It is possible to machine a .....

[cloverfield333]

...spoon and/or fork from a solid billet of steel instead of casting the spoon in a mold??? does anyone have any idea on how a spoon or fork could be machined in a CNC Machining Center?

http://visual.merriam-webster.com/im...ware/spoon.jpg

[cloverfield333]

This is another CAD picture of the spoon:

[RICHARD ZASTROW]

A spoon or fork could be machined on a CNC machining center. However, it would still require additional processing (polishing to remove machining marks etc.) to produce a finished product.

Normally they are punched out of sheet material and then finished by polishing etc. The more polishing etc. will provide more of a perceived quality product. (rounder edges and corners etc.) Far more efficient and less costly.

The pieces can be silver plated to improve their snob appeal. Stainless steel is usually acceptable.

Dick Z

[cloverfield333]

Originally Posted by RICHARD ZASTROW A spoon or fork could be machined on a CNC machining center. However, it would still require additional processing (polishing to remove machining marks etc.) to produce a finished product. Normally they are punched out of sheet material and then finished by polishing etc. The more polishing etc. will provide more of a perceived quality product. (rounder edges and corners etc.) Far more efficient and less costly. The pieces can be silver plated to improve their snob appeal. Stainless steel is usually acceptable. Dick Z

Thanks for your response. Do you have an idea on how to set up the billet so the spoon or fork shape can be machined in a CNC machining center. Would it require an indexing head, or a 5-axis machine???

[RICHARD ZASTROW]

Machine one side (top or bottom) from a billet. In that first operation machine two accurate registration holes through the billet.

Relocate the billet upside down on a fixture plate with corresponding registration holes or pins (dowels).

Machine second side to completion.

This requires only three axis motion. An indexing fixture would be an improvement but not needed. Four or five axis of controlled motion would produce nearer to finished workpiece but each added axis requires a more expensive and complicated machine and programming support system.

It's the old adage, "Speed costs money, how fast do you want to go?" Is this an exercise to prove it can be done or a "real world" production question. In the real world, you must justify the economics of the method.

Hope that helps.

Dick Z

[juergenwt]

OK - not a spoon, but some awful CNC programming and machining. Site is in German but clk. on the underlined head lines for some great CNC movies.
Clk here: http://www.emuge.de/deutsch/medien/videos.html

Ps. You can clk on the UK flag upper right hand corner for English.

Have fun!