How are machines built?

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Originally Posted by CtownCyclone

A CNC is basically a computer and machine that does the work of a machinist. You would model up a part in a 3D CAD system and send it to the machine. You load in the work piece (chunk of metal), the computer figures out how big it is and where it's at, then it does all the steps necessary to make the final product.

Before CNC, you would develop the drawings and give them to the machinist, who would figure out what steps he needed to do in order to make the final part you wanted.

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There is also an in between on this where the machinist can input a machine language (G-code), and they program the machine where to work, instead of the computer program taking the model and creating the code for it.

CNC machine - YouTube

Here is a CNC lathe in action. There are other machines out there that will take a block of material and make a part. They have a variety of tools available that the computer can go get anytime. It is cool stuff.

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Originally Posted by CtownCyclone

A CNC is basically a computer and machine that does the work of a machinist. You would model up a part in a 3D CAD system and send it to the machine. You load in the work piece (chunk of metal), the computer figures out how big it is and where it's at, then it does all the steps necessary to make the final product.

Before CNC, you would develop the drawings and give them to the machinist, who would figure out what steps he needed to do in order to make the final part you wanted.

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After this the die/mold is given to the vendor who will supply the part. The mold in the case of a plastic manufacture is loaded into a plastic injection machine and it melts plastic pellets and fills the mold. Or in the case of metal parts, you have stamping, they stamp out parts, there is also laminating where they take multiple stamped parts to make one large part. Think of a cookie cutter, then stacking on the cookies together and putting them in an oven. There are machines that stamp and fold to create a box or whatever shape is necessary.

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Originally Posted by CtownCyclone

A CNC is basically a computer and machine that does the work of a machinist. You would model up a part in a 3D CAD system and send it to the machine. You load in the work piece (chunk of metal), the computer figures out how big it is and where it's at, then it does all the steps necessary to make the final product.

Before CNC, you would develop the drawings and give them to the machinist, who would figure out what steps he needed to do in order to make the final part you wanted.

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Yeah, but how was the CNC built before there were CNCs?

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Originally Posted by mtowncyclone13

Pretend you are explaining this CNC machine to a 13 year old. That's me.

I still don't understand how electricity in little computer chips gets robots to move. When it comes to technology I am as dumb as they come. But you need to know the history of cities and whoa doggy I'm your man.

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If they are using CNC machine to make the mold an engineer created the mold in CAD software. Next the engineer, CNC operator, or India open the file created in the software and the list of tools in the available CNC machines. The CNC machine will have a number of drill bits and the most basic can only come straight down. The more advanced machines can come in at an angle. The will pick the tools and the order of operations to create the mold in the file out of a block of metal. The CNC operator will lock the block of metal into place and run the CNC machine to create the mold. On the first run someone from quality will inspect the mold to verify.

Once the mold passes verification the melted plastic can be poured in. Once the plastic colds it should come out of the mold. Now you have a lego.

This is a rough outline.

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Originally Posted by 1100011CS

Yeah, but how was the CNC built before there were CNCs?

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Read paragraph 2. A dude built the CNC machine using the tools available to him at the time.

I hope these help a little:

metal punch - Amada AC 2510 NT Acute - YouTube

laser cutter - Salvagnini L5 Fiber Laser at EuroBlech 2010 - YouTube

Then metal bender - HDS-NT HYBRID BENDING MACHINE - YouTube

or Roll Forming - Roll forming - YouTube

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Originally Posted by CtownCyclone

Read paragraph 2. A dude built the CNC machine using the tools available to him at the time.

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I think there was a implied jimlad there.

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Originally Posted by boone7247

After this the die/mold is given to the vendor who will supply the part. The mold in the case of a plastic manufacture is loaded into a plastic injection machine and it melts plastic pellets and fills the mold. Or in the case of metal parts, you have stamping, they stamp out parts, there is also laminating where they take multiple stamped parts to make one large part. Think of a cookie cutter, then stacking on the cookies together and putting them in an oven. There are machines that stamp and fold to create a box or whatever shape is necessary.

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Also is rotational molding. You put the plastic into the mold, put it into an oven, and spin the mold so the plastic covers the outside.

So everyone on here is a nerd. And I was thinking this was full of Kirk Herbstreits. :)

This video showing Stereolithography is a little dated but illustrates how a drawing from the initial idea is turned into the first test-part to review "fit" and appearance and often used to make a mold.

Rapid prototyping using stereolithography - YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4y-m1URlh00

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Originally Posted by 1100011CS

Yeah, but how was the CNC built before there were CNCs?

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This is actually quite an interesting philosophical question. I was watching a talk the other day and the guy used an example of back when we were hunter-gatherers and even sooner....we had craftsman that made tools and he showed the picture of a "hand axe" and a computer mouse. Both similar and size and made to fit the hand. The difference is...no one knows how to make the mouse today. The guy that drills the oil needed for the plastic doesn't know how to make the circuitry for the wireless and that guy doesn't know how to make the plastic from the oil...etc on down the line. Whereas the guy making the handaxe knew how to make all of it and passed that down to his kids etc.

No point really. Just something to Ponder.

Just start watching a lot of Ultimate Factories and you will be able to build anything.

Some parts start out as castings and then machined to their fine tolerances as needed. The prototype stage of those is shown here:
ProMetal RCT Rapid Prototyping and Digital Sand Casting Services - YouTube

Machining of parts from a whole block of metal is shown here:

CNC Machining Demo Workpiece At AMB Fair 2008 - YouTube