This is super cool!

[Preen59]

It may not interest some of you, but this kind of stuff really impresses me.

This is (basically) how all billet blocks/heads etc are made.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsmiIeAkE-o

[Rocket36]

As impressive as that is, casting is still the best way to make an engine block. If machining was better, companies like Ferrari would do it. As some of the comments indicate, this is usually done as a demo of what the machine can do. Parts are machined that way, but not whole engine blocks (usually).

Check this out... Just the effort they put into the moulds is AMAZING!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdcoVurVY30 (and equally impressive as a good cnc machine)

[Tim]

that is crazy stuff. I can only imagine how long it would take to program the machine to do something as intricate as that.

[Preen59]

As impressive as that is, casting is still the best way to make an engine block. If machining was better, companies like Ferrari would do it. As some of the comments indicate, this is usually done as a demo of what the machine can do. Parts are machined that way, but not whole engine blocks (usually).

Check this out... Just the effort they put into the moulds is AMAZING!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdcoVurVY30 (and equally impressive as a good cnc machine)

No, they cast stuff because it has to have a water jacket. ALL (main game/big show) Nitro engines run billet blocks, heads and cranks. It's more consistent and easier to repair.

The only advantage of casting is grain flow. That has pretty much been made worthless by the quality and purity of billet materials these days. Most racing cranks these days are billet machined on a mill with a rotary axis and then ground etc.

[Greg Roles]

I've jizzed my pants...

[Preen59]

that is crazy stuff. I can only imagine how long it would take to program the machine to do something as intricate as that.

It's all done with conversational CAD programming. You don't have to physically sit down and go

M03S3500
G00Z200.
X225.Y150.
G01Z175.5F200
G02X101.36Y53.2I-1.73J-22.87

Etc etc.

I've jizzed my pants...

Yeah.. But what about the video!

[Jarred]

super cool it is indeed! in fact it's pretty incredible!

[roccodingo]

It's all done with conversational CAD programming. You don't have to physically sit down and go

M03S3500
G00Z200.
X225.Y150.
G01Z175.5F200
G02X101.36Y53.2I-1.73J-22.87

+ the other 240,000 lines of command...

All fine if your running a newer machine tool and software

[Preen59]

+ the other 240,000 lines of command...

All fine if your running a newer machine tool and software

Exactly my point.

There's no way in hell i could do a mould contour program etc like what i do at work. Waaaay too much maths and way too many command lines. Some of the simpler stuff i write in code is bad enough. Especially when you start doing mid program tool changes etc. First dry run is always hairy. haha.

[Mrk_Mickey]

I remember this video, I saw it a while back...I drooled the whole time; it was amazing!

...and it still is!

[GoLfMan]

Exactly my point.

There's no way in hell i could do a mould contour program etc like what i do at work. Waaaay too much maths and way too many command lines. Some of the simpler stuff i write in code is bad enough. Especially when you start doing mid program tool changes etc. First dry run is always hairy. haha.

first run always is hairy, especially with a one off part!

Love the 5 axis machining! Something I havent done yet, still getting my head around 3 axis

what CAD/CAM software do you run at work???

I know we'd be pretty lost without Powermill. Such a capable software, rarely gets it wrong!

[mk3pete]

that was truly awesome
hehe and i thought i was good with my 1980s bridgeport with auto feed at work

[Preen59]

first run always is hairy, especially with a one off part!

Love the 5 axis machining! Something I havent done yet, still getting my head around 3 axis

what CAD/CAM software do you run at work???

I know we'd be pretty lost without Powermill. Such a capable software, rarely gets it wrong!

Yes it's quite the art form really. Because our big Cincinnati CNC machining centre is only 3 axis i've had to do 4 setups on before on parts that had to be machined on all 4 sides. This creates it's own problems, especially when some of them are like 1400mm long..

We use Fidia Himill. To be honest it's pretty old, quite limited and pretty crap. You really need to know what you are doing and have your wits about you or it will do some funky stuff with programs. I snapped the odd cutter working that out.

The other problem is that the big girl has so much grunt, if you screw something up it doesn't slow down. It machines whatever is in the way!

I can take 15mm cuts with a 40mm diameter 2 tipped cutter at ~5500rpm, 3500mm/min feed in aluminium. That makes a huge mess and a lot of noise. The engineers are too scared to come near the machine! hahahahahaha!




That little gap in the chips on the floor behind the controller is where i was standing.

[Peter Jones]

Love it.

I was just reading about the Pama Speedram 4000 (Floor type boring/milling machine) in the trade press.

x-travel of 10,000mm and y travels of 6500mm. 25t capacity

You could mill up a Golf! Hell you could probably knock out a Crafter!

THe M150 Millturn is pretty cool too - 6 NC axes, bed length of 8m with a working diameter of 1.5m.

Think I missed my calling.

For the record, I also like pick and place robots and NC waterjet cutters.

EDM machines are way cool and any pneumatic stuff by Festo is bordering on voodoo.

Of course I can't use any of it, but I can't fly fighter jets either and they're cool too.

Pete

[GoLfMan]

I can take 15mm cuts with a 40mm diameter 2 tipped cutter at ~5500rpm, 3500mm/min feed in aluminium. That makes a huge mess and a lot of noise. The engineers are too scared to come near the machine! hahahahahaha!

Man I wound up our lill' Cin Cin to 7000rpm (8000rpm limit!), 3000mm/min, 7mm cuts with a 3 tipped 50mm cutter... man it was humming! The teacher in the next room asked when the racket was going to stop! haha