machining custom compressor wheels

[AutoMods]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=nTHLs0oFFQo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=nTHLs0oFFQo

[85XR7Project]

Looks like a 5 axis mill, pretty cool. Never seen one with a rotating fixture like that. We have a custom CNC machine at work as well, we are the first to use the application in a production style process.

This is the vid put out by the Mazak company to push it. Think of a horizontal mill and a lathe fucked and had a baby and this is what you get.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR9t-2gvKIg

[AutoMods]

Think of a horizontal mill and a lathe fucked and had a baby and this is what you get.

lol

[McKeever]

I never get bored watching these machines run. The machine making that compressor wheel has been labled "Universal Machining Center" by a lot of machine manufacturers. Which is nothing conceptually new, like 85XR7Project said it's just a 5 axis machine. But my guess is the machine manufacturers out there have renamed them to peak interest, increase sales, and to make the point that 5 axis machines are very versatile. Which has worked well because there seems to be a lot more companies buying them now. That machine definitely seems like overkill if all they make on it is small compressor wheels. Still cool nonetheless.

[Chase]

I think we need one, Andrew.

I'll submit a project request.

[McKeever]

I think we need one, Andrew.

I'll submit a project request.

lol, ya sure would be cool. Maybe we could cost justify it by making our own billet cooling fans or something?

[85XR7Project]

Good luck, 5 axis mills range from $500,000 to $1,500,000+. I wouldn't want to be the guy who had to program it either, adding in an extra axis off the spindle would be an absolute pain in the ass to work with.

[McKeever]

You can get a base Haas 5 axis for 150k. And the programming is not that extreme if you have good muti-axis cam software. I think the Master Cam multi-axis software is in the 15k-20k range.

[Deimos]

Nice runs mckeever truck looked good

[McKeever]

Nice runs mckeever truck looked good

When last fall? I thought I was going to break something with all the wheel hop I was getting during the burn out. I definitely need to get the suspension fixed before going back.

[AutoMods]

You can get a base Haas 5 axis for 150k. And the programming is not that extreme if you have good muti-axis cam software. I think the Master Cam multi-axis software is in the 15k-20k range.

150k....is that used pricing or new? sucks to pay 15-20k on software

[McKeever]

150k....is that used pricing or new? sucks to pay 15-20k on software

That's new. Haas is like the ford or chevy of the CNC word. There is alot nicer stuff out there, but this will get you from point A to point B. Here's a link to their 5 axis stuff. http://www.haascnc.com/vmc_mt.asp?webID=5AXIS_VMC
Most of their 5 axis stuff is just a 3 axis vertical mill with a rotory trunnion on the table which gives you the other 2 axis. So If you wanted you could take the trunion off and have a larger table to do bigger stuff but then you are limited to just a 3 axis. Haas's UMC, like the machine in your original post, will be able to make larger parts with 5 axis then the trunnion table would. The UMC starts at 150k but you could get a rotory trunnion setup for less.

As for the softwere, it will pay for it's self real quick if you do much programming.

[chayxse]

Not huge into the machining world, as well as the material build up of different metals, but what is the benefit of machining custom wheels instead of just casting them? I suppose with 3d programs these days it would be quite easy to design the wheel and have the computer do the rest, but couldn't the same wheel be made by casting at a lower cost?

[AutoMods]

garrett was a bit behind the competition on bringing billets to their entire lineup. they published an article on their website on how the cast wheels were just as good and the billet stuff was just hype. a year later they kinda back tracked their statements and brought billets to their entire lineup just like their competition. here is a similar article http://www.turbobygarrett.com/turbobygarrett/Garrett_Fully_Machined_Compressor_Wheels


turbonetics billet promo video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3_DEJe10is
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3_DEJe10is

[85XR7Project]

Billet is stronger than cast, machining and object out of a solid piece of a material will always be tougher to destroy than a cast piece. Cast pieces just cannot stand up the the same things billet can because of how it is composed.