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Gallery, Projects and General => Neat Stuff => Topic started by: j45on on March 14, 2011, 10:31:03 AM

Title: 5 axis mill
Post by: j45on on March 14, 2011, 10:31:03 AM

Do you think I could part ex my mini mill for one of these ?  :bugeye:
Actually I think it might be bigger than my shop

&feature=youtu.be

Title: Re: 5 axis mill
Post by: jim on March 14, 2011, 10:56:01 AM

that's one job i wouldn't want to program!!!

Title: Re: 5 axis mill
Post by: Bernd on March 15, 2011, 10:15:40 AM

This may be the machine that started it all. Listen for the date it was designed or built.

                  ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TowJZQi-qY] (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TowJZQi-qY)

Imagine the parts you could make at home if a table top model was avialable.

Bernd

Title: Re: 5 axis mill
Post by: Lew_Merrick_PE on March 15, 2011, 11:59:58 AM

Quote from: Bernd on March 15, 2011, 10:15:40 AM

Imagine the parts you could make at home if a table top model was avialable.

Back in the 1970's, this system was called the "hexapod."  There are several systems being DIY'ed right now if you Google "hexapod."

Title: Re: 5 axis mill
Post by: Bernd on March 15, 2011, 05:37:11 PM

Lew,

That's how I found the Hexapod. I remember a freind talking about it at work. He saw it a tool trade show.

I didn't think of the table top mill untill I posted the message, then didn't feel like going back to searching again.

Bernd

Title: Re: 5 axis mill
Post by: Lew_Merrick_PE on March 15, 2011, 10:41:34 PM

Quote from: Bernd on March 15, 2011, 05:37:11 PM

That's how I found the Hexapod. I remember a freind talking about it at work. He saw it a tool trade show.

I didn't think of the table top mill untill I posted the message, then didn't feel like going back to searching again.

The "issue" is stiffness.  While I don't disagree that the hexapod approach is (mathematically, at least) interesting, their cost for capacity is much larger than conventional 6-axis milling machines and their stiffness is really not that much better.  The Sundstrand Series-80/6 is at least as capable for about 40% the capital outlay -- assuming that Sundstrand ever fixed their resolver-feedback issues.  I was doing R&D for DoE and DoD on such beasties in 1984.  I don't believe I was a functionally worthwhile hexapod until (about) 1990.  I did think that it was interesting that G&L is using the (1983-84 development) active inferometer we developed for aligning AWACS antenna system at Grumman and Boeing (NBS development contract).  I will argue that G&L overplayed the tooling/fixture issue in their advert.  The issues are (as always) holding the part securely and allowing the cutter to access it.  That does not change between "conventional" and "hexapod" cutting operations.