Prototype Parts For Milling Machine
http://www.cnccncmachines.com/articles/7279/1/Prototype-Parts-For-Milling-Machine/Prototype-Parts-For-Milling-Machine.html
By Super Admin
Published on 05/18/2010
Taking an idea onto the drawing board and then producing a working model requires a few prototype parts and an open mind.
Prototype Parts For Milling Machine
Taking an idea onto the drawing board and then producing a working model requires a few prototype parts and an open mind.
The initial design of the hobby grade CNC Milling Machine was done in SolidWorks. The two parts to the mounting chassis for the spindle motor were saved as STL files and uploaded to ZoomRP.com to create the PolyJet prototyped components.
Jeff Kerr is a highly talented engineer serving the motion control industry. He runs his own company, PIC-SERVO Motion Control in Bellingham, WA.
When he got the idea for a low-cost, hobby-grade CNC milling machine it stuck with him for years. “I worked on the project during my off-time until I got a good handle on what was possible,” he said.
Like any creative person, especially those with particular technical talents, Jeff began planning the design of his machine whenever he had the time. For the hobby and craft markets he needed to keep costs low enough that an individual could afford it — less than $500. This meant that build costs had to be under control.
The motion system needed to be highly sophisticated in order to perform its allotted function, yet required a unique design and build strategy to maintain the necessary low selling price that Jeff was after. Some of the costs could be kept in check because of the materials the machine would work with.
Most hobbyists work with soft materials like machinable wax, urethane foam (butter-board), ABS, wood, soap, or similar materials. This meant that they system’s stiffness could be compromised somewhat while greater effort could be put into the accuracy of the motion system.
People who are in the craft market often work in small sizes, as well. Jewelry, egg shell carvings, decorative soaps, 2D and 3D figures, and other such crafts typically don’t need to work in sizes over a few inches in any one direction. Jeff’s hobby grade milling machine provides a working platform of 5.5” x 3.5” x 4.0”.
One of the components Jeff needed for the prototype of his milling machine was a housing for the spindle motor. “I needed the tightest tolerances possible for the mounting case because I wanted to test the milling machine for overall accuracy.” After researching the prototyping technologies available, Jeff decided to use a highly accurate PolyJet part for his initial testing.
Since Jeff designed the CNC machine in SolidWorks, it was easy for him to save the design in an STL file mode, which is compatible with rapid prototyping machines. “I chose to order my parts through ZoomRP.com for their straightforward online quoting and ordering as well as their great prices,” Jeff said. “This way I could stay on task, test the milling machine, and make any adjustments to the design that I had to make.”
ZoomRP.com took the files Jeff provided and produced the high-tolerance PolyJet parts for the project. The next day, Jeff was able to screw the halves together for his initial tests. “The great news was that the first set of parts I received were perfect,” he said. “I didn’t have to do any redesign or adjustment.”
The spindle motor runs at Dremel speeds of 15,000 rpm and above, and the motor can heat up quite a bit. The PolyJet material, although accurate, can get soft when heated. “As a final component for the production unit, that wouldn’t work, but since I only needed the components for testing purposes, everything worked out fine for the project,” Jeff says.
“Now that I know the design is right, I can decide on what material to use for the final system to be manufactured. Fortunately, ZoomRP.com also offers prototyping in sintered nylon in case I need to do another round of prototyping in a higher temperature material.”
The initial design of the hobby grade CNC Milling Machine was done in SolidWorks. The two parts to the mounting chassis for the spindle motor were saved as STL files and uploaded to ZoomRP.com to create the PolyJet prototyped components.
http://www.pddnet.com/news-solid-concepts-prototype-parts-for-milling-machine-051710/
The initial design of the hobby grade CNC Milling Machine was done in SolidWorks. The two parts to the mounting chassis for the spindle motor were saved as STL files and uploaded to ZoomRP.com to create the PolyJet prototyped components.
Jeff Kerr is a highly talented engineer serving the motion control industry. He runs his own company, PIC-SERVO Motion Control in Bellingham, WA.
When he got the idea for a low-cost, hobby-grade CNC milling machine it stuck with him for years. “I worked on the project during my off-time until I got a good handle on what was possible,” he said.
Like any creative person, especially those with particular technical talents, Jeff began planning the design of his machine whenever he had the time. For the hobby and craft markets he needed to keep costs low enough that an individual could afford it — less than $500. This meant that build costs had to be under control.
The motion system needed to be highly sophisticated in order to perform its allotted function, yet required a unique design and build strategy to maintain the necessary low selling price that Jeff was after. Some of the costs could be kept in check because of the materials the machine would work with.
Most hobbyists work with soft materials like machinable wax, urethane foam (butter-board), ABS, wood, soap, or similar materials. This meant that they system’s stiffness could be compromised somewhat while greater effort could be put into the accuracy of the motion system.
People who are in the craft market often work in small sizes, as well. Jewelry, egg shell carvings, decorative soaps, 2D and 3D figures, and other such crafts typically don’t need to work in sizes over a few inches in any one direction. Jeff’s hobby grade milling machine provides a working platform of 5.5” x 3.5” x 4.0”.
One of the components Jeff needed for the prototype of his milling machine was a housing for the spindle motor. “I needed the tightest tolerances possible for the mounting case because I wanted to test the milling machine for overall accuracy.” After researching the prototyping technologies available, Jeff decided to use a highly accurate PolyJet part for his initial testing.
Since Jeff designed the CNC machine in SolidWorks, it was easy for him to save the design in an STL file mode, which is compatible with rapid prototyping machines. “I chose to order my parts through ZoomRP.com for their straightforward online quoting and ordering as well as their great prices,” Jeff said. “This way I could stay on task, test the milling machine, and make any adjustments to the design that I had to make.”
ZoomRP.com took the files Jeff provided and produced the high-tolerance PolyJet parts for the project. The next day, Jeff was able to screw the halves together for his initial tests. “The great news was that the first set of parts I received were perfect,” he said. “I didn’t have to do any redesign or adjustment.”
The spindle motor runs at Dremel speeds of 15,000 rpm and above, and the motor can heat up quite a bit. The PolyJet material, although accurate, can get soft when heated. “As a final component for the production unit, that wouldn’t work, but since I only needed the components for testing purposes, everything worked out fine for the project,” Jeff says.
“Now that I know the design is right, I can decide on what material to use for the final system to be manufactured. Fortunately, ZoomRP.com also offers prototyping in sintered nylon in case I need to do another round of prototyping in a higher temperature material.”
The initial design of the hobby grade CNC Milling Machine was done in SolidWorks. The two parts to the mounting chassis for the spindle motor were saved as STL files and uploaded to ZoomRP.com to create the PolyJet prototyped components.
http://www.pddnet.com/news-solid-concepts-prototype-parts-for-milling-machine-051710/