From the info I've read about them, these types of machines are referred to
as HSM, for high speed machining.

Spindle RPMs in the tens-of-thousands and the overall machines are built
specifically for this purpose, not just a standard machine with a powerful
high speed motor retrofitted.

The videos are very impressive, but I could enjoy spending a day just
watching various parts being machined.

They are so fast/efficient that they can machine a part from solid stock,
that would've previously been made by fabricating the part with several
pieces of sheet stock, such as airframe structural members.

--
WB
..........
metalworking projects
www.kwagmire.com/metal_proj.html


"Bob La Londe" wrote in message
...
What is the big key to the speed of this machine?

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...53814431369082

Looks like they are cutting about 1/4 plate at a really aggressive rate.
Obviously ramping and spray lubricant help, but that is not all it takes
to cut that aggressively or is this also a super high speed spindle?

My experience so far has been that if I try to take off more than about
.003 by .250 per pass I can run about 20 IPM with aluminum with lubricant.
This looks like they are taking about .250 by .1875 in a single pass after
ramping in at something like 60 IPM.

Excuse my numbers if they are off since I can only judge this process by
what is shown on the video and guess at the dimensions.