Other Team Member(s): Scott Frazier
Date: 3/30/04
Area of Exploration: CAD/CAM Milling
Basic Overview of the Process: CAD stands for computer aided design or drafting. CAM stands for computer aided machining. CAD/CAM Milling is the process of designing an object with lines and then sending it to a machine so that the material can be cut or reduced. The lines will be read in the X, Y, Z planes so that they will have a length, depth, and width.
Task Description: To designed something that will be milled out on a piece of oak wood.
Drawings: Drawings on another sheet.
Equipment: The equipment used was an 1/8" end mill bit, Pro-light Mill, screwdriver, computer, sand paper, Spectra Cam, and spindle.
Materials: Three blocks of oak with the dimensions of 3" X 2" X 1.5".
Steps Followed:
1. Turn on computer and open spectra cam
2. Open program that will be ran
3. Verify the program
4. Put block in vise flush and tighten, make sure that it does not move
5. Make sure the right bit is in the spindle and tight
6. Need to home the mill bit to a known location, like a corner
7. Run program, with someone ready to stop the machine
8. After program is done loosen vise and take out block of wood
9. Clean up mess
10.Close program and shut down computer
Description of Problems: The problem that we encountered was that we did not set up the piece of oak flush with the vise. So we had to measure the distance from the end of the vise to the end of the piece of wood. Also we tried to use an auto-cad program but the size could not be decrease and get rid of enough detail to fit onto the wood.
Industrial Applications: Some applications are production of rims, propellers, cases for calculators, and tombstones.
References:
Patrikalakis, Nicholas M.: (2002). "Shape interrogation for computer aided and manufacturing". Springer: New York
Shah, Jami J.: (1995). "Parametric and feature-based CAD/CAM: concepts, techniques, and applications". Wiley: New York
Notes: Make sure that the block of wood is flush with the vise.
Control Programs Developed: The steps are attached.