Q: What does Jackson 3D Machining do?
A: Jackson 3D Machining utilises leading edge software and a 5-axis machining centre to quickly produce both small and large, accurate 3 dimensional shapes in a range of materials which can then be used as the master tooling for GRP parts, vacuum forming tools, foundry patterns, plastic rotational moulds and so on.

Since the cutting head can operate simultaneously in all of its 5 axis, it is possible to produce complex 3D machined surfaces.

Trimming and cutting complex holes accurately on curved and irregular shaped surfaces has always been difficult, however the 5 axis machining centre can quickly trim and cut complex holes into plastic parts on a production basis.

Q: What design services are offered?
A: Jackson 3D Machining uses integrated CAD/CAM packages Solidworks and Mastercam to design products that can be simple 2D shapes, through to the manufacture of very intricate 3 dimensional shapes.

The Jackson 3D design office can readily import into its system, a client's 3D designs prepared in other software packages such as Maxsurf.

Q: What materials can be machined?
A: The 5 axis-machining system can machine a wide range of materials including foams, epoxy tooling planks, MDF, timber, plaster, aluminium, and GRP.

Q: What is the maximum size object that can be machined?
A: The 5-axis machining centre has a bed 3 metres in length by 1.5 metres wide and 1 metre height and 3 metres in length by 3.0 metres wide and 1.1 metre height

Parts to be machined that are larger than these dimensions can be broken up into smaller sections which can be accommodated onto the machine table.

Once all the parts have been machined they can be simply joined together using machined dowel holes placed in the sides of each part for perfect alignment.

Q: Can existing products be reverse engineered?
A: The Jackson 3D Machining centre is fitted with a Renshaw probe that allows an existing product surface to be scanned. The scanned surface information is accumulated over a period of time as the probe traverses backwards and forwards across the part.

The coordinates of this surface information is then reversed through the 5 axis machining centre and down loaded into software packages such as Mastercam and Solidworks.

In Mastercam and Solidworks environment these coordinates of the surface information can be used to reproduce the scanned product. This facility is particularly important where no 3D design for a part exists.

Q: What CAD or project software file types are acceptable?
A: We currently ask our clients to provide their project files from other software packages in either IGES or DXF formats. We have found the DXF format is the more reliable for the projects that we have completed in the past year.

Project files can be e-mailed directly to our company at jim@jackson.co.nz

Q: Can customers participate in the process?
A: Jackson 3D Machining's engineering department provides liaison between the customer and the design and/or the machining departments.

Customer participation in projects where possible is encouraged and their ideas valued.