5 AXIS: Milling a helmet out of sold aluminum

[jbmass]

This is cool. I just cant seem to embed the video here.

From the knee slider:

The video below from Daishin Seiki Corporation, demonstrates the capabilities of a 5 axis milling machine turning a solid piece of aluminum into a motorcycle helmet used as a showpiece for a European exhibition. The machine simply turns the workpiece around to get access to every conceivable spot and the end result is an intricate and precise piece with all of the detail you could possibly expect. There was obviously some excellent programming involved, but once done, this type of work could be repeated over and over with equal precision.

http://thekneeslider.com/archives/20...-capabilities/

[fineout]

we have 2 5 axis machines at my work, a HAAS and an Okuma, we used to have to do 4 operations on different machines on some of our parts and now can do it on one. They are so awesome to watch work.

[Tricky Mike]

Further proof that I am a hack machinist and that the robots WILL eventually kill us all.

[obsolete]

Further proof that I am a hack machinist and that the robots WILL eventually kill us all.

I don't think you're a hack but the robots will kill us regardless of your machine skills.

[DZircher]

So awesome, what a fabricator's dream machine

[Rada]

It takes an above average programmer using above average software to turn out code for a job like this?

Truly impressive work to say the least!!!

[Tricky Mike]

I don't think you're a hack but the robots will kill us regardless of your machine skills.

Thanks bud ... Just don't be standing between me and the exit when the robots attack if you know what I mean...

[obsolete]

Thanks bud ... Just don't be standing between me and the exit when the robots attack if you know what I mean...

You can't run from the robots.

[Tricky Mike]

I don't have to outrun the robots...

[obsolete]

Are you a robot?

[jasnmar]

I don't have to outrun the robots...

I'm not sure that the rules that apply to bears also apply to robots. What makes you think that the people you are faster than will slow it down?

[Tricky Mike]

I can only hope that I'm faster than Alex (debatable) and that the robots will care (also debatable).
In either case we're all gonna die.

[joeswamp]

What I wanna see is a five axis arbitrary sheet metal forming machine. The kind where you feed in a CAD file and it spits out a Jaguar D type aluminum tub, ready for painting.

[Pigman]

That is Awesome....

[soofle616]

It takes an above average programmer using above average software to turn out code for a job like this?

Truly impressive work to say the least!!!

Mastercam/gibbs cam/or any number of other mainstream packages will do this with "relative" ease. Granted I've never spent any time with the software but we have mastercam at one of our facilities and have used it to program our 4 axis machines. Having the software requires some machining skills but mostly just experience with the software to get the program right. You feed a solid model into it and tell it what machine you have and what tools are loaded into it. There's some manual pick and place operations from there but the CAM package pretty much does all the work for you.

What I wanna see is a five axis arbitrary sheet metal forming machine. The kind where you feed in a CAD file and it spits out a Jaguar D type aluminum tub, ready for painting.

Dunno about arbitrary forming but CNC sheet metal is definitely around. It's been a great addition to the rapid prototype industry because you feed the machine a program and a piece of sheet stock and it will bend pretty much anything. Granted we're talking bending not forming but it's still pretty cool

[Garandman]

Mastercam/gibbs cam/or any number of other mainstream packages will do this with "relative" ease. Granted I've never spent any time with the software but we have mastercam at one of our facilities and have used it to program our 4 axis machines. /l

Simultaneous five axis? IKFDI. That's the effort of a talented programmer, a high-end product and I'd guess two to five days of programming time.

You could just take the CAD model of the helmet, output an STL file, process it in a couple of minutes, and build it out of plastic on a 3D printer. Which is why most sports helmet manufacturers have them....

The third industrial revolution.

But yes, screw the zombies and look out for drones and robots. Also, people who don't believe in snow tires, and drunks.

[Rada]

Mastercam/gibbs cam/or any number of other mainstream packages will do this with "relative" ease. Granted I've never spent any time with the software but we have mastercam at one of our facilities and have used it to program our 4 axis machines. Having the software requires some machining skills but mostly just experience with the software to get the program right. You feed a solid model into it and tell it what machine you have and what tools are loaded into it. There's some manual pick and place operations from there but the CAM package pretty much does all the work for you.

I am a Gibbs programmer and have done some pretty complicated stuff. The helmet job as Garandman stated is something that will challenge even the best programmers working with very good software.

The software is only as good as the monkey sitting in front of the monitor....

[Honclfibr]

You can't run from the robots.

And when they grab you with those metal claws you can't break free; because they're made of metal, and robots are strong.

[JettaJayGLS]

A talented programmer can outrun a robot.

[joeswamp]

Dunno about arbitrary forming but CNC sheet metal is definitely around. It's been a great addition to the rapid prototype industry because you feed the machine a program and a piece of sheet stock and it will bend pretty much anything. Granted we're talking bending not forming but it's still pretty cool

Yeah I've seen videos of that -- it's pretty cool to see a machine whip out a box in like 20 seconds. I do think though that arbitrary sheet metal forming is the last frontier of automated manufacturing. If I want to make a car fender, I still need to either spend big bucks for tooling or pay a bunch of superskilled people to manually form everything. I'm not even sure how you'd automate it (multiple C3PO's and an english wheel?), but it seems we're still in the dark ages there.

[obsolete]

And when they grab you with those metal claws you can't break free; because they're made of metal, and robots are strong.

[snwbrdr435]

That thing is sweet.

[JettaJayGLS]

Is it safe to equip the eject system to this helmet?

[snwbrdr435]

Is it safe to equip the eject system to this helmet?

I don't think the liner will hold up, the eject tube will rub right through that!

[gadget]

I for one, welcome our new 5-axis Overlords.