It's a Robot life!

[billbo911]

Build season is a highly energized, sometimes chaotic, 6 weeks. Work never seems to stop. Yet, sometimes you feel like you are in the military. "Hurry up and wait!"

[D_Price]

That is one gorgeous machine right there!

[billbo911]

Originally Posted by D_Price

That is one gorgeous machine right there!

We LOVE it!!

I can't say we are experts at using it yet, but we are sure learning quickly!

[D_Price]

What is the max size it can work with?

I can't say we are experts at using it yet, but we are sure learning quickly![/quote]

[billbo911]

Originally Posted by D_Price

What is the max size it can work with?

18" x 9.5" x 16.25" (X,Y,Z)

X travel isn't long enough to do a drive train rail in one pass, but that just challenges the kids to figure out a way to get as much out of it as possible.

It's neat seeing them find ways to do things as efficiently as possible.

[bEdhEd]

Originally Posted by billbo911

We LOVE it!!

I can't say we are experts at using it yet, but we are sure learning quickly!

Is this a machine your team got recently? We have a planned upgrade to our automation by adding a Haas TM-2P to our shop within the next few seasons. We actually have to first make a new rolling door for our shop since our double doors aren't big enough for the crate and the forklift!

I'd love to have the opportunity to visit your shop someday, and perhaps visit ours!

[billbo911]

Originally Posted by bEdhEd

Is this a machine your team got recently? We have a planned upgrade to our automation by adding a Haas TM-2P to our shop within the next few seasons. We actually have to first make a new rolling door for our shop since our double doors aren't big enough for the crate and the forklift!

I'd love to have the opportunity to visit your shop someday, and perhaps visit ours!

That would be awesome Frank.

Yes, this arrived in our shop right after last season wrapped up.

[asid61]

Originally Posted by billbo911

18" x 9.5" x 16.25" (X,Y,Z)

X travel isn't long enough to do a drive train rail in one pass, but that just challenges the kids to figure out a way to get as much out of it as possible.

It's neat seeing them find ways to do things as efficiently as possible.

Dang I would kill maim for that machine!

In all seriousness though, DT rails are the parts that take us the longest every year, so I would want to be able to do those on a CNC. However in general, the rest of our robot is constructed from pieces maybe a foot or two long. The plates take us the longest.

[billbo911]

Our drive train rails are typically completed in 6 operations. This includes top and bottom holes for gusset plates and belly pan attachments. Total time to complete a single rail is approximately 90 minutes.
We also have two DRO equipped manual verticle mills and two table top Fireball CNC's. Right now we are doing the plates and gussets on the Fireballs until we figure out how to set them up in the Tormach.

[alicen]

I saw the thread title and was expecting a parody video of "It's a Hard-knock Life" from Annie!

However, the Tormach is not a disappointment

[GMeyer]

Our team has a Tormach exactly like that. It works great, and we use it frequently.

[billbo911]

Originally Posted by alicen

I saw the thread title and was expecting a parody video of "It's a Hard-knock Life" from Annie!

However, the Tormach is not a disappointment

That is EXACTLY the song I was thinking of when I titled the thread!

I wish we had the time and talent to do a parody of it, it would be EPIC!