Machining

Collection of sample parts to showcase lathe work by Ronlo Engineering. Shot on location at Ronlo in Camarillo, CA using speedlights modified by softboxes for a soft light. Reflective metal parts need soft light to avoid extremely specular highlights.

Haas mini-mill in operation at Neil's Machining in Oxnard, CA.

Interior of Ronlo Engineering in Camarillo, CA, showing tool vending machine in the foreground and a mill in the background. Speedlights were placed pointing into the mill to create the appearance of a glowing effect coming from inside the mill. Additional speedlights were used in a ceiling-bounce configuration, and an umbrella-modified light aimed at the machinist/vending machine.

Finished parts at Neil's Machining. Shot on location in Oxnard, CA with speedlights, umbrellas and a shoot-through reflector as modifiers.

Machining of a large forging die for an aerospace/defense application at DM Precision in Port Hueneme, CA.

Inspection department at Ronlo Engineering, showing a coordinate measuring system and workstations, lit by speedlights in a ceiling bounce and umbrella-modified configuration.

Parts machined by Ronlo Engineering for the 1980's Space Shuttle program. Shot on location in Camarillo, CA.

Machinist inspecting parts. Lit by a speedlight with a shoot-through umbrella and 1/4 CTO gel on the left. Shot on location at Neil's Machining in Oxnard, CA.

Finished mounting plates at Neil's Machining. Shot on location in Oxnard, CA with speedlights, umbrellas and a shoot-through reflector as modifiers.

Mills at Ronlo Engineering in Camarillo, CA. Lit with multiple speedlights (ceiling bounce and umbrella modified).

Haas VF-2 Mill with operator at Neil's Machining in Oxnard, CA. Speedlights were placed inside and outside the machine with modifiers to create soft light for the reflective metal components.

Closeup of a Haas mill in operation. A speedlight with a very short flash duration was used to freeze the action, making the drops of coolant clearly visible without much blurring. The speedlight was modified with a grid to keep the background dark, contrasting with the white coolant.