When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Awesome Milling

Machining an Aluminum Isogrid Skateboard

Machining an Aluminum Isogrid Skateboard

An isogrid is a kind of metal structure that uses hollowed-out triangles to provide strength while reducing weight. Barry from Titans of CNC Machining used the technique to create a truly awesome skateboard. He started by plotting a design in SolidWorks, then used a CNC mill to carve the board from a block of aluminum.

Polygonal Turning

Polygonal Turning

It makes perfect sense that you can mill round objects by turning them on a spindle. But this video from the Titans of CNC shows us how it’s possible to use computer-controlled machines to mill sharply-defined polygonal objects on a spinning machine by synchronizing the spindle and the milling tool.

Advertisement

Machined Metal Disco Ball

Machined Metal Disco Ball

An ordinary disco ball is made from hollow cardboard or plastic covered with a bunch of tiny mirrored tiles. But this unique disco ball from the Titans of CNC Machining is made entirely from a single block of aluminum. After milling the sphere, they used a unique burnishing tool to create its shiny facets.

Micro-machining a Mountain

Micro-machining a Mountain

As impressive as large-scale milling machines can be, compact machines that can create intricate parts are equally fascinating to us. In this clip, Bantam Tools shows off their Desktop PCB Milling Machine as it carves a miniature topographic map of Washington’s Mount Rainier out of a cube of aluminum.

SainSmart Genmitsu CNC Router Machine

SainSmart Genmitsu CNC Router Machine
Buy

This compact machine offers a great and inexpensive entry point to computer-controlled fabrication. It can be set up in less than 30 minutes and can mill various materials like foam, wood, plastics, and metals. Its working area measures 300mm x 180mm and can work on objects up to 45mm thick.

Machining Linked Copper Rings

Machining Linked Copper Rings

Watch as a solid block of copper is magically transformed into a set of linking rings with the help of talented metalsmith Viktor Leontiev and his trusty milling machine. The finished piece looks great set onto its hand-turned wooden base.

Machining a 500-Pound Chess Board

Machining a 500-Pound Chess Board

TITANS of CNC: Academy presents footage of a truly epic creation – a hefty chess board machined from a massive hunk of metal. It’s got a grooved playing surface, and logo art on its sides. We’d love to see how they milled all of those beautiful titanium chess pieces too.

Advertisement

Milling a Metal Gear

Milling a Metal Gear

Machine shop DataPro shares hypnotic footage of a Datron CNC milling machine, as it takes a disc of aluminum and transforms it into a precise and smoothly formed gear. It was shot as a time-lapse, but won’t it be awesome when machines can do this in real time?

Bantam Tools Desktop Milling Machine

Bantam Tools Desktop Milling Machine

Bantam Tools‘ CNC milling machine makes it easier than ever to create prototypes right on your desktop. It works quickly and automatically adjusts based on material location and tool length. It can mill a variety of materials including aluminum, brass, steel, copper, wood, and more, with a working volume of 7″ x 9″ x 3.5″.

Milling an Inlaid Cutting Board

Milling an Inlaid Cutting Board

Butcher block maker Brother in Wood shows off his computer controlled mill carving out an intricate pattern of famed Samurai Hattori Hanzō. He then used the machine to cut an inverse pattern in a contrasting wood, glued it in place, then milled off the top layer for an inlay effect. The finished cutting board is a work of art.

Real Metal Friend

Real Metal Friend

Engineer BrunS takes a momentary break from making epic metal rocketships to build something different – a miniature version of Bender Bending Rodgriguez from Futurama. But it’s clear BrunS’ wife is tired of him spending his days in the machine shop, and keeps interrupting his project. Also, you can buy Bender here.

Making a Big Bronze Rocket

Making a Big Bronze Rocket

After wowing us with his Fallout-inspired Red Rocket, metal artist Engineer BrunS is back with an even more challenging build, a big bronze rocketship. Watching the precision-milled components fit together so perfectly is wonderfully satisfying. If you’ve got 1500 bucks to spare, you can even own this masterpiece

Advertisement

Spirographic Metal

Spirographic Metal

In this clip from Japanese metalsmith Swap Lamp, he shows us how to use an offset disc to mill repeating geometric patterns into a piece of metal. It takes a bit of manual work to re-position the workpiece, but the resulting design is something like a Spirograph would make if it could engrave metal instead of drawing on paper.

Making a Micro Chess Set

Making a Micro Chess Set

Maker of cool things W&M walks us through the painstaking process of milling a set of teensy brass chess pieces, and crafting an elegant wooden board on which to play the game. The pieces are so small, the game needs to be played with tweezers.

Machining a Titanium Lion’s Head

Machining a Titanium Lion’s Head

The Titans of CNC: Academy rightfully brag about their electronic machining equipment and skills by transforming a hefty 218 pound billet of aerospace grade titanium into a stunning sculpture of a lion’s head. In the end, they milled away over 100 pounds of material to reveal the metal king of the jungle.

Machining Darth Vader

Machining Darth Vader

Watch the Dark Lord come to life via modern machining tech, as an Okuma MU-5000V 5-axis mill completes milling a perfect metal bust of Star Wars’ baddie, courtesy of Morris Midwest. We’d love to see the sculpt from the beginning, but we’ll settle for metal Vader on our desk.

Machining the Eiffel Tower

Machining the Eiffel Tower

German CNC machine maker Hermle shares footage of its C 42 U 5-axis milling machine cranking out an intricate model of the Eiffel Tower, carved from a single block of solid aluminum. Why can’t we have a machine like this in The Awesomer office?

CNC Machining a Bust

CNC Machining a Bust

There’s something just so satisfying about watching this Thermwood 5-axis milling machine gradually transform a nondescript block of low-density foam into an intricately-carved sculpture. We wonder how long it took to complete the entire model.

Snapmaker 3D Printer

Snapmaker 3D Printer

A bargain-priced, compact 3D printer made primarily from sturdy metal components. It not only can print PLA, PVA, ABS and Nylon, but offers modules for carving and laser engraving. Our main concern is the lack of an enclosure for containing noise, odors, and debris.

5-axis Machining Demo

5-axis Machining Demo

While the object being milled serves no purpose other than to show off the precision of its fabrication, we’re still mesmerized as a solid hunk of metal was carved into a tiny desktop sculpture using a Matsuura MX-330 5-axis mill driven by Autodesk’s PowerMill software.

High-Speed Milling Machine

High-Speed Milling Machine

A mesmerizing look at the dexterity and speed of a GROB-WERKE CNC milling machine, as it sculpts a solid block of metal into a precision part. The way it moves the object to meet the cutting blade is like a robotic ballet. More here.

Milling a Metal Guitar

Milling a Metal Guitar

Watch in awe as this CNC cutting machine transforms hunks of solid titanium and aluminum into an intricate electric guitar. The 124 piece guitar looks identical to the real deal, though at 15 pounds, it’s about twice the weight of a Fender Stratocaster.

ADVERTISEMENT

Home | About | Suggest | Contact | Team | Links | Privacy | Disclosure
Advertise | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Sites We Like

Awesome Stuff: The Awesomer | Cool Cars: 95Octane
Site Design & Content © 2008-2024 Awesomer Media / The Awesomer™