High Precision Machine Design & Build: what learning resources? 2

[tygerdawg]

I am seeking recommendations of any learning resources for the topic of designing & building high precision machinery, fixtures, machine elements.

Various websearches have given me lots of hits on Shigley, etc., but that's insufficient. Anybody with modern CAD tools can design machine elements with 14-place location tolerances which is useless. I seek a summary understanding of the "tribal knowledge" or "best practices" of how to manufacture those elements, machine assembly methods of putting parts together to achieve very high locational tolerances, qualification & calibration methods. I'm familiar with "standard" practices and fabrication methods, but I'm looking for practices that support micron or sub-micron tolerances.

I suppose what I need is a distillation of the knowledge of 10-20 master tool makers and master machine builders. I don't want to be an expert in the subject matter, just be able to talk intelligently about it to folks who ARE experts. Are there resources to gain some insight into these practices?

TygerDawg
Blue Technik LLC
Virtuoso Robotics Engineering

http://www.bluetechnik.com

 

[sreid]

The best book is "Precision Machine Design" by A. Slocum.

Also check out "Publications" at Americam Society for Precision Engineering.

ASPE.net

 

[tgrimley]

Prof Slocum's book is a great resource. Lots of "nuggets" and some interesting examples.

 

[Ceramicguy]

I recommend Foundations of Mechanical Accuracy by Moore. He was one of the founders of Moore Tool Company. He covers many of the nuances of precision machine tool manufacturing and measurement of precision surfaces. This is real world stuff, not a bunch of computer generated malarky to the nth decimal place that is impossible to manufacture or opaque derivations of high mathematics. Moore Tool Co. produced some of the finest machine tools before the advent of CNC. Think Moore Jig Grinders, Jig Borers and Universal Measuring Machines.

Bruce

http://www.accuratus.com

 

[sreid]

Another Book is "Principles of Precision Engioneering." It sets the stage for what's important.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/search?index=books&linkCode=qs&keywords=0198562667

 

[tygerdawg]

Many, many thanks to all for superlative suggestions. The suggestions gave me more effective and useful keywords to search the labyrinth-that-is-the-web.

I decided to break down & purchase Slocum's book, and also took a chance on "Precision Manufacturing" by Dornfield. I'd love to get a copy of Moore's book (I love the Old Skool Stuff...like Omer Blodgett's books on weldments), but the $150 price would put me over budget. Maybe later.

I did find a very interesting Ph.D. Thesis "Principles and Techniques for Designing Precision Machines" by Layton Carter Hale (whose committee included Slocum) for free download. If interested, websearch for it and you should be able to find multiple sites offering it for free download.

One would think that with billions of our tax dollars going into government research laboratories and NASA, then they would produce something useful to the common public. But, unfortunately, I didn't find much to download without providing a digital promise of first-born child or a promise to have my address visited by the FBI. Does any body have any leads on the government sites?

TygerDawg
Blue Technik LLC
Virtuoso Robotics Engineering

http://www.bluetechnik.com

 

[JavaMoose]

Talk to NIST, they were invaluable when we were designing a 3-Axis milling machine that held 1 micron accuracy (across a 12 inch workspace). They have a team that has a lot of real experience with high tolerance machines.

All of the other suggestions thus far are great resources as well, worth having on the shelf.

 

[unclesyd]

You might want to look through the material provided by the links below. Some of the material offered by ToolingU has some very specific concepts you will need to design any machine. There is a wealth of information on the SME site, who now owns ToolingU.

You need to gather specific information as what's available on the market for things like , Chucks Work and Tool Holders, Controls. etc. This type information should help to avoid the pitfalls of designing a machine that requires a new or special componet.

http://www.sme.org/srch/search.do?q=machine+design&start=1&adv1=&trp=10&advCat=all&st=N&fz=N

http://www.toolingu.com/class_search_catalog.aspx

 

[KENAT]

I'll back up the recomondation of Slocum - it's a bit of a bible around here where we build precision metrology equipment (nanometer scale).

NIST are one of our customers and at least some of our lead guys sometimes get to discuss the real meaning of certain terms etc.

Posting guidelines faq731-376

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

(probably not aimed specifically at you)
What is Engineering anyway: faq1088-1484​