Archive for December, 2007

An open-fronted vertical machining centre brought extra 4-axis machining capability for single set-up machining of multi-faced components at a UK valve manufacturer

When M Thornton Engineering (www.mthorntoneng.com) needed extra capacity to meet its rising order book for oil and gas industry valve work, a Hartford Power Centre Pro-1000 open-fronted vertical machining centre solved the problem. ‘It was the highest specification machine available in its class,’ said Thornton director, Stuart Thornton, ‘With integrated fourth axis, tool and spindle probing as well as through-spindle high-pressure coolant – and it was available at a very cost-effective price’.

He said that the machine increased the company’s extra four-axis machining capability for single set-up machining of multi-faced components – combined with the high-pressure, through-spindle coolant supply for deeper-than-usual hole drilling.

Its ability to drill deeper holes not only reduced cycle times and changed production methods, but also helped to transform the company’s future prospects by attracting more high-value, complex work.

‘We looked at other machines, of course, but none could match the Hartford for capability and price.

And our four-axis capability has immediately attracted additional, higher-specification work,’ said Thornton.

Established in 1989 by managing director, Michael Thornton, the Huddersfield-based sub-contract operation formerly provided gear and transmission machining to complement its specialisation in valve work.

It complements an impressive CNC turning and one hit mill/turn section and an inspection area that includes a Mitutoyo co-ordinate measuring machine.

Before purchasing the Power Centre, the Thornton team spent a day ‘fact-finding on the Hartford’ in Scotland by visiting a Ward customer that is using a Hartford Kappa machining centre for similar work.

‘They said the machine does everything Ward CNC said it would, and they are ‘over the moon’ with it,’ said Thornton.

‘There’s no better recommendation than that, we thought, and combined with the functionality and features available on the machine, we didn’t hesitate to place the order’.

* The VMC – of open-fronted design, construction of the Power Centre Pro-1000 is based around a cast iron frame with hardened and ground box slideways.

It has a table of 1150mm x 600mm capable of accommodating workpieces weighing 700kg, and X, Y and Z travels of 1000mm by 600mm by 510/630mm.

As standard, rapid traverse rate in all axes is 20m/min, the 7.5/10kW spindle produces speeds of 40 to 8,000 rev/min (pulley-style – 6,000 rev/min geared) and the machine is supplied with a 20- (optional 24-) tool automatic toolchanger.

With Hartrol-Fanuc AI100/0iMC CNC, a major feature of the control technology is the Hartrol advanced functionality programming routines available as standard: a series of easy-to-use cycles designed to simplify and speed up programming times and therefore reduce downtime along with other useful setting and maintenance functions for ease of operator use.

The routines embrace, for example, the following.

* workpiece datum setting using edge setter.

* Manual tool setting using calibrated setting block.

* Tool magazine tracking (for arm-type ATC).

* Tool logging.

* Spindle load monitor.

* Full M Code listings.

* Comprehensive set of special canned cycles.

‘We find the Hartrol spindle loading functionality particularly useful,’ added Thornton, ‘Since it allows us to set limits so that neither tooling nor workpiece can be damaged, and gives us a clear indication of tool wear and tool life’.

The VMC performs conventional milling, drilling and tapping routines on a mix of components.

Ward CNC told manufacturingtalk that the Hartford Pro 1000’s functionality is especially fruitful in reducing cycle times as well as enabling Thornton’s operators to achieve alternative and more efficient ways of machining.

Examples are as follows.

* The combination of the geared head and high pressure through-spindle coolant has allowed for the use of larger tipped drills for the production of eight 38mm diameter holes in a super duplex workpiece.

* Thanks to effective swarf clearance, one-hit thread milling (including the use of Vargus Threading Solutions) is increasingly replacing conventional drilling and tapping routines.

* The high-pressure (20-bar) through-spindle coolant is permitting the speedy production of deep (so far, up to four times drill diameter) holes.

With all employees fully apprentice-trained, and an impressive portfolio of modern CNC machines, there’s no doubt, said Ward CNC, that Thornton Engineering’s 4-axis Hartford capability has added extra capacity to the cost-effective machining of high-value, complex components in a single set-up.

• TW Ward CNC Machinery: contact details and other news

"dear sir,

thanks for your informations

i want one more information regarding plasma how they cutting start and stop with cnc.
is there any separate attachment with torch.

Waiting for your kind reply at your earliest convenience.

Regards.

Yours faithfully,
Paramdeep Singh

Hello Paramdeep,

You must have watched one of my CNC Stomp Pad Tutorial Videos that used CNC Plasma cutting.  I had this same question when I first built my CNC Plasm Cutter.  Here is what I found out:

The CNC Controller that you use will have a relay in it that activates the Plasma Torch.  You wire this relay over to your plama cutter to turn it on.  Generally it wires into the same circuit that activates the torch.  Think of circuit that is closed when you press on the plasma torch trigger.  The relay is doing essentially the same thing.  It makes the plasma cutter think you have the trigger depressed.

Some commercial CNC Plasma Cutting systems on the market actually use a mechanical switch instead of wiring into the Plasma Cutter.  They have a mechanical mechanism that activates and acts just like your finger to depress the Plasma Cutter Torch Trigger.  This is versitile since you can rig it up to just about any plasma cutter.

How this is activated is through G-Code.  To be more correct, it is through an "M-Code" which is a specialized type of G-Code that activates cnc machine functions.  There are torch on and torch off m-codes in your program that activate and deactivate the plasma cutter.

I hope that helps, if you have any more questions, shoot me an email.

Thanks,

Ivan Irons

Corbels – Modern Uses And What To Look For

Corbels, as an architectural element, have been around for hundreds of years. Their popularity has not diminished but has, in fact, increased over time. The word ?corbel? comes from the French word for raven presumably because of its ?beak? like projection. Originally corbels were used as a structural component bearing a load. They were typically made of stone (though old timber corbels abound) and are still in many places supporting balconies, parapets and arches. Some of the finest examples of corbels can be seen in old Europe. The wooden variety of corbels exists in many timber frame structures especially in England. Often ornately carved, corbels were used to embellish window sills and to support oriel windows ? a form of bay window that does not reach the ground. Corbel ?tables? can also be viewed on older buildings. A corbel table, mostly ornamental, is a row of corbels supporting a protruding wall or a masonry strip. Another type of Corbel is an ?Ancone?. Greek for ?elbow? or ?hollow?, the Ancone is a scroll shape that provided the same function as the corbel.

Presently, the use of corbels has become more of a decorative embellishment in today?s modern home. Though there may be some structural purpose, their function for the most part is aesthetical. The stone corbels of yesteryear have been supplanted by their wooden counterparts. Historically, the ornamentation in corbels was patterned after Greek columns and capitals or in some cases animals or other whimsical creatures. Many examples of modern corbels follow this same historical ornamentation. The craftsman era, though, produced a plainer variety sometimes called a bracket.

Modern uses of the corbel include kitchen counter overhangs, range hoods, fireplace mantel surrounds and mantel shelves as well as spicing up cabinetry in the kitchen or elsewhere. The contemporary popularity of the corbel is certainly due to the added embellishment to otherwise plain cabinetry and millwork. That?s not to say that the effect cannot be overdone. Just like any other design feature, corbels can ruin a room as well as ?make? a room. The quality of the corbels can have the same effect. Poorly crafted pieces are as evident as well executed corbels.

The manufacturing process, like anything else, has an impact on the look and feel of the piece. Carving machines and CNC technology, though efficient and fast, create a piece that look massed produced. The routers used in these two methods cannot replicate the beauty and ?signature? of a well executed hand-carved corbel. Even a casual observer should be able to tell the difference. The hand caved corbel will not be perfect, to be sure, but that is part of ?romance? that makes this method superior to mass production. A hand-carved corbel will likely cost more but for most the price is not out of reach because most hand carved work is coming from overseas where wages are still lower than in the US. As designers, builders and architects we still have access to affordable, genuinely hand-carved corbels and as such can adorn our living spaces with them.

About the Author:

Kim Vedros is a professional wood turner and owner of Architectural Wood Designs

This CNC Ecourse video covers the design for CNC.  There are a number of questions we ask as we are designing.

Really when you are designing, you are trying to describe what you are going to build.  The more accurately you can do that, the better the whole process will go.  Just like a house, if you have a strong foundation, you will have a good house.  If you have a solid design, the rest of the process is easy.

Here is the first video in the Learn CNC Basics E-Course from www.CNCInformation.com.

This video outline what the e-course is and what it covers. The video also talks about the 5 steps to working with CNC. The steps are CNC Design, CAD, CAM, Control and Machineing.
Every CNC project has these steps and they must be followed in that order. This gives the beginner a basic framework to hang their new CNC Information on. As the beginner learn they can think about these 5 steps and where the new information fits.

The next video in the E-Course is CNC Design.

3-axis Gantry Desktop CNC
Posted by Blog Happenings: [404 Check: was link to http:/ / cnccncmachine. com/ compact -cnc -machines -come -ready -to -use. html, anchor: Compact CNC Machine] arrives ready to use. These are desk top 3-axis gantry-type
Tags: desktop cnc, 3 axis. Comments: 0.

CNC Plasma Cutting
Posted by Wilbur Corncob: Torchmate offers various CNC cutting systems and a 23 page catalog online. They sell the Torchmate II CNC shape cutting machine in kit form for under $6,000. It allow s you to create shapes on your screen and cut them automatically. It has a rapid traverse speed of 300 Inch Per Minute and a cutting speed of 80 IPM. CNC plasma cutter operations
Tags: plasma cutting, torch cutting. Comments: 0.

CNC Software for the Cabinet and Door Industry Interview
Posted by ‘Interviewer’: Name of your website Software for the Cabinet and Door Industry Your name Frank D. Jimenez Your Location (city, etc) Medford, Oregon U.S.A. Please give us a short summary of your website CNC Software that provides cutlists, material summaries, labels, floor plan views, wall elevations, 3D Renderings, 3D dimensioned shop drawings,
Tags: cnc software, web interview. Comments: 0.

Tools, articles and jobs
Posted by Blog Happenings: Fastest CNC punch press offers simple automation As well as laying claim to be one of the world’s fastest punching machines, CNC punch press system features "twin-cart". [404 Check: was link to http:/ / www. cnc -machine -tool -probe. com/ index. php/ machien -tool/ machine -tool -line -e88/ , anchor: Machine Tool Line: E88] Probing
Tags: cnc punch, retrofit. Comments: 0.

Wood and Metal Works
Posted by Website Introductions: At CNC, all your wood and metal working needs is available. Minifactory CNC woodworking milling machines Vacuum press Automatic Vacuum press With 2 work tables CNC laser-engraving machines CNC laser-engraving machines Metalworking CNC plasma cutting machines PVC film for vacuum press Woodworking and metalworking CNC
Tags: metalworks, minifactory. Comments: 0.

CNC Drill Press
Posted by Wilbur Corncob: We have seen various types of lathes with go with numerical control but that are not the only machines which utilize CNC add-on. There are numerous other machines such as the drill machine which use CNC including drilling machines. Well you might think what sort of arrangement would be it because as we a drilling machine is simply used to make a
Tags: cnc drill, printed circuit boards. Comments: 0.

Choosing the right drafting table at Office1000 – Part 2 of drafting series
Posted by Office1000: In an earlier post we went over some of the drafting products we carry at Office1000.com. In this post, we will discuss some of the different types of drafting tables available on our website. In the next post, we will do an informative bit about drafting stools. On our website, we offer several types of drafting tables . Please be aware when
Tags: safco products, iceberg industries. Comments: 0.

HAAS CNC Machines History
Posted by Wilbur Corncob: There are several companies in the world which manufacture CNC machines and in this blog we will learn something about one such company. The name of the company is HAAS machines. It has a wide range of vertical as well as horizontal CNC machining centres under its belt and caters to the needs of a wide target of consumers who have such
Tags: haas, horizontal cnc machining. Comments: 0.

CNC Router and Programming
Posted by Bill: Cnc Router : "A few years ago my fiance, Len Rulason and myself built a CNC Router so we could learn a bit about CNC programming and to make parts for our full scale and model aviation hobbies." Check out the blog for some great photos of a home built hobby cnc system and
Tags: hobby cnc, cnc router. Comments: 0.

Beyond the CNC Control
Posted by Wilbur Corncob: CNC is not only about hardware as the name might suggest i.e. computerized numerical control. As is evident from the explanation of the acronym itself, whenever computerized control is involved in the process it also requires some sort of software to run the unintelligent hardware to perform some activity which is mostly a manufacturing related
Tags: flashcut cnc, cnc software. Comments: 0.

CNC Stomp Pad Video 10: Final Assembly of the Stomp Pad – Final Photos of the Project

Here is the final video in the CNC Stomp Pad Tutorial Video Series. In this video, we go over the final assembly of the stomp pad Here is the final video in the CNC Stomp Pad Tutorial Video Series. In this video, we go over the final assembly of the stomp pad. Then we watch as we used double sided tape to adhere it to the snowboard. Finally we take a look at some final photos of the CNC Stomp Pad on the Snowboard.
One Final Note:
The Stomp Pad works perfectly. I love the fact you can customize your life with CNC.

See you on the slopes,
Ivan Irons

CNC Stomp Pad Video 9: Drill holes, clean holes, flatten and final sand of the CNC Stomp Pad

In this video we drill the holes in our CNC Stomp Pad. We need to add the traction spikes and they are really a screw and nut. We drill the holes then clean them out.
We bend the stomp pad while drilling and we must hammer it flat next.
A quick DA Sanding to make the pad look good, then we are on the the next step which is finalizing the CNC stomp pad.

 CNC Stomp Pad 8 | Sanding & Spikes

During this CNC Video Segment we sand our CNC Stomp Pad with a Dual Action (DA) sander. We are taking out any deep scratches and giving it a matte finish. The CNC Plasma Cut part then is taken over to a stand. We look at different traction spikes and how they will look. After selecting a spike type, we start laying them out. We layout some marks where we will drill holes in the next video.

During this CNC Video Segment we sand our CNC Stomp Pad with a Dual Action (DA) sander. We are taking out any deep scratches and

CADDIT Releases Free progeCAD Smart
LIVERPOOL NSW, Australia: – CADDIT, in partnership with progeSOFT, announced the Australian release of progeCAD Smart. progeCAD is widely regarded as a CAD system of highest quality and compatibility with the AutoCAD product line. This new release makes personal AutoCAD compatibility available to everybody, completely FREE.

Delcam to show latest machining developments in Delhi – India
Extra five-axis options in PowerMILL will be among the new Delcam developments on show at AMTEXNew Delhi: Delcam will demonstrate the latest developments across its full range of CAM software at the AMTEX exhibition to be held in Delhi from 23rd to 27th February. Delcam was ranked as the…