How Do You Make A Billet SMX Block?

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[@yakirgr]

I wish my wife would look at me the way Steve looks at a block of aluminum ...

[@Filip_Phreriks]

I wish my wife would squirt as hard as those coolant nozzles

[@jerryhatrick5860]

Hahahahaha

[@goldark3]

Careful what you wish for xD

[@mikehipperson]

@@goldark3 Especially if the wife wants to cut lumps out of you! Remember Wayne Bobbit?

[@opelsuger]

"Sure has potential, but useless until more than half of the weight has been cut"

[@ourtexasfamilyvideos62]

I'm impressed with the machine. I'm more impressed with who wrote the software.

[@edmahonejr.9364]

Is that the machine that you got from Tom Bailey and had to do some modifications on before you could start making blocks

[@ryandee8543]

Guessing they would 3d scan a normal ls block then make modifications to the file from there.

[@FOH3663]

You're right, so much programming. But now with A.I., writing code and programming will become a thing of the past.

[@pieflies]

@@FOH3663not for a while yet

[@cbundy53ness]

Most likely, most of the program was written by cam software. Usually you model it in a cad software, then transfer that to cam to create the toolpath. That gets you about 80% of the way but you have to check and watch the cam toolpath closely because atleast in my experience, cam software likes to crash parts and tools if you dont catch it in the toolpath before you run the part

[@Edward135i]

Thank you Steve for spending your retirement on this so we can see how these blocks are made.

[@nzsaltflatsracer8054]

People retire when they don't want to work anymore, I don't see Steve being one of those people.😎

[@JonHop1]

Steve aint even that old man.... 😂... I dont know if this is a compliment or an insult😅

[@joelg6740]

I think he means retirement fund, the price of that machine is the price of a house.

[@loudelvis610]

Lol...hopefully it will add way more to retirement fund

[@brian70Cuda]

He's my age, no retirement here pal!!

[@parker1ray]

Many years ago, I was a commercial water service tech for Culligan and I used to service the Alcoa aluminum foundry in Alcoa, Tn. They forged huge aluminum ingots like the one that your blocks are cut from. When these 20,000 pound ingots came out of the mold, All people would have to go to safety enclosures around the foundry because as the overhead crane moved them to the cooling area, if they passed to close to a person the intense heat would give you second degree burns.

[@SomeGuysGarage]

Steel mills or anywhere they produce metal stock are incredible places. I spent a bit of time in a steel mill and watching 300 tons of molten steel go by in a ladle and eventually come out the other side of a caster and through a rolling mill is just amazing. I got to see a couple cobbles out of the rolling mill (from the safety of the control room) and just watching red hot steel fly through the air was something else.

[@Hobodeluxe007]

@@SomeGuysGaragemy dad worked at Rockwell International in Chatt where they had a huge furnace and would melt steel in what to me seemed like huge buckets that would tip and pour the molten metal into molds. One time they had a rookie on the shift try to cool down a hot spot on the furnace and sprayed water on it with a fire hose. needless to say it exploded ,killed that guy and a couple of others, hurt several and left the plant with about a foot of steel covering the floor. inside machines, caused all sorts of fire damage. it was terrible. this was early 70's. They shut down the plant for months.

[@SomeGuysGarage]

@@Hobodeluxe007 they are no jokes...the place I was at had a couple blast furnaces for making steel from raw coke/ore. Absolutely terrifying things, pressurized vessels with thousands of tons of molten steel in them roaring. Luckily no major accidents while I was there, but the old timers had quite a few stories...

[@tsimpson007]

As a 71 years young retired mechanic i could watch this all day. Inthe early 70's i ran a camaro with a 396. What you guys do is so far past anything we could deam of. Congrats Steve keep on going.

[@notyouraveragegoldenpotato]

At the end of the day the formula for power is all still the same. More fuel. More air. More compression more timing. There's a LOT of tricks these days to wring out every hidden HP and ft of torque, and material science has come a LONG ways since then. I have a NA 4.2 V8 that makes a good 150whp/100tq more than a 70's 396 did while getting 22+ mpg around town, also have 4 cylinder making more than THAT and getting even better mpg while still having incredible boost response and being so light I can pick up and move a complete shortblock around pretty easily by myself.. It's a good thing the tech has come so far because we wouldn't be able to afford the gas for a high performance motor these days if it guzzled fuel like those small and big blocks did back then haha. Even at that most anything newer than about 2000's or so is just cheap weak plastic trash aside from a very few purpose designed motors (all forced induction which I prefer)

[@Gregorybridgewater]

Been machining for 31yrs, still love it every day. Hasnt ever gotten boring or old to me, i learn something new all the time still.

[@basebilljr07]

There's a company called rotoclear that makes a spinning glass window specifically for CNC machines so it's easy to see through the glass when the coolant is spraying on it. It uses centrifugal force to clear the window of all the liquid so quickly that it looks clear

[@Ole_CornPop]

It's the same concept that large marine vessels use for Captains to see in rough weather on their windows.

[@Hoaxer51]

Is that the one that AvE uses? His works really good.

[@jeffbear5317]

​@@Ole_CornPop I always wondered what the round things were in ships windows.

[@Greg1096]

I've always referred to them as the port hole, I'm a CNC repair tech. Even after 30 years in the business I can still sit and watch these things chew up metal all day long, it's just fascinating.

[@Ole_CornPop]

@@Hoaxer51 that's the one

[@ocgearhead1121]

As an aerospace machinist we take extreme amounts of material off. The latest part I worked on started at 700 lbs and finished at 13lbs. Keep up the great work. Looking forward to seeing the whole process for a block!

[@coliimusic]

Question: Does your shop do chip recycling? That's a lotta material, and I wonder how much could get re-used

[@billdoodson4232]

They really need to get 3D printing of exotic metals sorted out for stuff like that.

[@SuperiorDefense]

@@billdoodson4232 there is inconel and titanium the issue is it's brittle since it's additive. Forged will always be forged. MIM will always be MIM and have its cons. But there are a lot of forged parts that could easily be done with 3D DMLS. There will always be a place for machinists and operators

[@billdoodson4232]

@SuperiorDefense I totally agree with everything you say. But machining off 98% of the material is totally a waste of time, money, people, material, energy, well everything really. Hence my comment about getting additive SORTED.

[@Fozzdaddy12]

Your channel is a wealth of valuable information, thank you for documenting your successes and your failures Steve. Not many people like you out there willing to share things they’ve learned from experience. 🐐

[@waden404]

1) you could charge me admission, set up a chair and id gladly pay to watch 2) it completely boggles my bacon trying to figure out how a person writes the code to make this machine work. 3) an interview w/Brock explaining how one gets into this line of work would be cool. 4) again, this is just amazing knowing a machine can do this.

[@djwilliams4714]

Titans of CNC makes parts for SpaceX, and other rocket companies... they do awesome videos explaining the coding, etc... Not trying to take away from Steve as this is a completely different industry from him. However those videos are very interesting, and they explain a lot. plus make cool parts!!!

[@LILBANKSN502]

@@djwilliams4714 yea I like that channel but I like the guys channel from Australia, the machinist I can’t remember his name but his companies Is CCE believe he does parts for big bulldozers and all big machines!

[@michaelbarnett2077]

A computer program writes the code.

[@stimothy9396]

With how little people are interested in this trade today, you could apply to a shop with 0 experience and they would probably hire you. And nobody writes G and M code manually anymore. Everything is 3D models and cam software where all you do is toolpath and define tools. Eventually, no matter what you run, you get bored watching it run

[@OlsonKustomWorks]

@@stimothy9396 I write code daily, mostly for our CNC Lathes here, but also a little mill work. My neighbor is a Swiss machinist and 99% of his programs are done long hand as well. We are out there.....

[@EP2JS]

You could set up a live stream on that machine and a bunch of people would watch I bet.

[@Blackpillinduced]

I definitely would. I already do on 3d printer live streams lol.

[@kevinc9006]

It's all about programs and KNOWING YOUR MACHINE!!!!! Oh yeah and KNOWING YOUR MACHINE!!! Did I say, KNOWING YOUR MACHINE!!!!

[@potato2275]

I'd say the most important part is understanding your G codes and your tooling. Nowadays even just a "good" machine can be run just by following instructions. Doesn't need to be no Heller to hold tolerances etc. But knowing what kind of a load a particular tool likes is something you just have to learn through trial and error.

[@Hydrazine1000]

Uhm... you seem to have forgotten KNOWING YOUR MATERIAL!!!! AL6061 T6 machines different than 4140 steel, 360 brass, 316L, Ti6Al4V, or, say, Inconel 718. To name just a couple of different alloys And, perhaps not in all CAPS, know your tools. Meaning you need to know your end mills, face mills, ball mills, drills, reamers, tappers, when to use carbides, when to use high speed steel, when to use ceramic inserts, and so on.

[@kevinc9006]

​@@Hydrazine1000 you would make a good teacher.😊

[@markim5087]

This is amazing Steve, I may live on disability now (DVET) but supporting your channel is important because your content is simply amazing, so a few bucks a months is more than worth it..

[@stevemorrisracing]

Buy some merch 😁😁

[@Ron_Masterjohn]

Thank you for your service 😊

[@mattmanyam]

​@@stevemorrisracing Wow... just wow.

[@Hydrazine1000]

Have you subscribed to Titans of CNC yet? If you love machining like this you'll dig those guys too. Those guys really believe in Show-and-tell too.

[@cwalker7]

@@mattmanyamI said the same thing. But I think what steve means is dont waste your money joining the youtube membership thing. If he wants to support the channel, just buy some merch instead. Steve still gets some cash and this guy can get a shirt or something.

[@thefinalgrind]

I can precisely remember being 13& standing next to the old man who was a tool&die machinist (30yrs Ford Woodhaven Stamping Plant) when they were buying the 4axis machines. Watching that thing run in a demo program ramped up to like 150% just to prove a point that it could&would. Lol. It was hypnotic to say the least. He was a bad Mama Jama running those machines. Sometimes I still channel the inner machinist from the grave to figure out how to machine my own stuff. Ironically it's his bday today. Man. Miss that fucker. Talk about a bitter sweet memory. Keep up the great work my man! As the Old Man would say "It takes a crazy shit to make crazy shit happen!"

[@bigblockjess617]

From a complete solid aluminum block to SMX WORLD domination! So awesome to watch

[@veto8792]

I could probably watch that machine work for hours. Would be some great ASMR.

[@loudelvis610]

Definitely

[@jasonH5997]

I'm glad I'm not the only one that can sit and watch machining...lol

[@Vankel83]

From a machinist/Job shop owner and Haas machine owner. That was just very entertaining to watch. Made my lunch taste even better watching that block being roughed out. I don't have a horizontal, maybe someday.

[@shafferjoe1962]

I so miss being aCNC programmer. Nothing like seeing your work turn into something awesome and beautiful.

[@ronr344]

Can’t wait to see more efficient tool paths when Brock gets everything edited. Super cool!!

[@kilgorefamily76]

Automation is amazing, what smart people can do lining up 1s and 0s is beyond my understanding. I wonder how long it will be before Steve (or his son) are 3D printing blocks.

[@Spike-sk7ql]

Dude, this is AWESOME. Thank you for showing me something that I would very likely never get a chance to see anywhere else. As a mechanic/sprint car driver, I love everything about cars, and engines especially.

[@alleyoop1234]

SO incredible to see this! The first time I saw billet heads being machined was in 1992 at BAE, and I thought THAT was out of this world!!

[@williammurfin6354]

Steve, That is a thing of beauty!!!

[@ricknielson8934]

The story behind this CNC is what 4 year journey to get to this point ? Congratulations !

[@lightman489]

I don't know prices but that almost a half ton chunk of aluminum looks like ten grand. Imagine if you had a metal foundry where you could melt the chips down and pour blocks and heads

[@Airplanefish]

Original block cost $3200

[@Justice-Seeker]

Have it bound and washed... then... bring it to me. In fact, I'll take two. If only I had the money... Thanks Steve!

[@The_Real_DonCarlos]

I would love to come hangout at your shop. 69 years young next month and still have the interest as I did at 16 wrench on my race motorcycles. Congratulations Steve, I share the personal satisfaction and excitement with you. So Cal expat now living in Medellin Colombia.

[@mikescherrer4923]

Columbia, that must be fun!

[@aady4697]

It’s amazing that things that have been around for years can still be perfected. I enjoy watching people being innovative.

[@robertveeneman9229]

As a former CNC machinist at a die shop in Grand Rapids, I fully agree Steve, the initial roughing with a 2" cutter is extremely relaxing and fascinating to watch!! I did a lot of large form steels for different auto applications over the years, and loved watching the chips fly off the steel on the horizontal mills. I am loving the CNC content. Machining blocks for you would be the only reason I would willingly go back to machining however!

[@robertveeneman9229]

I am glad that through spindle coolant got turned on for the roughing programs towards the end! Especially in pockets like that. Aluminum is "sticky" material. It will grab onto tools that are even a little textured. We buy polished end mills, 1/2" diameter, for our machines and Bridgeports.

[@MrJermbob]

I watch my cnc the whole way through. Cant help it. So amazing.

[@mustangal8534]

I've been a CNC machinist for 32 years and still like to watch a giant block of aluminum be machined into something. I'm running 5 axis lathes now but have run some old 2axis tape reading open no cabinet vertical lathes that where so dangerous to run the kids of today wouldn't get close to them. Love watching!

[@StevenTanner-oh2ef]

I could seat and watch that machine work all day. Thanks Steve

[@collinsmith9941]

That’s awesome congrats. It has to be very exciting to be making the blocks in house.

[@TT64NOVASS]

Looking forward to seeing this in person at the end of the month !

[@flinch622]

"Vrooouh" Thats the sound of decks planar warping about two and a half thou. Nice work, as always.

[@erniemathews5085]

As an old guy, I think of a better-behaved "Sorcerer's Apprentice".

[@Motor-City-Mike]

A couple things from a machinist/toolmaker with many a mile. First, when machining deep in aluminum, it's best to maintain chip clearance, it's easy to forget escapement because of the nature of aluminum, but it will do exactly as you see. Another significant aid in machining aluminum is to stay away from alkaline based coolants. Experience has shown Trim-Sol general coolant to work exceptionally well - it has a given lubricity about it, as well as cooling properties, which help prevent stiction. Best of luck! For all 5+ axis machining I've programmed and ran, I never did get around to my own dreams - My own engine, from billet. Live your dreams, Steve.

[@fabini14]

Love to see this, i am CNC programer and operator in portugal, work with 3,4 and 5 axis machines, and is amazing to see this, only diference is that i only work with steel and blocks height more then 1000kg easy, and it takes way longer to cut, but he also heat treat and have to leave some extra material because it will move a good amount, i will say that sometimes is work to keeep somo material in some places to keep it stronger and not too much on the heat treat process. But i think you will find that by yourself, if ti moves a lot in some places just keep some strategic material to keep it from moving.

[@jonbarfield2828]

That's badass!

[@ajspak874]

being an electrician from Connecticut my job has me working in a lot of machine shops hooking up these machines. but I've never hooked up something that could be that interesting to watch in person it's got to be absolutely amazing to see. I can only imagine what it took to do the programming on this.

[@michaelgallopo5879]

Amazing video remarkable work keep living the dream ✨️

[@frankdragottasfranktv7675]

Absolutely Awesome Video! I am so fascinated with this machining process! Thank you Steve!

[@randomfpv22]

Man what a beast of a cnc. Awesome job who wrote the code to make this. I dabbled in cnc with my last job. Had the pleasure of writing the code to design and make a passenger side brake pedal set up for a Lamborghini using oem bolt mounting points. Boss showed me how to draw a circle and a square then said “have at it”! Turned out awesome

[@777poco]

I have worked with aluminum my whole working career, I never knew aluminum came in such big blocks, 6061 t6? You answered my Question Steve

[@joshrawlings2621]

Congratulations Sir….so much respect….🫡

[@COYOTE_N8]

This is actually insane. I don't think most people understand how crazy it is to actually build your own legit motor, like literally lol super cool

[@richwood8650]

Right! We all bolt on pieces from various manufacturers and tell everyone we "Built" an engine. Mr. Morris here "BUILDS" engines.

[@not_a_paramedic]

1:16 Have you considered a ceramic coating product on the inside of the cabinet windows? Or maybe some old fashioned RainX? I'm not sure, but it may help you when filming if the coolant would either "bead up" or "sheet" down the windows. Just a thought 🤷‍♂️ Love the channel!

[@dg8062]

WOW, what an investment in super high $$$ machinery. Absolutely awesome to watch! I imagine a lot of that high-dollar CNC Machinery is leased, but that certainly is not cheap either. Your content is absolutely super entertaining to watch Steve. Thank you so much for all the effort!

[@MastaT_150]

Now that was super cool! 😎

[@jefferywells2288]

Damn you Steve, I have kids and I couldn't take my eyes away from this beautiful piece of....

[@TK-fp5fp]

That’s a pretty amazing piece of equipment you got there Steve, a Steve Morris engine has a whole new dynamic meaning. I can’t wait to see your first build and how the first SMX preforms after you’ve added your magic touch to it 🤔😎😎

[@hopefultraveller1]

The visual spectacle is robot poetry! Captivating...

[@vehdynam]

Amazing to see this in action , and what a success story on that Haas machine . It is finally doing what it was always intended to do ; congratulations Steve. How long did that whole roughing process take?? Thanks for the video.

[@jdkenyon]

I could watch that machine all day too. It is mesmerizing seeing the shapes appear. Impressive machine and programming. Love the content on this channel.

[@Cookie-Dough-Dynamo]

When you're running a dynamic roughing tool path in aluminum, try the back and forth option to eliminate some of the air cutting. This climb AND cross cuts. Depending on the CAM software, you can set a federate for the cross cutting to reduce load on the cutter during cross cut moves. I typically set 80-90 percent in 6061. This has cut down on my cycle time considerably. You can do this in steel as well if tool life is an insignificant portion of the final part cost. The steel really beats up the carbide on the cross cut moves.

[@stephenlea5765]

I’m not a machinist, but is this some of the techniques that Titans of CNC does to speed operations?

[@Cookie-Dough-Dynamo]

@@stephenlea5765 I don't know what that is. I use GibbsCam for milling and turning, Cenit/Catia for 5 axis laser.

[@parsonsenergy]

Professor… you stand there and watch it because this is fulfillment of a dream.. The number of hours you imagined this whole shop is , quite frankly, is unimaginable.. Tanks for your content…

[@burridge911]

Software is for sure the most impressive part of the operation.

[@shocka007]

I like the format Steve Commentary after the fact and Mixed with live, and some Rockin Tunes, I could watch that all day.

[@robertrussell9014]

The absolute beauty of fast processors snd AC servos dope !

[@gtnoslp]

Great vlog and tunes! Very informative on what goes into machining a billet block!

[@larryperdue508]

I could just watch a 24hr live feed of the whole machining process. Thanks Steve that was cool 😎

[@matthewmccormick2417]

Love watching this. Brock is the master at CNC. Yep slow it down no music i could watch it all day please

[@casualcombine]

Blow away by this! Great job, cant wait to see this thing run!

[@chuckpuglia982]

Great stuff!

[@michaelkennedy2528]

Love the content, but let us not forget it would not be without the great editor of these videos. Thanks to Nate (I think) for the excellent work.

[@padders1068]

That is one Bad Ass machine! I, and I'm sure a lot of my fellow nerds would love to see a video on the programming side of it, and how the programming is integrated/combined with 3D CAD. Thanks for sharing Steve and team 🙂🙂🙂😎😎😎🤓🤓🤓❤

[@dihler55]

CNC machines doing their thing is something i can watch for hours on end as well. Thank you so much for this video man. I always wanted to know how you actually bore out such a deep hole.

[@rjnation5042]

Steve you are a bloody legend, I can watch this machine all day, especially with the explanation of what's going on, hope you've got a good deal with your recycling service, Rj in Oz

[@motohauler]

MR. STEVE MORRIS!!! You are THE GOAT!!!!!!! Absolutely the best ever period…….. If’s I was rich I would have you build me at least a dozen of the baddest Steve Morris engines on the planet, no matter what it cost just so I could put them in my bedroom. Love you man. You are the best ever!!! Greatest of all time!!!

[@2sipsMax]

It's sculpting the block like an artist, when all the chips are gone you have a master piece.

[@etienneprinsloo6799]

Bravo, bravo! The amount of time and patience this project takes is hard to fathom. Plus the amount of ally you machined off, well what can one say. Great that dreams can still be converted to reality. Thanks for sharing!

[@janchristensen7993]

How did Brock learn to run that machine? I can hear him talking about different programs on what it does like taking a drink of water. Amazing Brock. 🤩

[@710performance]

Great video! If this was going when I came by the shop I would have sat there for hours! LOL I love watching CNC work, have loved watching it for years! Have always wanted to get into it! Awesome stuff guys! Does it matter if you start with the front or back first?

[@waynewilliams6632]

One of the best video's out there .

[@djwilliams4714]

LOVE this video!!!!

[@ckane510]

I don't normally watch machining videos as I've done and seen it for so many years but this one intrigued me. Nice Machine!!

[@T_Burd_75]

I love these machining videos! Like you, Steve, I could stand there and watch that machine work its magic all day. ;-)

[@dennisrafferty4749]

Cool video, thanks for sharing that with us Steve, your right I did learn something by watching your video.

[@alystarhazelton5060]

Amazing!!

[@austangmane7292]

This is so cool I bet you you can't believe you made it this far!

[@janchristensen7993]

Just plain amazing Steve. Was so cool to watch. Im so sorry about the DYNO. 😢

[@stevemorrisracing]

You and me both!

[@TexRobNC]

I don't think it's weird at all. Heck, I'd be thinking "I wonder if I can build a foundry?" so I can control the entire process! Then you're looking for mines, it's a whole thing.

[@djwilliams4714]

Steve, it would be great to see you take measurements on this "rough-ind" block once complete, such as cam tunnel, cylinder holes, etc...

[@stevenkaest7306]

It's a Steve thing.because I could sit and watch the whole machining process as well 😁👍 awesome

[@JW-hm6ou]

Awesome video Steve. Nice to see how the locks are matched.

[@GregCollard-cq5yg]

Unreal how you guys do this shit. Truly amazing. Don't stop.

[@kennethfeld6639]

We call heat treating studs or stud holes "Snaggletooth" because that is what bolts look like skewed - we called finished surfaces "Potato Chips" or "Pringles" after heat treat

[@NCCoder]

Through tool coolant makes things so much nicer... Almost makes the impossible possible. Those Allied spade drills are really nice too. Rock on, Steve!

[@johandelen1838]

The word "amazing" might be a bit of an understatement...👌

[@glenbrannon7224]

Awesome machine and agree on the move from 5 axis ! Just got my hoodie in, very impressive and it was packed So nice, love the zipper instead of pull over, very nice and warm.will look great in surger mom !😊😅😅😅

[@billpewterbaugh2982]

That is truly AMAZING! Thanks for sharing

[@darrenbrisson4336]

Steve awesome back groud tunes yeah baby keep that coming

[@Greg1096]

I'm guessing slightly more than half the weight of the raw block is turned into chips, probably like 400lbs of chips would be my guess. They make small dump hoppers that go under your chip conveyor that you can use a forklift to move that would probably be less labor than those barrels you are using, they tip so you can dump them straight into a dumpster for recycling. Nice operation you have there.

[@petersomers3014]

Love this shit Steve. If you guys keep making vids of machining and building I will stick around. Lol. Thanks Steve!!

[@PinksGarage]

Wow, just wow. You got me to watch 45 minutes of machine work. Such amazing work. I wish I could afford one of your engines.

[@PinksGarage]

What is the average time in the mill for the block?

[@tomconner5067]

I will use a closer to final shape billet form so there is less waste, less wear n tear, and less initial axis weight to move around, keeps the friction down.

[@randster64]

I just love this stuff

[@phutzbah]

Awesome!

[@michaelyarussi911]

That is one bad ass machine, that machine should pay for itself in no time you hope right !!!!!!

[@stevemorrisracing]

😂😳