alt.machines.cnc
In 2005, this haven for machining gurus and novices remains the “big daddy” of them all. Our description of “AMC” from 2001 still holds true: “(it) is at once informative, confusing, entertaining, coherent, obnoxious and just plain fun … (it) sounds like a shop floor.” But make no mistake—amidst the din of occasional political and personal bickering beat the hearts of helpful, knowledgeable (if not always compassionate) professionals who will cut through any hype and provide honest answers and advice to all reasonable queries. AMC is one of the Internet’s most active newsgroups. The expert participants and immediacy of this group alone make it a valuable resource; its worth as a searchable repository of information (http://groups.google.com) and as a channel to initiate communications with its substantial community of "lurkers" propel it to "must-have" status as a machining professional’s research tool.

CADchat
This relatively new entry to the manufacturing-related forum field offers several product-specific forums for computer-aided design software programs, including Solidworks, UGS, Autodesk and others. Each separate product forums contains subforums for tips & tricks, programming, 3rd party apps and other related topics.

CNC Tech Talk Forum
This forum is run by Mike Lynch, president of CNC Concepts, who contributes his CNC Tech Talk column to Modern Machine Shop, and is an all-around CNC guru. The Tech Talk Forum is relatively new; its volume of activity may not be of the caliber of other machining forums you’ll encounter. But this forum means business, and it backs that up with quality of activity and the gentle, guiding force of Mr. Lynch. This tool deserves a spot on your bench.

CNCzone
This formidable Web site is more of a collection of forums for machining research than a single entity, as it is broken into several categories including Metalworking Machines, Processes and Solutions, CAD/CAM Software, Used Machinery, and more. Some forums on “the zone” may not relate directly to you as a professional; some are directed to hobbyists or woodworking folks. But the activity in metalworking’s sweet spots defines its value. The resident search is very useful, and moderators are assigned to categories. Also valuable are sectors dedicated to specific models of machines and software. This site is well worth a bookmark for future reference.

Mfgx
Mfgx is currently (04/07) in the beta stage and, as such, much of it is being refined at this point. The current phase offers some relatively standard online fare, including forums, job posting utilities (you can post or review as an employer or prospective employee), and a marketplace for posting equipment for sale. What distinguishes Mfgx from previously launched manufacturing sites are its community tools that allow for the creation of personal or corporate profiles (think MySpace for manufacturers) and a manufacturing Wiki, wherein technical content is submitted, edited and policed by the Mfgx community at large. (Not familiar with what a "Wiki" is? Check out Wikipedia for the perfect example of this model.) According to sources at the company, Mfgx was launched and is maintained as a free service by Mfg.com.

MMS Online Forums
Our forums at MMS Online have been around for quite a while, and they may complement your research into products or processes. The MMS forums are also broken down into categories for convenience, and all forums are searchable.

Practical Machinist
This forum is one rockin' spot for machinists and manufacturers. In short order, it has expanded to offer topics that serve interests from machining disciplines to CAD/CAM to antiques to used models to business issues and everything in between. Registration is required, but worth the effort. An excellent resource to add to your online research options.