What CNC parts do YOU want?
#52
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Tomorrow we finish an order of 15 brackets for a company, then 100 simple ones, then freedom to make a deal on a new machine happen.
Here are three pics of the prototype of what we are making. A few changes were made ... like the nut and washer was for mockup only ... it was replaced by a puck turned on a lathe with a lip on it and threaded in the middle.
This is all made with a manual bridgeport and lathe ... can't wait for CNC ... and with any luck 4 axis!
#54
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One way or the other a huge amount of effort would be saved ... I just made the above statement to illustrate it's more than loading a CAD drawing and pressing play ... I think lol.
What did you have in mind?
I've been thinking a lot about product design. For starters you have to have the base parts to start with. Lets take the TII/FD LIM/UIM adapter for example. I have to have those pieces to design and test fit such an adapter. I thought that maybe you offer the first one too whoever can let you borrow those parts at the cost of the raw materials only. It's an idea but it's one of many things to consider.
#55
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FD owners might be willing to pony up more for complex parts because they are all millionaires right? lol. But seriously it's always something I've kept in mind ... figure out things to make that need CNC to make but can still be offered at a low price.
#56
rotors excite me
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Nothing in particular atm, I was just throwing it out there for anyone who might want to go that route.
I've been thinking a lot about product design. For starters you have to have the base parts to start with. Lets take the TII/FD LIM/UIM adapter for example. I have to have those pieces to design and test fit such an adapter. I thought that maybe you offer the first one too whoever can let you borrow those parts at the cost of the raw materials only. It's an idea but it's one of many things to consider.
#57
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Most of the spacers are 3/4 inch already going 1 inch will not hurt anything. That would allow the flanges to be 1/4 thick with a 1/2 inch of space in between. I have been pondering this for sometime. I really dont think it would be all that difficult. Just replace the lower intake manifold studs with 1/2 inch long thread allen head bolts then tighten them down threw the hole for the upper intake manifold studs. The top holes would be slotted so a regular bolt could then be slid in and held with an open ended wrench. I dont think it would be that bad and an allen head and a regular hex head shouldnt be to difficult to fit into 1/2 inch space.
#58
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Just got home from doing more bracket work. Late night. More Tuesday.
My brother confirmed that providing your own CAD file is perfect and CAM is then used to generate the toolpaths and finally post process into the code appropriate for whatever machine your working with. Getting the CAM work done still takes time so one off pieces with a ready made CAD drawing are going to be reasonable but not "cheap".
Let's see how posting from my phone works out.
My brother confirmed that providing your own CAD file is perfect and CAM is then used to generate the toolpaths and finally post process into the code appropriate for whatever machine your working with. Getting the CAM work done still takes time so one off pieces with a ready made CAD drawing are going to be reasonable but not "cheap".
Let's see how posting from my phone works out.
#59
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12-16 hour days of helping my brother are over ... for now haha. I've been spending long days and nights in my bother's garage machining brackets for robotic laser welders for a company here in Georgia. The deadline was very short. We built 10 full units and 5 partial (6 full units were delivered a few days before the pics below so only 4 are pictured). Most of the parts are milled from solid blocks of aluminum and two of the pieces are turned from stainless steel. I thought I might post a few pics and such for those who dork out on stuff like this.
This video show an automatic tapping head ... once the tap pulls on the bottom the mechanism inside reverses the tap and goes double speed back out. Also shows the VFD (variable fequency drive) which allows speed control. You can see it trying to compensate for the load as the numbers change.
(CLICK FOR VIDEO)
This video didn't turn out too well but it is of my brother plowing through a chunk of aluminum to hog out most of the metal in the middle. These aren't finish cuts only mass removal. If you can spot the lathe (it's greenish) in the videos you win ... it's what I used 75% of the time to turn down stainless steel pins and pivot 'pucks'.
(CLICK FOR VIDEO)
THUMBS (click for bigger pics)
This video show an automatic tapping head ... once the tap pulls on the bottom the mechanism inside reverses the tap and goes double speed back out. Also shows the VFD (variable fequency drive) which allows speed control. You can see it trying to compensate for the load as the numbers change.
(CLICK FOR VIDEO)
This video didn't turn out too well but it is of my brother plowing through a chunk of aluminum to hog out most of the metal in the middle. These aren't finish cuts only mass removal. If you can spot the lathe (it's greenish) in the videos you win ... it's what I used 75% of the time to turn down stainless steel pins and pivot 'pucks'.
(CLICK FOR VIDEO)
THUMBS (click for bigger pics)
Last edited by FCguy; 10-07-11 at 12:38 PM. Reason: link failure
#65
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Haven't looked at the thread in a bit ... been sick as a dog. Indeed I'm in Georgia. My brother is in Dallas (Georgia, not Texas), and I'm down in PTC. He recently lost out on an EBAY bid for a nice CNC. Continuing the search for a good deal. My brother stays VERY busy so I have to try and poke and prod him about keeping up the hunt. With 3 kids (one type one diabetic), Halloween, the oldest's birthday, a day job, and a retaining wall to finish in the back yard ... it's pretty hard to keep him looking for a nice VMC.
Any news will be posted here ... once one is acquired I'll have to scour the forum rules ... It wont be an official business so I'm not sure if I'd need to get set up as an official vendor or not.
Any news will be posted here ... once one is acquired I'll have to scour the forum rules ... It wont be an official business so I'm not sure if I'd need to get set up as an official vendor or not.
#66
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It's official ... my bother just wired money to buy a 1991 HAAS VF-1 vertical machining center. It's a smaller travel/table than he or I would have liked but it was too good a deal to pass up.
We thought at first we would go get it ourselves but considering the price of fuel and the danger of making a 24 hour cannon ball run from Georgia to Ohio he decided having it LTL shipped was a much smarter move.
The machine already comes with some tooling which adds to the pretty nice collection my brother already has going. IIRC it has a 16 position tool changer and is ready for a fourth axis ... only requiring an indexer.
Now we need to work out minor details and actually get the thing down here. We must prepare to receive it (have proper space cleared for it), get a bigger phase converter (it runs on 3 phase and this is in his house so you have to MAKE 3 phase), and sort out what software suite(s) to use.
I'm getting amped about this and need to scour the rules. I want to post a similar "what cnc parts do you want on your X gen" but don't want to get in trouble for copy posting.
We thought at first we would go get it ourselves but considering the price of fuel and the danger of making a 24 hour cannon ball run from Georgia to Ohio he decided having it LTL shipped was a much smarter move.
The machine already comes with some tooling which adds to the pretty nice collection my brother already has going. IIRC it has a 16 position tool changer and is ready for a fourth axis ... only requiring an indexer.
Now we need to work out minor details and actually get the thing down here. We must prepare to receive it (have proper space cleared for it), get a bigger phase converter (it runs on 3 phase and this is in his house so you have to MAKE 3 phase), and sort out what software suite(s) to use.
I'm getting amped about this and need to scour the rules. I want to post a similar "what cnc parts do you want on your X gen" but don't want to get in trouble for copy posting.
Last edited by FCguy; 10-26-11 at 12:23 AM. Reason: more content
#70
Rotary Enthusiast
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how about a cup holder that bolts in the same way the power fc handheld does? i would buy that in a heartbeat
Lloyd
I hate not having a cup holder. Is it was nice AL I would pay good money for one. It would have to fit the drive thru cups.
A self tenisoner for the belts. It is a pain to have to reset that every 100 miles or so. maybe something that pushes the Alt up.
Lloyd
I hate not having a cup holder. Is it was nice AL I would pay good money for one. It would have to fit the drive thru cups.
A self tenisoner for the belts. It is a pain to have to reset that every 100 miles or so. maybe something that pushes the Alt up.
#71
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It won't be shipped down right away. A rigging crew still needs to be found/arranged here in GA. The rigging company in Ohio will be storing it for the time being.
Some pictures. (It needs a good wash down)
This is the tool changer on the left and the head on the right.
The pendant.
NASA must have built this O.o
Included tooling that will add to my brother's already nice collection.
Some pictures. (It needs a good wash down)
This is the tool changer on the left and the head on the right.
The pendant.
NASA must have built this O.o
Included tooling that will add to my brother's already nice collection.
#73
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Anyone know any good rigging companies that move this thing? Location is Dallas Georgia ... prob need to go to regional forum and ask. Already have the Ohio rigging company set up.
#74
Red Pill Dealer
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You better make sure that 20 yr old machine works well or you're asking for trouble. HAAS is a medium quality machine at best. Have you seen it run?