I also saw this at the IMTS show (1994 possibly). The screws were hollow. For positional feedback they shot a laser thru the center of each screw. I thought this would change the way milling machines were made. But this was the only one they ever made. There was an export restriction placed on this machine by the government. Currently you can find other Hexapod mills and routers, but nothing like this.
Was a neat idea, but like a house on stilts in a storm, no foundation, so no rigidity. I remember this shown at the IMTS show back in the 90's. Novel idea! Maybe we'll see it again someday.
I agree. Tying the tool together with the base on 6 axis makes it inherently rigid and does not rely on gravity and mass for the rigidity like conventional machines. I wouldn't like to work out the math for the constant contouring passes.
I read about this in a MEW (Model Engineering Workshop) magazine ages ago and it didn't mention Giddings and Lewis. Just 2 guys in a basement. I guess they took it on board to finalize it and bring it into production
Wicked, I've heard about this machine a number of times but never got to see what it actually looked like. Too bad it never made it past the prototype
Please tell me where you got this video from ?
What a work of art.
I'm having a hard time finding additional resources on this machine - even photos are hard to come by !
Any tips would be greatly appreciated !
bobjandal 1 month ago
There must be some complex mathematical equations within the program that's controlling this machine!
Nhyf 1 year ago
I also saw this at the IMTS show (1994 possibly). The screws were hollow. For positional feedback they shot a laser thru the center of each screw. I thought this would change the way milling machines were made. But this was the only one they ever made. There was an export restriction placed on this machine by the government. Currently you can find other Hexapod mills and routers, but nothing like this.
Mike
TFMTraining 1 year ago
@TFMTraining
They probably put an export restriction on it because of the use of interferometric analysis to determine the length of each screw to a sub-micron...
douro20 8 months ago
What happens when the ball scews start getting backlash!! There seems to be a lot of weight on them.
Cool movie though, wish they had stuck with the edea.
cncit 2 years ago
I wonder where this machine is now!!
Would like to see it working again!
cncit 2 years ago
Was a neat idea, but like a house on stilts in a storm, no foundation, so no rigidity. I remember this shown at the IMTS show back in the 90's. Novel idea! Maybe we'll see it again someday.
addymachinery 2 years ago
Actually it's quite rigid considering the "stilts" are only on compression or tension forces. No "bending" forces.
ProphetOfSkill 2 years ago
I agree. Tying the tool together with the base on 6 axis makes it inherently rigid and does not rely on gravity and mass for the rigidity like conventional machines. I wouldn't like to work out the math for the constant contouring passes.
I read about this in a MEW (Model Engineering Workshop) magazine ages ago and it didn't mention Giddings and Lewis. Just 2 guys in a basement. I guess they took it on board to finalize it and bring it into production
baccus61 2 years ago
Wicked, I've heard about this machine a number of times but never got to see what it actually looked like. Too bad it never made it past the prototype
kb9yet 3 years ago