Management is a great vocation. But what makes the difference between a manager who knows what he’s doing and one who doesn’t… is sometimes having never carried out the actual tasks which they assign. That does sound backwards, doesn’t it? Well, sometimes we need to climb off the big picture to take in some details before mounting back up. So I’m going to give a primer on making stuff by hand and automation through CNC technologies (computer numerical control).
Every good product development center has a place for rapid prototyping and for stretching out the bounds of human ingenuity. Getting to know the machine shop is a great start in building things with your hands and mind. While we might start out at the Design Center first in terms of building simulations and computer models, sometimes the ideas come forth during physical contact with the raw materials.
Our raw materials at the machine shop are machinable wax, ABS plastic, aluminum 6061, and printed circuit boards.
Aluminum
Many parts made in aluminum will withstand the elements very well. It is a great raw material for prototyping as well as for making finished products. For CNC milling, we use a 2 flute end mill that has been coated with titanium.
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