SMW Shop / My NEW Hobby

[rob_b]

Thanks guys. Two weeks sounds about right Lance...

These aren't the first parts that I've done in the new shop but here are 30 DA skids currently in process.




I'm hoping to raise the bar mechanically on the lathe conversion compared to the mill. Double ball nuts, pre-loaded, for each axis is my main concern. Z has miles of room but the X is super tight. These guys are kinda like building a crawler, first one is to test the waters but the gloves come off for the second build!

[ROWDY RACING]

Originally Posted by rob_b

Thanks guys. Two weeks sounds about right Lance...

These aren't the first parts that I've done in the new shop but here are 30 DA skids currently in process.




I'm hoping to raise the bar mechanically on the lathe conversion compared to the mill. Double ball nuts, pre-loaded, for each axis is my main concern. Z has miles of room but the X is super tight. These guys are kinda like building a crawler, first one is to test the waters but the gloves come off for the second build!

I could hang that on the wall for art, beautiful!

[SkaldidDog]

Holy delrin chip storm Batman! Nice looking shop. Slap some rubber mats on the floor.

J

[stelerzman]

Sweet shop setup, I'm jealous.

[rob_b]

Need to make two of these to do the backside machining on the skids.






Some CAM programming/simulation with Inventor and HSMexpress.

No HTML in this sub forum...

Youtube Link

[rob_b]

HSM (high speed machining) toolpaths are the shit! Only had enough 1/2" 6061 for one though. Came out ok overall. I only have a 4 flute 1/4" ball mill and it clogged at one point leaving some marks. Other than that I need coolant and more rubber mats...

[rob_b]

Tittie Sprinkles

[ROWDY RACING]

I LOVE tittie sprinkles!

[supermoturd]

I'm not usually the jealous type, but... That is a seriously impressive setup. As both a mechanical engineer and a software developer, I can totally appreciate the effort and the results.

[Ty]

We use trochoidal milling a lot at the shop I work at. It's so much faster than depth cuts and end mills last forever. Plus it's fun to watch! Great looking home shop man. Keep up the good work man! Ty.

[Crawling Calvin]

dang! good work man whats your cam software for the HSM.

yeah when working in AL having an air blast at the minimum is critical! Those chips stick to anything and everything. Keep up the good work and keep us posted. Doing your own CNC conversion can be hard but totally worth it

[Hoppa]

Looking good Rob.
Sometimes I wish I had ambition.
Nah not really.

[rob_b]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the encouragement. CAD software is http://www.autodesk.com/products/aut...amily/overview with new CAM software that lives inside it http://cam.autodesk.com/hsm.php. It's really nice. Part, fixture, programming and verification all in one file with complete associativity when changes are made. They even offer a post for Mach3 that is 99% of what I need it to be. Just need to put in some time into populating the tool table.

My mill loves the constant engagement strategies. Really allows you to up the feed rates compared to the hobby class tool paths.

[Crawling Calvin]

Originally Posted by rob_b

Thanks guys, I appreciate the encouragement. CAD software is Inventor | 3D CAD Software | Autodesk with new CAM software that lives inside it Autodesk CAM Solutions - Next Generation Integrated CAM Software. It's really nice. Part, fixture, programming and verification all in one file with complete associativity when changes are made. They even offer a post for Mach3 that is 99% of what I need it to be. Just need to put in some time into populating the tool table.

My mill loves the constant engagement strategies. Really allows you to up the feed rates compared to the hobby class tool paths.

If you don't mind me asking how much was the total package? Looks tempting

[rob_b]

Well it was free to me... we use Inventor Pro at work $7300 + $1300 per year/ per seat. The CAM is free for 2.5D. I just signed up for CAM360 beta which looks to be a killer app for the price. $150 per month for 3D and FREE for 2.5D! http://cam.autodesk.com/cam.php

Edit: 3D is only $75 a month. 5 Axis is $150.

[Crawling Calvin]

Originally Posted by rob_b

Well it was free to me... we use Inventor Pro at work $7300 + $1300 per year/ per seat. The CAM is free for 2.5D. I just signed up for CAM360 beta which looks to be a killer app for the price. $150 per month for 3D and FREE for 2.5D! Autodesk CAM Solutions - Next Generation Integrated CAM Software

Wow that's expensive but ill totally check the other one out. For me HSM is cool but for the price its a little high to start but well see. Then again I use an old version of Surfcam at work and there's no HSM in it

[C*H*U*D]

Originally Posted by rob_b

Just need to put in some time into populating the tool table.

I find my tool table in Mach changes too often to bother. I have a pretty good assortment of tool holders, but my jobs vary too much to keep anything too permanent.

Very slick setup, but I want to see more progress on that CNC lathe!!

[wings_of_fire]

Originally Posted by rob_b

Well it was free to me... we use Inventor Pro at work $7300 + $1300 per year/ per seat. The CAM is free for 2.5D. I just signed up for CAM360 beta which looks to be a killer app for the price. $150 per month for 3D and FREE for 2.5D! Autodesk CAM Solutions - Next Generation Integrated CAM Software

Edit: 3D is only $75 a month. 5 Axis is $150.

Inventor pro is expensive..... but the flexibility of design it offers is excellent.

For 25k you can get Siemens NX and you only need to pay upgrading charges. We bought it when it was known as Ideas, before it was taken over by Siemens.

For CAM I use powermill. But I have to agree Autodesk products are getting better and better.

[rob_b]

Originally Posted by Crawling Calvin

Wow that's expensive but ill totally check the other one out. For me HSM is cool but for the price its a little high to start but well see. Then again I use an old version of Surfcam at work and there's no HSM in it

I was wrong on the price and edited the previous post. I think $75 is a great deal if you are selling product. If you were just playing with it for fun though...

Originally Posted by C*H*U*D

I find my tool table in Mach changes too often to bother. I have a pretty good assortment of tool holders, but my jobs vary too much to keep anything too permanent.

Very slick setup, but I want to see more progress on that CNC lathe!!

I have maybe 25-30 endmills for different applications but only 7 tool holders. So I mainly want to build the table in CAM so that I don't have to do all the feeds and speeds calcs everytime. As far as Mach3 is concerned it would be nice if there was just an easy way to clear ALL the tool offsets after a job without having to page though each one.

I started drawing up the carriage and cross slide in 3D while its apart for initial cleanup. Not much room for the X ball nuts...

[Crawling Calvin]

now that's more reasonable for me I am autocad native so for me anything like that is a walk in the park ill have to check it out.

For me I am going to use it for both farting around and making stuff hopefully