| Virtual reality environments
are increasingly used in industry to realistically simulate new manufacturing processes
before they are tried on the factory floor. Here, NIST mechanical engineer, Joseph Falco,
uses a virtual reality "immersive environment" to simulate use of a hexapod
machine tool. "Octahedral hexapod" machine tools represent the first major
departure in machine tool design in nearly a century. The machines use an unusual support
system technology that provides superior versatility, stiffness, speed, and accuracy. |
Photo by Kathie Koenig-Simon