RoboSavvy Forum

cnc work

2007-03-22T13:27:46+01:00

Ok
here is another sight I chanced apon that claims to do cnc projects

quickparts.com
877-521-8683
qphelp@quickparts.com

I havn't called myself yet (I just got control of the bridgeport machine at work !! ) so I will call soon , but for those who are looking I hope this will help..............luck
jim

Statistics: Posted by quasinuker — Thu Mar 22, 2007 1:27 pm

cnc

2007-03-20T18:33:07+01:00

http://www.jpspro.com/

http://www.esphobby.com/clod.htm

I'm not sure if this will help but these 2 web sights do custom cnc parts for
the clodbuster electric monster truck which has been around for about 10 years that I know of (I own one myself ) they may be in need of some new blood. There can't be that big of a market on old r/c trucks so maybe if enough people inquire they may be interested in a new market.And if you goto their web sight check out their work. The detail they put into their
product in in short fantastic! I am partial to JPS which are the parts on my clod but ESP does very good work too.
Hope this helps.....and if not ...well maybe ..you'll get hooked on a new toy
that your wife will love to hate you for
quasinuker aka jim

Statistics: Posted by quasinuker — Tue Mar 20, 2007 6:33 pm

affordable CNC cutting service in the U.S.?

2007-03-07T15:11:43+01:00

Just a thought,,

Has anyone approached the likes of LynxMotion. They seem to carry a stock of standard brackets at reasonable prices, perhaps they would be willing to process a few no-standard ones along with their normal stock runs.

Statistics: Posted by PaulP — Wed Mar 07, 2007 3:11 pm

affordable CNC cutting service in the U.S.?

2007-03-07T15:02:46+01:00

As Autodesk is the mother company of Autocad, I'm fairly certain that it can export or be converted to pretty much anything on the market..

For many years they were the international standard on this type of thing.

Even if its not the case, because it produces high quality 3d models and takes into account materials and bend radii to produce the 'flattened' product, the dxf or dwg exports would surely be useful in a multi-step process..

I've only had limited experience when it comes to parts manufacture but whenever there has been a problem, nine times out of ten the fault can be traced back to the original model or drawing somewhere.

Statistics: Posted by PaulP — Wed Mar 07, 2007 3:02 pm

affordable CNC cutting service in the U.S.?

2007-03-07T01:56:19+01:00

Not familiar with Autodesk Inventor but I assume that is a CAD program only and cannot do CAM (toolpath). If so... you can design in Autodesk but need to find a CAM program that will take Autodesk output. It is the CAM that outputs the G code (toolpath)

Statistics: Posted by Apeman — Wed Mar 07, 2007 1:56 am

affordable CNC cutting service in the U.S.?

2007-03-07T01:34:07+01:00

I'm not sure about compatibility with output files etc but has anyone here used Autodesk Inventor for their sheet metal designs..

It is specifically made for this type of work. Small, simple or complex, brackets and assemblies.

Using simple drawing techniques (must be learnt the basics in about 2 days) you design your 3d sheet metal bracket, tell it the thickness of the metal and type and the radius of the bends and it adjusts the drawing to suit.

When you've finished it, you can 'Flatten' the object ready for cutting and it will take into acount the extra metal need for the bends....

I think you'll find Kondo use it as they've released a 3d model of 2HV in it.

Statistics: Posted by PaulP — Wed Mar 07, 2007 1:34 am

affordable CNC cutting service in the U.S.?

2007-03-06T21:15:34+01:00

Hi everyone... this is my first post. Lurked for a while. Been interested in Robotics for a while but never really gotten into it. I do have an ER1 and have played around with it for a little while and have been looking at Kondo since 2002 (in Japan) when it was still just the torsal. For the past 6 months... been thinking about getting the RN1.

Anyway,I got a small machine shop with a small Taig CNC mill and a 7x14 lathe (not CNC yet). I'm a hobbiest and not a pro machinest but will help out. I've had my mill for 3 years and have cut quite few parts for my R/C and paintball hobbies. All the brackets looks like 2D parts so it will be pretty simple.

As for $$, this is a hobby (for you and me) and so not sure what everyone can afford. So basically, you pay for all materials and tell me what you want to pay for labor. Also... I'll do the first one for free since I'm not even sure if my quality is up to everyone's stanard.

I use Solidworks for CAD, Visualmill for CAM and Mach2 for controller. You can use anything you want to design as long as the outputted G Code is compatible with Mach2(or 3). If you are not sure... use the basic G Code format.

BTW... I'm in So Cal.

Statistics: Posted by Apeman — Tue Mar 06, 2007 9:15 pm

affordable CNC cutting service in the U.S.?

2006-10-30T18:45:04+01:00

For sheet work in aluminum, a waterjet shop is probably more economical than a machine shop. You can usually send them a DXF file and get a quote. One place I have used in the past is http://www.dcwaterjet.com

Most cities will have a local waterjet shop that might be easier than mailing stuff around.

Regarding aluminum, if you're going to bend the brackets you don't want to use 7075 or similar alloys because they don't bend very well (it cracks). 5052 is very bendable and probably best for that application, though 6061 is probably okay too.

Statistics: Posted by DerekZahn — Mon Oct 30, 2006 6:45 pm

affordable CNC cutting service in the U.S.?

2006-10-21T01:06:17+01:00

Sure. I will run through my basic process of making a few parts.

First I bring up my CAD program and insert the servos I have modelled. I then put them in the arrangement that I want (ie: measure values and angles until appropriate). I get the views squared up and then measure the sides that I need and start to create the piece right on the screen. I make it flat and then I extrude it the .04'' to its width. I put the correct holes in place to fit servos and the horns and then bend the piece to make sure that it fits. I then measure the lengths to confirm that I can fit a servo inside.

After all checking is done I print to scale on a piece of 8x11 paper off an old cheap black and white printer. I then go downstairs (which has essentially been turned into a robot workshop). I line up the paper with some aluminum and then spray some glue on it.

I prick punch the holes and then using a drill press I drill out the correct sizes. I print them with crosshairs and I only use three/four different sizes usually so thats not too hard. And a little oil on the spots for bigger holes preserves the drill bits.

Then using a scroll saw I cut out the pieces. For smaller details I use a file and a steel nibbler and then sand all of the pieces down when I am done (which usually means I have finished a design and moved on... so i rarely sand down the pieces as I get too excited towards a new project).

I use a small sheet metal brake to bend the larger brackets, and I use a tool steel blade, hammer and anvil to pound out the others (I can actually get a radius of .04 with the hammer as well, and its perfectly flat... which works well) and for the really small parts (like the fingers on my robot hand) I use pieces of aluminum or steel to slide between the sheets and then hammer them out again with the tool steel blade.

I then take a solvent to get the glue and paper off. I file down the holes from the drill press so there isnt any excess metal to scratch my servos and then I have the choice to sand down the pieces and paint them.

So that is essentially the process I use every time I want to make some new parts. It takes a little while to get started, but realistically if i have a drawing it happens pretty quickly. I might have to get some sanding done soon

Hope that helps a little.

Statistics: Posted by hivemind — Sat Oct 21, 2006 1:06 am

affordable CNC cutting service in the U.S.?

2006-10-21T00:31:54+01:00

hivemind wrote:
Hmm, I find that the 5052 is a nice balance between strength and extreme lightweight. I try to build my designs purely around the servo or add a third demension to each bracket when possible to keep up the strength. I find one doesnt really need a CNC machine if they can work with there hands a bit. Although CNC makes for better consistency.

Now this is interesting home-built humanoid robot information!

Can you elaborate on that last comment a bit? I'm afraid I pretty much slept through shop class — and that was a couple decades ago. Are you talking about hand tools? Or just a manual milling machine?

Thanks,
— Joe

Statistics: Posted by Joe — Sat Oct 21, 2006 12:31 am

affordable CNC cutting service in the U.S.?

2006-10-20T23:53:54+01:00

really? thats too bad...

Hmm, I find that the 5052 is a nice balance between strength and extreme lightweight. I try to build my designs purely around the servo or add a third demension to each bracket when possible to keep up the strength. I find one doesnt really need a CNC machine if they can work with there hands a bit. Although CNC makes for better consistency.

Statistics: Posted by hivemind — Fri Oct 20, 2006 11:53 pm

affordable CNC cutting service in the U.S.?

2006-10-20T21:22:06+01:00

Yes that's much better.
You yanks are lucky B........
Would you believe that you pay $50 for such a sheet here in Holland.
I use 7075 grade which is even more tough and expensive for my KHR-1 (when i have it that is)

Statistics: Posted by Meltdown — Fri Oct 20, 2006 9:22 pm

affordable CNC cutting service in the U.S.?

2006-10-20T20:37:01+01:00

Perhaps this will do the trick for you:

aircraft aluminum

I believe that is what I am using, it is very tough stuff and rather cheap.

Statistics: Posted by hivemind — Fri Oct 20, 2006 8:37 pm

affordable CNC cutting service in the U.S.?

2006-10-20T19:57:51+01:00

That's interesting material.
Can't say what grade alu that is.
It only says half hard which could indicate that it won't mill well.
Soft alu tends to smear the tool resulting in a bad cut and broken tool.
Example: Alu sold in normal hardware stores is much to soft and weak for robot brackets.
The brackets used in a KHR-1 for example is high grade dural.
The same stuff used in airplanes.

Second problem could be the anodizing.
It's hard to keep the object from scratching when milling.
Anodizing is typically done after the milling and polishing process not before!
It's worth a try though.

Statistics: Posted by Meltdown — Fri Oct 20, 2006 7:57 pm

affordable CNC cutting service in the U.S.?

2006-10-20T17:58:34+01:00

Is this material suitable and affordable? www.mutr.co.uk/prodDetail.aspx?prodID=558

Statistics: Posted by rockweasel — Fri Oct 20, 2006 5:58 pm