CNC machine porn

Nathan the Machinist

Nathan the Machinist

KnifeMaker / Machinist / Evil Genius
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Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Feb 13, 2007
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This is really really cool. This isn't my work, I don't even know these folks, and this particular piece has no real use. But it is so cool and is sure to get some of you infected with the CNC bug (Bruce and Daniel, you really shouldn't look at this link, you're already borderline)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVJFQUL-o0s&NR=1

Be sure to view the finishing cut near the end.

I posted this once before, a while ago, but the recent CNC discussion made me remember this and I figured ya'll would like to see this too.
 
I been looking for that video again thanks Nathan!

The title should be "what lonely CNC programmers do late nights at the desk" LOL.
 
That is just plain ol' amazing. Sometimes the mechanical abilities of our species actually outshine the stupid shit we all do.

This is one of those times, to be sure!
 
That is way cool.... I love the toolpath sequencing. Man that must have taken a few hours of machine time not to mention programming. Love to see art like that. Man I'm missing the CNC I was able to use. Well no I don't I just need a new one.
 
excellent video....amazing indeed!

:thumbup:
 
Now if they made the whole figure it could become alive like Pinocchio !!
 
just cool
i needs me a mill like that
not that i could make it do that cool of stuff
guessing AL was what it was carving
 
Would be interesting to find out what the CAM program was. Doesn't look like Mastercam,..or at least not the version I use at work. I have done this kind of programming or parts before..I would however, like to use more than 3 axis to accomplish these types of projects. I have seen some of the 5 axis vids on youtube and they are amazing what they can do! Great stuff Nathan!


Thanks!


Bill
 
Chuck,

I'd estimate you're exactly right, a few hours of programming and a few hours of machining. That would take all day on my mill (which ain't five axis anyway) but that machining was hauling ass.

Bill,

I believe the program used was Tebis CAD/CAM, which is used more in Europe. Not to be put off, our home grown stuff is probably even better, I just haven't seen sexy cool demos like this for them. There is a company (in the Netherlands perhaps?) that makes a simple to use 3 axis program that mills from STL files. I wish I could remember their name because they have a free download on their website that would the a great starting place for people getting into 3D work. Anyway, they have a similar demo in four axis, but the model is a child, which I'm sure nobody thought twice about in their country, but I wonder if that would raise eyebrows here.


Butch,

Yeah, the material machined is aluminum, which finishes nice and is very forgiving of mistakes. You wouldn't see a piece of 420, H13 or P20 go quite that smooth.
 
That video is amazing !! I missed it the first time you posted

bhyde said:
..I would however, like to use more than 3 axis to accomplish these types of projects. I have seen some of the 5 axis vids on youtube and they are amazing what they can do! Great stuff Nathan!
Thanks!
Bill
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure the torso is being machined on a horizontal and fixtured to a rotary table ( technically a 4th axis, just not at the spindle ) ?? Nathan ?? :confused: ;)
 
David Wesner said:
That video is amazing !! I missed it the first time you posted



I'm pretty sure the torso is being machined on a horizontal and fixtured to a rotary table ( technically a 4th axis, just not at the spindle ) ?? Nathan ?? :confused: ;)
Click to expand...

It actually seems alot like the Horizontal that my previous employer had. (Mori Seiki SH50). Now it appears in Nathans vid that the pallet is rotating for the surfacing motion that is displayed. While I have never seen anyone at my previous employer surface on the horizontal using the pallet in this manner, I don't see why it wouldn't be possible given the right program. The CAM that I use (Mastercam) has 3 levels for milling. 2d only, 2d and one surface at a time and full 2d and 3d.


Bill
 
Many CNC horizontal mills have a rotary axis on the table for indexing a "tombstone" where four sides of a block are loaded with parts, which indexes once a side is run. They'll also sometimes load parts, or a tombstone of parts, on a "pallet" which gets loaded onto the machine. A horizontal mill with automatic pallet changer is probably the highest productivity CNC mill out there.

So, anyway, many of these mills have a rotating table. Some don't just index, but can interpolate their motion with the other controlled axis, which would technically make them a four axis mill, thought the axis is rotating around the Y axis, rather than the X axis which is what one generally thinks of as a four axis mill. Add to that a tilting head axis you have XYZ linear axis and a B and C rotary axis, so you have a five axis mill, which is a very cool thing. They can be difficult to program, in part due to possible collisions between the head and the work piece.

In a great (boring) story I'll tell you if you corner me at Blade, I once had to go down to Florida to finish some thermoform tooling a vendor had started before going out of business. It is a long (and boring) story, but, over the course of two weeks and some very long days I got to program and run a large five axis gantry router (Thermwood) for soft molds (REN tooling). The largest mold was about eight feet long. Very cool stuff.
 
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