so it only makes sense that it should be linked through here.

I will be watching the machining section a little more carefully and encourage all the members to ask questions and post thier knowledge there.

Mike

[gionc]

Originally Posted by mikemechanic

I have a lathe but don't really consider myself a machinist. I work more trial and error than anything but would love to have a link here to the machining section. After viewing p9o1r1sche's thread of his 1/12 Ferrari I would love to learn how to do some of this stuff.

1000% agree, I'll like sticked link here, look like more than 1 unknow the machining subforum, we'll have much more traffic there

[AudiS6Avant]

yes for at least a link

[Murray Kish]

Originally Posted by AudiS6Avant

yes for at least a link

ditto...

[924_CarreraGTS]

I agree. As a freshman engineering student, I am just now learning to use lathes and mills and am excited about the prospect of using a mini-lathe for model parts (which, before this class, seemed a distant dream). However, 1:1 and 1:24 machining have to be somewhat different, and I would be very interested to see what this forum's machinists have to offer in the way of instructions and advice.

[rod_k2]

Originally Posted by MPWR

-If you are not a machinist, but are 'machining curious', do you think you'd find a link to the Machining forum (and the forum itself) useful or interesting?

I'd love it,as i'm very curious on machining!!

YES!

[MPWR]

Originally Posted by 924_CarreraGTS

However, 1:1 and 1:24 machining have to be somewhat different, and I would be very interested to see what this forum's machinists have to offer in the way of instructions and advice.

Actually, there's surprisingly little difference, except that in small scale machining you're more likely to be working on fragile parts and using fragile cutting tools.

So, no objections so far? Maybe we'll give it another few days to see if anyone else has anything to add- and if it's just more of the same perhaps we can get twospirits to help us out with the link.

[klutz_100]

Just to be an awkward bugger - what would actually be the benefit of adding the link as opposed to just bookmarking the page and looking in (as I guess most people bookmark AF CM section)?

I'm not opposed to the idea at all but I am just wondering what the benefit is.

If it's going to work like TwoSpirits' link to the OT section, you don't even get to see what the latest post is....

[MPWR]

Originally Posted by klutz_100

what would actually be the benefit of adding the link as opposed to just bookmarking the page and looking in (as I guess most people bookmark AF CM section)?

I'm not opposed to the idea at all but I am just wondering what the benefit is.

Good question.

As it is, the forum is getting virtually zero traffic. Perhaps this is because of a complete lack of interest, or perhaps it's due mostly to 'out of sight, out of mind' unawareness. I'm speculating that members of the car modeling community are the group most likely to make use of the machining forum (based on it's previous use). There does seem to be interest here in machining discussions. So if a link is present, maybe it will provide a reminder and easy path for for interested car modeling users to visit the machining forum as well. It may or may not create a significant increase in traffic- but at present, people's individual bookmarks are not doing it.


Your point about seeing updated threads is a good one- that would likely help, too.

[twospirits]

Originally Posted by klutz_100

Just to be an awkward bugger - what would actually be the benefit of adding the link as opposed to just bookmarking the page and looking in (as I guess most people bookmark AF CM section)?

I'm not opposed to the idea at all but I am just wondering what the benefit is.

If it's going to work like TwoSpirits' link to the OT section, you don't even get to see what the latest post is....

^ That much is true. Creating a link will not show you the latest or last post being made in that section. Only when a sub-section is created will the posts show up. Of course, I could be wrong, either way, I'll look around to see if it can be done.


TS