Archive for October, 2008
Bronze Casting Information and the process of Bronze Casting
Posted on Oct 20, 2008 10:07:53 AM
Bronze has been the most sought-after metal for cast metal sculptures in the bygone years. Bronze alloys have a desirable and unusual property to expand slightly prior to their setting. This helps a great deal in filling every corner of the mold. Their ductility and strength causes them to be molded into any form. However, bronze has a basic disadvantage of not being durable. Hence, there are hardly any traces of ancient bronze statues found. Bronze Casting generally takes place by a process called lost-wax casting. Though, centrifugal and sand castings are also employed, around 90% of bronze casting takes place through lost-wax casting.
Lost-wax method: Lost-wax Metal Casting , in the industry, is better known as investment casting. It is costlier than die and sand Metal Casting , but outshines them in terms of accuracy. It is easily possible to make complicated structures through ‘lost-wax casting’. The process can be described as follows:
Sculpting: First, the original artwork is created by the artist from clay, wax, or some other material. Mostly, clay (oil-based) and wax are used due to their property of retention of softness.
Mold making: Majority of molds consist of 2 pieces, along with a shim placed between 2 halves at the time of construction in order to put back the mold accurately. The shim area is where the keys are stored. Plaster is generally what makes up small scuplture molds. Fiberglass can also be used. To have the minute details preserved on the surface of original artwork, there exists a mold inside. It is made up of vinyl, silicone, or latex supported by plaster part of mold. Generally, the destruction of original artwork takes place during making. This is due to the solid nature of the originals. The other reason is the rigidity of the originals at the time of removal of plaster mold. That’s why; the original is cut off into thin, long pieces and separately molded. At times, a number of molds are required for recreating the original structure.
Wax: After the completion of latex-and-plaster mold, the pouring of molten wax takes place. Then, swishing is carried out till a uniform coating is obtained. The thickness of the coating is 1/8 inches. The mold’s inner surface gets covered by it. In order to get the thickness that you desire, you will want to repeat this process over and over.
Wax removal: Artwork’s ‘hallow wax copy’ is detached from mold. This mold may be reused by the artist for making more copies of wax, but its use gets restricted due to frequent ‘wear & tear’. Around 25 copies can be made for tiny bronze artworks.
Chasing: The chasing of each copy starts. Rubbing of the marks is done by a hot metal tool. The marks showing ‘flashing’ or ‘parting line’ are rubbed out.
Spruing: The spruing of copy generates paths to flow (for molten bronze) and causes air to move out.
Slurry: The dipping of sprued copy into a liquid silica slurry, and then into sand-like ‘stucco’ takes place. If its 1/2 inch that you are going for in your coating, you will want to continue this process until this thickness is obtained.
After these steps, the out-and-out processes like burnout, testing, pouring, releasing, metal chasing, and patinating are carried out.
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learn some great G-Code tips today for CNC programming
Posted on Oct 19, 2008 10:46:15 PM
In a word, no. You will probably need to know how to quickly scan your G-Code if you are having problems during your machining simulation.G-Code and CNC programs are throwaway programs for the most part. What do I mean by that? Let me explain.
Let us look at a very specific design. Let’s say a 12” by 12” square. You build your model, run it through your CAM Software and create a CNC Program made up of G-Code instructions to your machine. Say tomorrow the job requirements change to a 24” by 24” square. Do you go into your G-Code line by line and change the code? Most people wouldn’t. They would go back into their CAD or CAM program and scale the square up to 24” by 24”.Then postprocess the job to get their new CNC Program.
There are some people that would do this editing line by line because the design is simple. Now think of a complex shape and what scaling it up or down would entail.This would include changes to the G-Code and reviewing it line by line. We are talking thousands of lines here vs. Going back and quickly changing the size of the model, then creating some new G-Code. And that is why G-Code is throwaway. Use it over and over when you can, but don’t fret over archiving it if something changes. It is much better to make a copy of the design (CAD File) in its original state and save that somewhere. That is much more useful.
Post Processing??? – Now you have me worried. With all the variations in G-Codes and M-Codes, how will I ever keep it straight?
Don’t worry about that. The CAM program you choose will have many Post Processors. Post Processors are like translators. They help the CAM Program spit out the right gcode for your specific machine.What you have to do is select the right post processor before you create the G-Code. That is simple.
Most CAM programs have many machine specific post processors already loaded. All you do is go to the list of them and click on your machine to select it. If you build your own CNC Machine, there are generic post processors loaded for different types of machines. Usually you pick a generic one and modify it a bit with a little testing. You are making sure a move in the X-Axis positive direction really means what you want it to mean.
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1000 rupees government laptop!
Posted on Oct 18, 2008 09:18:23 PM
After graduation in Delhi, getting ready for the competitive examinations Archit Trivedi his room hostels for 2000 rupees per month to rent these days and your friend’s laptop on the project is preparing to. However, he soon hired his laptop in the half-money can buy.
The new plan from the most enthusiastic students Archit say, “cyber cafes have become very cheap, but if you have laptop if we sit at home at night, it is easy to work”.
It started 11 anniversary of the Five Year Plan which was drafted while the information, communication and technology (ICT) through the education campaign for the 5000 crore have been allocated. The purpose was all science students to provide a laptop.
Sources by CNN – IBN According to the information now the plan is ready at all between the ministers and their opinion to achieve is being sent. Higher education students in mind it has a sample from a government aid has been made by the company.
The government scheme has been working under the company name was kept secret.
Sources CNN – IBN have also reported that the laptop’s price will be only Rs 1000, the government if their partner to one million systems to make them contract.
256 MB of memory capacity in this laptop. The system will also facilitate the audio and video. Government and the development of this product at the same level of production would reduce costs.
The laptop comes with ‘nano-PC’, the news has begun to fly and it was not the technology more complex, perhaps in the villages of it heavy consumer can get.
Some brands and manufacturers of laptop
Acer
Apple
ASUS
Compaq
Dell
Gateway
Hewlett-
Lenovo
Panasonic
Sony
Toshiba
Abbcore Technologies
Acorn Computers
AVADirect
Averatec
BenQ
Everex
Fujitsu Siemens
Gericom
Gigabyte Technology
HCL
HTC – HTC Shift
Hypersonic
Hyundai
Jetta (electronics company) – Jetbook
LG – Xnote
LinuxCertified – Linux laptop
MDG Computers
Medion
Micro-Star International (MSI)
NEC – VERSA, LaVie
Neo – Empiriva, Endura
Noahpad
OQO
Orca
Packard Bell – EasyNote
PC Club
Philips – X200
Pioneer Computers
Positivo Informática
Prestigio
Sager Notebook Computers
Samsung – Sens
Seanix – Seanix
Sharp – Mebius
Síragon, C.A.
System76
VIA – NanoBook, pc-1 Initiative
Zenith
Zepto
Wipro Technolgies
Looking For More News : Visit :- Entertainment Website India
Antique Alarm Clocks
Posted on Oct 17, 2008 10:44:43 PM
The oldest alarm clock ever is the sun, but antiques dealers and clock historians keep saying that the sun “doesn’t count”. Apparently this is because you can’t put the sun under any kind of value guide. But alarm clocks have existed long before the idea of buying and selling antiques. Here is a look at just three of these very different antique alarm clocks.
The Great Exhibition Of 1851
Charles Darwin, best known for his theory of evolution, was also a keen observer of his times. In 1851, he took his children to Hyde Park to the Crystal Palace, also known as The Great Exhibition. All kinds of new and unusual devices were on display, one of which (had it survived) would be known as the most dangerous antique alarm clock in the world today.
In this antique alarm clock, the sleeper’s was made on springs and levers. When it came time for the sleeper to come out of the Land of Nod, the bed would shoot up, propelling the sleeper into a tub of cold water. Unbelievably, this kind of antique alarm clock never caught on. In fact, it’s usually not listed in historical papers on the Great Exhibition. This antique alarm clock is, however, lovingly detailed in Charles Darwin’s personal diaries.
The Nuremberg Wall Clock
A much more conventional and dry antique wall clock is thought to have been made in the 1400’s in Nuremberg, Germany. It was made of iron and had bronze bells and worked as a smaller version of the huge town clocks all around European cities since the 1100’s. It was a mere nineteen inches tall. Its existence is doubtful, especially after the World Wars Germany went through. We know of this antique wall clock through old writings.
Salisbury Cathedral
The oldest known antique alarm clock still ticking away today can be seen in Salisbury Cathedral in England near Stonehenge, once thought to be a kind of antique alarm clock but now thought to be a place of ancestor worship. Known as “the Medieval Clock”, this antique alarm clock was thought to be made around 1386.
Alarm clocks were rather large in the fourteenth century – usually only a clock tower or a cathedral could hold one. he big advantage was that the whole town could use one. Also, you didn’t have to worry about antique alarm clock thieves. Or, worry about sober thieves, anyway. If anyone tried to steal this antique alarm clock, they wouldn’t be able to get very far without someone pretending not to notice.
Rapid Prototype Basics
Posted on Oct 16, 2008 02:05:18 AM
Invention Prototype is a process of software development wherein physical objects are automatically constructed by means of SFF or solid freeform fabrication. In the process of rapid prototyping, a prototype or working model can be constructed quickly, and tested for its functionality, performance and output. The new features or ideas can be illustrated well in the prototype and early user feedback can be gathered with regards to the product. There are numerous advantages of rapid prototyping.
Benefits of Rapid Prototyping:
Significant advantages of a Prototyping include reduction of project cost and risk. Generally, one or more prototypes are developed in the process of software development in a series of incremental and iterative steps. Every prototype that is manufactured is based on the previous designs’ performance and it is a corrective process through which the past design defects or problems are corrected. The product is readied for production when the prototype is refined as per requirements and meets all the design goals like manufacturability, robustness and functionality.
Another great advantage of rapid prototyping is that it finds use and application in almost all the industries. The other advantages of rapid prototyping include the following:
Visualization capabilities are enhanced in the early designing phase with use of rapid prototyping. The user gets a fair idea of how the final product will look by observing the working model in early design stage.
The design flaws can be detected before manufacture process is initiated.
Rapid prototyping enables producer and users to participate actively. Active participation between the users and producer is encouraged.
The user is able to get a higher output.
The development costs are reduced considerably, hence rapid prototyping proves to be quite cost effective.
Rapid prototyping increases the speed of system development.
With Invention Prototype , it is possible to detect deficiencies in the earlier prototype, coding activities and requirement analysis.
Rapid prototyping assists in refining the potential risks that are involved in the delivery
The different aspects of the prototype can be tried and tested and immediate feedback is possible form user.
Better communication is enabled between the users and designer as there is clear expression of requirements and expectations in the start itself.
Rapid prototyping enables easy delivery of high quality product.
Cost and Time Savings:
Savings of development time and process costs are some of the greatest advantages of rapid prototyping. Time can be saved by reducing the amount of time required to produce the prototype parts and tooling. Production costs are lowered as the mistakes regarding tooling are identified in the early stages and hence, the modification costs can be cut down in the actual production.
Advantage of Innovation:
Rapid prototyping can be used in many innovative ways. There are many firms that use rapid prototyping innovatively, hence, offering additional benefits. The advantages of rapid prototyping in innovative applications are advancement of new testing procedures and analysis, production tooling manufacture, improved communications across production departments and support of customized manufacturing. The new technologies can be used in a cost effective and successful manner with innovative applications of rapid prototyping.
CNC overview process
Posted on Oct 15, 2008 10:14:44 PM
Quick Explanation of the Process
This is how I view CNC Machining.I break it down into steps that I can remember easily. Now, they all interact, but it is good to keep them in boxes for simplicity sake. I also like to keep them in a logical, progression type order. Here they are: Design, CAD, CAM, Control and Machine.
Today you are going on a journey. You are going to learn about the basics of CNC.I trust you are as excited as I am about this subject.
I have been using CNC equipment in my home shop for six years now. The technology gets better and better every year. The software gets better every year. At one time large companies could only afford this technology.Now there are thousands of CNC machines working in shops like yours and mine.
There are basically five elements to a CNC Project that you need to know:
Design – thinking and planning what you want to build
Computer Aided Design – translating it into the computer
CAM – converting it into machine language
Controlling – directing your machine’s motion
Machining – building the part to specifications
These five elements are really the building blocks to a CNC project. As you see them above, that is generally the order people associate them in. For example, you can’t control until you have a design. You can’t use your CAM software before your CAD software.One of the things you need to take into account is how these different elements interact with one another.
Right now this may seem confusing. Over time, it will seem very basic. The more you use these elements with one another, the more their order will become second nature.
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Why One Should Be Reading The 20gb Mp3 Player Review
Posted on Oct 14, 2008 07:12:05 PM
If you are thinking about getting a discount mp3 player that you have come across there are some things that you are going to want to take into consideration. The first thing that you should really be considering is how much storage space you really need in a player. While the player that you are looking at seems to be a good deal, you may find something better if you are really not in need of such an excessive amount of storage space for your music. This is a personal choice and one that you should be thinking over for a good bit before you go spending all of your money on something that you could really do without.
So before you go and spend all of your hard earned money it would be a good idea to check out a 20gb mp3 player review or two. This will give you a good idea on whether or not that type of mp3 player is really something that you would want to have. Also, the 20gb mp3 player review that is brand specific is a great way to make sure that the overall product is something that is worth any money at all. Make sure that you are reading at least one good 20gb mp3 player review before you make your purchase.
Finding Good Mp3 Player Reviews That You Can Trust
Once you are finally ready to start paying close attention to a 20gb mp3 player review it is important that you are finding the right ones. There is absolutely no way that any company can make everyone out there happy so you want to make sure that the reviews that you are reading are true and to the point. Avoid the ones that appear to be someone who is just generally upset with the company for one reason or another because these people are most likely just blowing off steam and telling lies in order to make the company look bad.
Start your search on the Internet for a 20gb mp3 player review that you can trust. You will find once you find the reviews that there are a lot more then you probably thought there would be. This is typical so just try to surf through a few of them in order to find the most detailed ones. The detailed 20gb mp3 player review is what you would want to keep an eye out for and pay attention to. The more information you have the better off your choices will be.
Lost Foam Casting Process
Posted on Oct 13, 2008 03:18:51 AM
Lost Foam Casting is a sub type of Investment Casting. This type of casting method uses foam pattern as the investment. This method benefits from the advantages of the foam properties helpful to make simple and cheap castings. These types of simple castings are impossible using the regular cope and drag method.
Here are the details of the Casting Process:
Foam Shaping: The original foam pattern of the Polystyrene is generally molded or carved.
Carving Polystyrene: What you want to do it to take either a traditional carving tool or one of the newer hot wire cutting tools to cut the formed foam. It can also be sanded easily.
Injecting Polystyrene in a Mold: Polystyrene contains pentane as a blowing agent and is commonly used for beads. The beads are pre-extended, stabilized and then blown into the mold to form pattern sections. A steam cycle forces the beads to expand fully, after this the fuse together and then it undergoes an in-mold cooling cycle. The final shape if very complex, then it is molded in sections. A cluster is formed by aging and gluing together the shaped foam sections.
Preparing Final Mold (Investment) for Metal Casting : Gates and Raisers are generally attached to the pattern, they are also the part of the casting as this helps reduce the shrinkage. Pouring, dipping or spraying are the different methods used for coating the foam cluster with ceramic investment. The reason for this coating is that it forms a barrier and helps to prevent the molten metal to penetrate or cause sand erosion while pouring. Structural integrity of the casting is protected thanks to the coating. The cluster when dried is backed up with un-bonded sand and is placed in a flask. Proper and uniform compaction is then achieved by performing mold compaction using a vibrating table. After all this process and after proper compaction, the mold is ready to be poured.
Automatic pouring is the preferred method in Lost Foam Casting . This is the most critical process and also a bit difficult than the traditional foundry practice. As there are no parting lines or fins to remove the cleaning is easier and requires far more less time and operations in the Lost Foam Casting process.
Advantages of Lost Foam Casting: Due to its unique properties, foam is easy to carve glue and manipulate. It also provides accurate dimensions as Lost Foam Casting is more accurate and effective than sand casting. There are no fins or parting lines the finishing process is easy and less time consuming. The elimination of cores makes complex casting designs easy. Lost Foam Casting also allows us to control the wall thickness and thus no core prints are required thus eliminating shifts or fins and also saves the trouble of sand mixing and core defects. As there are no drafts multiple levels of casting is possible. Precise gate and riser replacements are achieved. What is nice about Lost Foam Casting that sometimes, it is much easier to to cast items in this way versus other types of casting methods. Due to simpler process and easy finishing work, the process is very cost effective and lowers the overall price of the final product.
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Training on CNC safety tips
Posted on Oct 12, 2008 02:17:02 PM
Just about any topic that is covered about working in a shop should start with safety.Everyone safety should be the first thing you think about.CNC is not different than any other shop topic that you will encounter. In fact, the highest levels of safety awareness should be maintained when using a CNC machine.
CNC machines don’t have a mind of their own. A computer gives them a command and they execute it. They don’t care if they are cutting steel, aluminum, wood or your hand. They don’t differentiate between materials. You need to be aware of this.
When you are Learning CNC you should take it slow. Do tests on a small scale, then watch and learn what happens. For example, why don’t you let your machine “cut air” for a while when you first get it. You don’t need to put it right to work cutting material. Why not create a simple program, and let the machine cut the air instead of material. Better yet, why even run the spindle during the test.
Every CNC Machine has quirks that you need to learn.Every CNC machine has a different working window. Every CNC machine is just a little bit different then the rest of them.You should learn your machine before you put it to work.
Generally, with a CNC Mills, we are machining something. While machining, “chips” are being thrown off. Sometimes at a very rapid speed. Here is where safety glasses, face shields and material barriers come into play. Use them!The CNC machine doesn’t know that you are there. In the words of every boxing ref before a match, “protect yourself at all times!”
A few ideas to keep you safe in the shop:
Always read the instruction manual before using your machine
Always follow manufacturers recommendations
Always wear safety glasses
You need to wear the appropriate safety equipment for your job
Use shields and barriers while machining when it is appropriate
Test your machine before full production
Perform proper and routine maintenance on your machines
Perform checks on your machine for wear and damage
Always think safety!
CNC resource site:
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You can join for Free and you get two free CNC ebooks. One is a GCode Quick Guide and the other is the CNC Info Site eBook. You also get access to the Free Video Series…Image to CNC Art when you join the community.
Digital World Clocks Are Here To Stay
Posted on Oct 11, 2008 06:10:49 PM
You can see digital world clocks in use in many places. Though they aren’t always digital, world clocks can be found helping business and consumers around the globe. What exactly is a world clock? What are some common uses? How can they be used by you, the average person?
What Is It, Anyhow?
Have you ever wondered what time it is in another place in the world? If you live in California, and your sister is in Japan, can you remember how many hours of difference there is in the time – and which way direction the difference is calculated – is she ahead of you? Or behind you in time? You probably want to know before you call her. That’s where a world clock comes in handy.
A world clock, whether digital, analog, or online, is a clock that displays the time all around the world, by stating the time in various cities. It can just show it in the cities that the need requires – like a train station that only tells times in cities that the trains are going to – or it can show times in many cities around the world. Some show the times based on which time zone the city is located in. Some show the time on a world map, others as a list. For some world clocks, like online, you can input the city you are interested in and it will tell you.
Uses In A Business Setting
World clocks, often digital, are found around the world in the business world. Many businesses rely on them for accuracy in their business dealings, like in an import/export type of business that needs to know the time in another area prior to making money transfers, phone calls, data feeds, meetings, etc. Some businesses don’t rely on them for a business purpose, other than to look professional and business-like. They can often be seen in the lobby of executive offices, as a wall clock.
Personal Uses For World Clocks
Many of us have used a world clock at one time or another, for the fun of it, if nothing else. If it is a digital world clock, it can tell in numbers what time it is in another part of the world. Isn’t everyone intrigued by looking at the time in another place….”So, it is 9:00 here on a Thursday night, but it is tomorrow afternoon where she lives? Wow!” It can be difficult to wrap one’s mind around, but seeing the numbers on a digital world clock can help.
Where To Find A World Clock
World clocks are easily accessible. You can buy one in a store, or online. They come as either analog or digital world clock types. Or you can buy software to install a world clock on your computer. You can also access online world clocks that are free, often with just as many “bells and whistles” as one you would purchase. It is worth looking online before parting with your money.