4 replies to this topic

[Dave Crevie]

This is the type of machine used to make slot car wheels and hubs. For plastic wheels the plastic is overmolded onto the aluminum or magnesium hub. 

 

https://youtu.be/IpZ...8Dj5jxdMDfP_0Fz

 

Mazak is the supplier of CNC machines I am most familiar with, since that is what the company I worked for used. I believe Phil uses Haas, as does car guy Dave MacNiel of WeatherTech.   

[Bill from NH]

This machine would seem to fit the term "automatic lathe" that I've seen associated with wheel production for many years. 

[Dave Crevie]

Chances are that '60s slot car wheels were made in a screw machine like this;

 

https://youtu.be/-CRflaPPR5c?si=Hqx8KbaFEoXZidiZ 

 

 

 

Or possibly in a turret chucker;

 

https://youtu.be/28o...JlN-bbsJR3CJiug

 

 

 

Now, everything is done in 5-axis milling machines;

 

https://youtu.be/RnIvhlKT7SY?si=7CKvoMZyrlUweOQs 

[Bill Seitz]

Using a 5-axis milling machine for something 'turned' can lead to interesting results. I was once involved with a production lot of an item that had been originally made on a big, manual lathe from a cast preform. On the lathe, the large tolerance on the casting wasn't a problem, but the new lot was sent to a shop that didn't possess a large enough lathe, so set up the job on a 5-axis CNC mill. The staff grabbed a casting, created a program from it, and machined the whole lot with the same program. Unfortunately, they made about three good pieces, the ones milled from castings that were close to the size of the set up piece. Everything else was out of tolerance, a real mess.

[Dave Crevie]

That would come from choice of company to do the job. I have machined lots of castings in a Deckel 5 axis, with nary a problem except with porosity or non-fill in the casting. Plus, some of those castings can be replaced by fully machined componants.