Re: Hexapod question

>OK gang, I have been following this thread for some time now, and I
>am still at a loss as to what the possible practicable use a Hexapod
>would be in a machining environment.

A hexapod provides 5 axis machining. Is very stiff (assuming good
joints etc) for the weight and hence they can throw the spindle
around at high speeds. It is much easier to move a spindle and it's
six struts than move a huge bed and work piece.

So you get high speed 5 axis machining.

> I can see that it would give some interesting movements to a table,
>but the simple lever arm lengths involved would, it seems to me,
>eliminate this design as a practical tool for machining metals. Am
>I missing something here? Or am I narrowing my view to much?

Not sure what you mean by lever arm lengths. If you refer to my
previous points then that was a "proof" that the the short levers
from the U joints do not make a difference.

If you are talking about the fact that the spindle is on the end of
long struts then just remmeber that they form a network of triangles
and a very stiff structure. In the same way that all 6 strut lengths
need to be changed to move the spindle, all 6 struts resist any force
on the spindle.

Cheers,

Graham