> If Charles Runyan *really* wants to move into the next century, he'll give
> up the restaurant and selling hair brushes (see the latest TRF Christmas
> book) and expand his C.A.R. Components into this type of computerized
> manufacturing. Once you get the CAD drawings rendered, you don't have to
> keep any inventory except for raw stock. And why limit it to just British
> cars? Next time you're at a big car show stop by the Model As or the
> Edsels or the even the Lambo Miuras and ask the owner how he's like to have
> con rods or water pump housings, etc made from translated original
> engineering drawings...
>
> Lee M. Daniels Laboratory for Molecular Structure and Bonding
I worked with some folks who were developing this technology at
GE CR&D a number of years ago. The folks at GE Aircraft Engines
are using it in a number of places now (albeit mostly for
prototyping parts and scale work). It's used by several Indy car
builders as well. The state of the art is still primitive, with
your choice of tools and materials being limited by the experts
who programmed the system. I worked in developing feedback technologies
for machining which would allow the machines and the operators to
"learn" about new tools and materials as they cut. Similar systems
are being used by Mazak and some other Japanese companies, along
with new "fuzzy logic" tecniques to allow more flexibility in
the machining parameters for improved productivity (maximizing
tool life and minimizing chip output). We're a few years away,
but I imagine that by the early 2Ks, you'll be able to buy this service
as you can now buy injection molding. There will be high-quality
folks and cut-rate folks, and you'll have to know who is who.
I'm not sure TRF wouldn't be better served by investing in a small
startup which is already headed in this direction (there are many of them).
With that said, there are several firms in the medical field which
now specialize in taking CT and MR images and machining organ and
bone structures for *scopic surgery planning sessions. Most of the
work is done in a high density foam (I don't remember the trade name, but
the stuff is rigid as hell, and fairly light). Our car parts are nowhere
near as complex as a spinal column in surface detail, and I've seen
entire columns turned out in a few hours. At the very least this technology
could provide good protos for more common machining folks in the interim.
Combined with laser surface mapping techiques and NC peening machines
like Boeing uses to make wing skins, you could build a whole car from
nothing but raw metal. Wonder how long until everyone can customize
their car exteriors in metal (or plastic) when they purchase at the
dealer...
-MM
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