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CAD/CAM
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THIS SITE IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY!
WE DON'T SELL ITEMS ANY MORE.
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Cad/Cam and CNC machinery exists for in-house production
of injection molds. From the graphics files to the G-Code instructions, the well equipped CNC
machine shop enables production of injection mold tooling of virtually any grip profile and
appearance, including in-house CNC logo engraving. Cad/Cam and Graphics programs include FeatureCam®,
Esprit®-W for our wire-EDM machine, BobCad®CamV24, and BobCam®V2 Plug-In for SolidWorks®.
Click image to see control panel
CAD
Computer Aided Drafting allows lines,
solid shapes, surfaces, or basic elements to be created and moved on a computer monitor. Photos illustrate how
a 3-D torus - or donut shaped solid, is manipulated to create the profile of the grip. The small half-cylinder
protrusion on the big-end center will become an entry "gate" for injected thermoplastic rubber to fill the
cavity.
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CAM
Computer Aided Machining allows the 3-D
shapes to be converted to machining language called G-Codes. A G-code program to machine an injection mold
cavity might be 40,000 lines of numerical code instructions. The CAD/CAM software can simulate the machine
tool cutting path, and visually verify that the cutting "tool-path" is following the instructions.
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TOOL-PATH
Above, the light green is the "tool-path" created by the software. Spacing or "step-over" of the cutting
end-mill can be tightened up for a smoother finish but takes longer to machine. The machining pattern,
direction, and numerous techniques can be programmed during this process. All aspects
of machining control and cutting tool variables are tested using the software, and the "verify" process
as shown in the dark blue block below:
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WIRE-FRAME
Below a "wire-frame" of the grip cavity can be zoomed-in to look for potential problems.
Double-click your left mouse button on it. The "pin-shaped" indicators are an important element
which sometimes are reversed in the solids-manipulation graphic stage, and must be corrected to all
point "outward" from the block. The software allows you to zoom-in to study detail down to one
ten-thousandth of an inch across, represented as .0001".
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MOUNTING HOLES and OTHER FEATURES
Below an overall "wire-frame" of the grip cavity shows the 4 block mounting holes with counter-bores for
securing the block within a large mold base. The cut away corner allows fitting to other blocks
in the mold base, necessary for securing the heating wires on a sub-assembly placed in the cavity.
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SAVED SOLIDS
Below the black half-grip 3-D profile, is about to be positioned on the dark blue block, and a "Boolean Subtraction"
software command is used to "remove" the black half-grip profile from the block. The block with all it's
engineered details is stored as a file, and can be "edit-copy-edit-paste" dropped onto the monitor screen with
the grip profile, similar to text in an email or word processing software. Of the 27 models of grips we manufacture,
the basic building blocks of each can be stored in the software and re-used as required if a new grip profile fits it.
The blocks can be altered in the software and saved with varying mounting hole features, and different lengths can be
created by "Boolean Subtraction and Boolean Addition". Becoming competent at creating and manipulating geometric elements,
surfaces, and solids can involve hundreds of hours of training.
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LONGER BLOCK
Below we've lengthened the block by taking out a 1" section, "lengthening it" 500%, and inserting
it in the existing block...resulting in change from 4.75" to 9.75" length. Of course we could change hole locations
too.
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CNC MACHINE G-Code
Machine G-Codes along with M-Codes below instruct the milling machine where to cut, how to cut, speeds, feeds,in
3 axis simultaneously when to turn on flood coolant all in a very simple language that an experienced CNC
operator and programmer can decipher. There can be tens of thousands of lines of code. It's not unusual to run
"lights out" unattended as programs can run for days if complexity requires it.
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CNC Vertical Machining Center
Below is the control for our 12 hp. Hurco VMX-24 with Ultimax-4 dual screen controller. Equipped with 15,000 rpm, chiller-cooled
spindle bearings, and 24-place automatic CAT40 tool-changer that swaps cutters in 3 seconds. Chip Conveyor system,
9,260 pounds weight, and up to 1000 psi coolant thru-the-spindle to the cutter. Click on the image to see the CNC Vertical Machining Center.
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"Hot Grips" and the associated logo are the trademark or the registered trademark of Hot
Grips Manufacturing, Inc. Hot Grips® products
are protected under one
or more of the following US/Canadian patents: USA: 4,471,209; 4,937,429; 4,990,753;
7,091,450;
Canada: 1,299,621
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© Copyright 1999-2012 Hot Grips® Mfg.. All rights reserved.
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