Blackwell Engineering

01/24/2026

In machine automation.
Programmed by
Hardware by

11/14/2025

With your machine in manual, and keys in setting and service… pressing the ATC button will retract and orient the spindle. It will then continue to hold the spindle in position while you manually move the machine around during indication. Maybe overkill… but there’s no worry of the spindle rotating slightly and throwing off your readings.

10/20/2025

10/12/2025

Another tricky in-machine automation using spindle grippers and pneumatic vises from . This part had some unique challenges for both work holding and automated part handling.

50 pieces of stock per run. ~8 minute cycle time including automated handling. Nearly 7 hrs of lights out manufacturing.

10/09/2025

Meat robot feeding the Tormach Slant15L
#6061

05/07/2025

We don’t usually share this kind of stuff, but this is just too cool. Chrysler 8speed shifter under a stock looking B body console.

02/18/2025

Wrapping up another batch of these fancy shoes.

I was impressed by the repeatability of the Brother Speedio and Gimbel pneumatic vises. A random sampling across a run of 68 pieces indicated a maximum height deviation of .0004”. These pieces were machined over the last 3 days.

The keys to success were careful loading of Op2 and judicious spindle probe usage.

01/30/2025

The laser accessory side of Blackwell Engineering has grown to the point that it made sense to give it its own identity. Nothing has changed in regard to the quality of our products. I’m still making each part in-house with the same attention they’ve gotten since day one.

We know that we wouldn’t be where we are without the support of our faithful customers and many of you in our social sphere who promote our business and provide encouragement and mentorship.

Thank you!

12/22/2024

I’m moving high density fixture plate production to a new fixturing scheme. This massive first op fixture will support all of our current fixture plates with some room to grow. The benefits are significant for my one-man operation.

There’s no requirement to tear down a setup to move from one size plate to another. It takes about 30 seconds to move the pitbulls and talon grips to the appropriate spots for each stock size.

Additionally, the CAM setup in fusion makes use of the container system meaning that once I’ve programmed one plate, I’ve essentially programmed them all. And the root fixture plate file is parametric and configured such that creating a new size is fast and efficient.

I drew inspiration from a lot of giants in the community when developing this new workflow. Specifically, .awesome.lockwood

Oh yeah, I certainly didn’t need an incredible surface finish for a fixture plate… but look at the results from the extra long AX finisher from ! This 1.75” tall wall was finished with a 3/8” cutter!

11/02/2024

I wish I had picked one of these up sooner. was incredibly helpful. They recommended this tool for a different job but I put it to use as soon as it came in. In addition to being 40% faster than the rougher it replaced, the AX-FPS was quieter and produced a much more manageable chip.