This week was amazing because we had so much cool introduction lectures with different possibilities machine. I left some notes each of machine.
INTRODUCTION IN VACUUM FORMING MACHINE
Aalto FabLab has a Parnavac vacuum forming machine that looks so,so,so old, but it works! After switching on the machine is necessary to wait at least
5 minutes for the heat surface to warm up to the required temperature. Before loading the material, is necessary to make sure that the machine is in working order -
pressure works.We experimented a lot to get to a normal result - in the first attempts our shape was destroyed, other times a lot of bubbles. We experimented with
both material and thickness and duration (3-5 minutes). Conclusion - the longer you keep it under the heat surface, the better the result, the more accurate the edges,
but the greater the chance that the material will break.
INTRODUCTION IN ROBOTIC ARM
This machine doesn't belong to Aalto fablab but as fablab is part of the Aalto University my instructor Kris arranged an appointment. Robotic arm is located in
3D Printing & Cobot Workshop and we had introduction about Universal Robots Cobot (10e) from workshop master Manuel Fonseca.
Payload of this robot is up to 10 kg.
Robot works in relative coordinates. Difference between relative and absolute coordinates is that - absolute coordinates is distance/angle of axes relative
to the origin of the coordinates, but relative coordinates - to the last point. All robot operations take place as in smooth movements. It does not move in a strict transition
from point A to point B. Robotic operation can be ensured by programming in either Python or Grasshopper 3D programming languages or by remote control.
WATERJET MACHINE AS MY ASSIGNMENT
Instructor Kris bought carbon fiber material sheets 250x600 mm with 2 mm and 4mm thickness, so that if there is enough time,
then the drone frame will be made using the most suitable material. Carbon fiber material is a very durable and also light material,
its cutting requires a special - waterjet machine. The machine OMAX 55100 is located in Aalto University's Väre workshop. It is capable of cutting through 5 cm steel, actually .. almost any material.
Some materials and results below are obtained from this machine.
For generating toolpaths here use OMAX software. In the program it is necessary to choose a material, for example, in my case carbon fiber, then specify the thickness of the material, in my case - 2 mm. "Uses Tilting on Path"
was also noted. The process is not visible to the eye during jet operation, so the only option is to rely on the real time display - there you can see how cursor moves through the toolpaths.
The introduction lesson also showed an important trick to perform before the machine has cut out the model. About one minute before it is fully finished, the machine should be paused and a toothpicks or other fastener should be inserted in some corners of the model.
When I was working with a CNC machine in Computer-Controlled machining week, I used something similar but not manually, but defined it in Fusion 360 software with "Tabs" function.
The machine has a large work area - 2540 x 1397 mm, but since my final frame was ready after the official Wildcard week and when I was ready to go cut it out,
I received a email "The machine is now in summer maintenance. The operation will resume in August." Oh, how sad. Since student Solomon Embafrash also
wanted to cut something with a waterjet machine, he found out for us that we could use the workshop "Design Factory", which is also part of Aalto University.
However, we had a challenge because, unlike the Väre workshop, the work area of this machine is 300 x 300 mm. Our workpiece material is 250 x 600 mm -
we split it using a mechanical tool bandsaw.
