Re: CNC Milling
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BPaige</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Don't let these guys scare you off.
Here is the low down on cnc machining.
Good starter machines are available from mori seiki, mazak, or mitsububishi. Might want to look at some of the german machines too. I hear the krauts know a thing or two about machine tools.
Tooling and fixturing isn't that big of a deal, ts drills and a good set of eabco endmills will get you rolling. Don't worry about carbide or kubs,kentips, or other high speed tooling. The tool company's are just trying to get more money out of ya. The slower you drill/bore a hole, the better finish you'll get. That's what people want, pretty parts. How can you expect to get a good finish when you r tool is moving 500 sfm?!
People like to talk a lot about fixtures and workholding, in reality most shops over think these things. They build elaborate expensive fixtures and they can only use them for one part. I prefer a vise set up, quick and easy. Throw some parellels in there ( bar stock works fine too ) put your part in the vise and clamp her down. Sometimes you have to use a cheater bar to get it sucked down nice and tight . Wilton is my brand of choice, but kurt or parlec will do in a pinch.
As far as engineering and programming goes there ain't much to it. Just get yourself a handy damn cmm or renshaw probe and tear your bushmaster down to barebones and copy their design. See you're halfway there to making chips!
Now 'member what those numbers were that you took off the bushmasterand draw up your part in whatever CAM program you like. I prefer to do mine in MS paint but some machines don't like that program so you have to use gibbs or mazatrol or mastercam or whatever.. they're all the same some just cost more than the others. There might be some little differences, but nothing that really sets one apart from the others.
Now that you've got your part programmed and in the machine, tools are loaded, offsets and workshift is in you're ready for the big show....
Green for go and go get yourself a nap in while your new machine does the turnen' and burnen'! Don't worry about having to watch it work, you wrote the program and cam programs never need to be single stepped, offsets are always right, tools don't wear, and speeds and feeds never need to be revised.
Happy machining </div></div> Please tell me your kidding. You are kidding , right?