Engineering student learning new tools
 

I am a mechanical engineering student going to Iron Range Engineering in Virginia MN, IRE focuses on project based learning. We work on semester long projects that are with real world clients on real projects. We have a pretty well equipped shop to work on projects and to learn how machines work.

I already have experience with a manual mill, but I would like to learn all of the tools in the shop.

So far I've learned about 3d printing, laser cutting, and using a water jet. Any tips anyone can give would be appreciated.

These are the machines we have access to. A manual mill, cnc mill, cnc lathe, a desktop cnc mill, laser cutter, 3d printer, and a water jet.

Re: Engineering student learning new tools
 

Here are some pictures of the machines in the shops.

manual mill
http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/p...psu45kvwkg.jpg

stratasys objet 30pro 3d printer
http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/p...pssl0t9qzx.jpg

milltronics cnc lathe
http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/p...psslzkwgm3.jpg

Roland MDX-540 Desktop cnc mill
http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/p...psxmqkuufw.jpg

http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/p...psckjkzi6q.jpg

milltronics cnc mill
http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/p...psgvagvx60.jpg

Stratasys uprint se plus
http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/p...pssbckaky2.jpg

Flow water jet
http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/p...psiiiwycke.jpg

Universal laser laser cutter
http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/p...psoz1panl2.jpg

Re: Engineering student learning new tools
 

Here are some projects I have done so far.

I started with the water jet. I drew up a weld on bead-lock for a 15in wheel.
this is the design I came up with,
http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/p...pskzehphcc.jpg

I put it in to the water jet computer with the weld on ring.
http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/p...pstqc7kebh.jpg

Here it is getting cut out
http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/p...psolmptkph.jpg

I have not had the chance to weld them on and test them out yet, but they look good.

Re: Engineering student learning new tools
 

Then I started to do RC stuff.

I have a design for a Jeep FC cab that I can cut out the parts on the laser cutter.
This is my first test with cardboard.
http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/p...pse1miwhym.jpg

All I have to do is buy some styrene and cut layers of each side and put it together"thumbsup"

I also have been cutting test chassis frame rails out of .1in acrylic to test suspension locations for tube chassis. I don't have any pictures of these, but it works well to test different ideas.

Then I started to play with the 3d printer. I used Harley's 4 cylinder engine 3d design on the Stratasys uprint se plus. It worked very well and now all I have to do is paint it and buy some screws to put it together, so thanks Harley."thumbsup"

http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/p...psm74b4owr.jpg

http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/p...psxsehveag.jpg

Re: Engineering student learning new tools
 

Dude, you are gonna have tons of fun using that equipment. I'm a software engineer who works with lots of mechanical engineers so I'm not using this stuff but I hear about it a lot. Makes me jealous sometimes.

Re: Engineering student learning new tools
 

Now we get caught up to today. I drew up a quick rear four-link bracket for a scx10 in solid-works and brought it to our Roland cnc mill. I did this for a few reasons. I dont know G-code yet, and we have a cam software Esprit(sp?) but I am still trying to learn it. The Roland's software converts a stl file to a file that it can use. In the program you can set support pieces so it will be held in without fixtures. It is also 4axis so it will flip the part without me having to do it my self.

http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/p...psagwsmgxj.jpg

http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/p...psjgu8g9tf.jpg

http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/p...psiaas2uuj.jpg

http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/p...psk3cluin6.jpg

http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/p...psqe6n1vkb.jpg

Here it is after the program was done.
http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/p...ps7zdmhexq.jpg

The next thing I want to try is to make bead-lock wheels for RC Crawlers. I'm just waiting on some SLW hubs for measurements and then I can finish designing some wheels.

The first thing I am going to try is to cut them out of wood on the Roland with a piece of 4x4 to see if I can do all of the wheel on it or if I have to use the larger CNC mill and Lathe.

If anyone has any helpful tips about programming cnc machines it would be much appreciated.

The programs we have are solid-works, Bend-tech SE, and Esprit(sp?). We are looking it to getting master cam instead for our cam software. I also would like to learn G-code but don't know where to start.

If anyone has any cool ideas I can try on any of the machines let me know, I want to get more use out of these to get more experience.

Thanks"thumbsup"

Re: Engineering student learning new tools
 

Thanks, Its allot of fun to be able to have access to all this equipment 24/7"thumbsup"

Re: Engineering student learning new tools
 

been using these toys and then some for almost 40 yrs. for me its just a big play ground.

Re: Engineering student learning new tools
 

Today I tried to cut out part of a 1.9 bead-lock, just with a hollow center section, on the roland CNC mill with wood. It cut alittle off after it rotated to cut the other side; I think this was becasue I was just off center when I put it in the fixture.

My main problem is trying to get the program to use more then just the bit that is in the machine. It has a tool changer that can hold 4 tools. Right now it has a 1/4" ball endmill, 1/4" endmill, 1/8" ball endmill, and a 1/32" endmill.

It will only recocgnize the 1/4" ball endmill for the part and it should use the 1/8" and 1/32" endmills also becasue of the bead slot and the holes that will be tapped for m3 screws.

The program is SRP Player, it is the cam program that came with the Roland MDX-540 cnc mill.

Also when I mill out the bead-lock it leaves supports to the excess material, here is an example
http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/p...ps7zdmhexq.jpg

So my question is, if I cut it out with a band saw and leave some nubs, can I chuck the wheel in sideways to finish triming the shape and take excess weight out of it, like a slot around the middle like most wheels have. Would that work?

Any tips or help would be appreciated"thumbsup"

Re: Engineering student learning new tools
 

I like the idea of using wood for a medium while you are learning. Spindle speeds and feeds can be run very fast and the tooling will last a much longer time by cutting wood instead of aluminum. "thumbsup"

Re: Engineering student learning new tools
 

Yup, that was the idea, plus wood is cheap when I mess up:mrgreen:

Re: Engineering student learning new tools
 

Even though I have no clue on how to use these machines, its like nerd porn for me. I love it

Re: Engineering student learning new tools
 

Very cool. Just got back into machine shop work.

I'm currently running and programming 4 axis (2+2) laser cutters. .

Also just started on our new machine. Tsugami Swiss turn with laser head. We don't have cam software yet, I've been eyeing part maker. Suppose to be getting some info on it.

Anyways, if the tooling code is similar to the lathes like the Swiss I'm on. Say if we wanted to use tool 31 it's called out in the program T3131 or 7 is T0707.

Hoping you're still working on this stuff, get all the experience you can while it's available to you.

Re: Engineering student learning new tools
 

Thanks for the comments guys"thumbsup"

I have been working on some small projects at home getting them ready to put on the machines in a few weeks when I get back from summer break."thumbsup"

I hope to have more updates in a week or 2.

Re: Engineering student learning new tools
 

Man you got the nerd playground there dude :shock:8)! I like the idea of testing on cheap material before going to use the real deal. Saves time and $! I do the same thing with my 3D printer. Toss the part in using some cheap filament I don't like to check the part works and then make it in the real deal after.

Pro tip with wood... don't spin the tools super fast and then feed real slow. Something called fire follows soon after :lmao: at the trade school I was working at we had a problem where students would like to run their RPM's real high and feed real slow. Smoke and us running over to put the fire out before the smoke detectors went off soon followed :shock:

All I can say is learn as much as you can right now as if you try and start your own company it will pay off later 8) plus nothing looks better for a portfolio than a bunch of really neat looking projects you came up with yourself :)

Re: Engineering student learning new tools
 

That's very cool Josh and some very impressive equipment that you have to work with. I thought you might be partying and chasing those Finlander girls. ;-)

Re: Engineering student learning new tools
 

very impressive keep up the learning :-)

Re: Engineering student learning new tools
 

That's very cool Josh and some very impressive equipment that you have to work with. I thought you might be partying and chasing those Finlander girls. ;-)

Re: Engineering student learning new tools
 

I've been using part maker for about 6 years now. It's top notch for swiss work.

Re: Engineering student learning new tools
 

Good to hear. Yeah we have some other machines it supports as well, it would be nice to shed some programs


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