How are machines built?

[mtowncyclone13]

You are probably all smarter than me when it comes to engineering, so I have a question. When you get right down to it, is everything first made by hand? I mean I see factories making products but those machines must be made. So there are machines that make other machines. But a machine needs to make the machine that makes the machine, etc. When a new car is designed and they have a mold they've never used before (or a toy, or a tool, etc) how is the mold made? Are thye designed and crafted by hand?

[cmjh10]

When a mommy machine and a daddy machine love each other very much.....

[CLONECONES]

One step at a time my friend, one step at a time

[Mr Janny]

You are probably all smarter than me when it comes to engineering, so I have a question. When you get right down to it, is everything first made by hand? I mean I see factories making products but those machines must be made. So there are machines that make other machines. But a machine needs to make the machine that makes the machine, etc. When a new car is designed and they have a mold they've never used before (or a toy, or a tool, etc) how is the mold made? Are thye designed and crafted by hand?

Are you talking about casting molds for parts, like in a foundry? because die casting is not exactly a difficult concept.

[Cycl1]

I would say that to find the start of it all, you need to go way back in time. Nowadays CNC machines can make pretty much manufacture any part you need.

[azepp]

This is very Terminator-esque.

[klamath632]

At least you've come to the right place to ask the question.

[mtowncyclone13]

I am being serious with my question as I do not have any engineering background. I was watching this video where they made lego parts and wondered how they made the actual molds to make the parts. The whole thing is very interesting and complicated to me, the same way my job my be complicated to you.

[CyinCo]

If a plane is on a treadmill...

[00clone]

I am being serious with my question as I do not have any engineering background. I was watching this video where they made lego parts and wondered how they made the actual molds to make the parts. The whole thing is very interesting and complicated to me, the same way my job my be complicated to you.

As for lego molds, likely CNC machined.

[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.

[CyinCo]

With a $1,500 3D printer, you too could make about anything required for a prototype. CNC machines work the same way. Google sketchup has created a library of 3D rendered parts and objects you can get and quickly reproduce. It is cool stuff. This is the way it has been done for the past few decades. Prior to that is another story.

Trimble SketchUp

[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.

[00clone]

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.

Well, if you put it that way, there's no point. No matter what we say, you'll be thinking of boobies.

[mtowncyclone13]

Well, if you put it that way, there's no point. No matter what we say, you'll be thinking of boobies.

Still am, sir. I still am.