High tech metalshaping...

[Doug98105]

I got a new probe system for one of my mills and was playing around to get to know it.

First picture shows a lotion bottle with a small area that was digitized.

Second picture shows the CNC control screen with the digitized path.
This was then enlarged 4 times in CAD and modified to account for spring back when used as a press form.

The lotion bottle had a seam that was barely noticeable, but when everything was enlarged 4 times it became visible, it's the faint line shown on the screen image.

The digitizer software in the control automatically generates a cutting program as it runs over the part. The same software can quickly adjust the part's size.

Third picture shows the delrin form machined from the digitized data.


Fourth picture shows a scrap of aluminum press formed over the delrin using a thick rubber pad. It takes a little trial and error to determine exactly how much adjustment the form needs to take care of spring back (this one may not be quite enough).

All told about 2 hours. A little over an hour for digitizing which is a show process, but doesn't need any operator help. The rest of the time was finding a chunk of delrin and machining it, less than 10 minutes cutting. Of that two hours, most of it was on the mill which runs unattended.


http://www.metalmeet.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=3&pictureid=7130


http://www.metalmeet.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=3&pictureid=7131


http://www.metalmeet.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=3&pictureid=7132


http://www.metalmeet.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=3&pictureid=7133

Doug

[godspeed]

Computers aren't they great:)

[oldgoaly]

Doug,
With these machines getting better it is gonna make it hard to manually shape and compete, just one of a kind things, there isn't many of them are going to be the bread and butter. With the improvements in scanning, more powerful computers wow gonna be tough for the next generation. Interesting stuff thanks for sharing it with all of us!

[Dawai]

Hi.
I built my own probe, it works for bolt centers, but crap for scanning.
Can you pm me the brand and cost, where it came from??

Thanks.

[bobadame]

Looks like metalshaping to me.

[captainkirk]

I don't know if it's "Metal Shaping"? But it certainly is very cool and anything that's very cool and very interesting is very appreciated.

(I think it applies to die construction for stamping sheet metal and therefore falls into the realm of metal shaping, and as you know anything that falls into the "Realm" is under the Kings rule and I say it applies:D)

Thanks for showing the "High tech" end of things it's nice to see how the technology is changing.


Thanks for posting

[Michael Moore]

Doug, do you have a Centroid control on your mill? The probe/screen displays look like what I see on mine.

I haven't used the probe on my Tree 425 with Centroid for much more than part positioning. I tried digitizing a fairly "organic" shape but got more data than I could shake a stick at. :)

I think for some things you can get too much data, and may be better off capturing a few X/Y splines/stations and then using surfacing software to make the rest of the surface.

A friend has a NextEngine 3D scanner and said using it to get a CAM-ready surface had a pretty steep learning curve.

cheers,
Michael

[Hairy-Neil]

I don't know if it's "Metal Shaping"? But it certainly is very cool and anything that's very cool and very interesting is very appreciated.

(I think it applies to die construction for stamping sheet metal and therefore falls into the realm of metal shaping, and as you know anything that falls into the "Realm" is under the Kings rule and I say it applies:D)

Thanks for showing the "High tech" end of things it's nice to see how the technology is changing.


Thanks for posting

I believe the 'stamping' was the pitfall in the past. However, since the same technique could be used to build a hammerform, then I for one am more than happy to embrace the process as relevant to metalshaping.

[kit]

One things for sure, I want one.
Thanks for posting it, very inspiring.

[Dawai]

SO... are you going to "start a library of shapes?"

That would be a great addition to the forum.. profiles of body lines, molding.
Then we go on to "chrome spears" profiles.. and... (still on that project here)

When I had my ancient cnc online.. I think the hackers were after my cnc programs? (Not that I ever did anything revolutionary with it.) The cnc computer is still inside the house, I moved the Harley outside yesterday, about time to put the computer back in the shop too. and run the mice out of the boxes again..

[custommetal]

And don't forget, once the cad/cam program is generated it will be in a text format so it can be edited and run on a local cabinet makers larger CNC to cut wooden buck forms. Great post.