General > General Technical Chat
I've decided I want to build computer-controlled CNC machines, like 5-axis mills
<< < (3/4) > >>
MadScientist:
I would echo the previous post

Envelope and material are two big decisions

From that flow cost and complexity.

5 axis won’t be cheap , so I hope you have a reasonable budget along with all that time

You will need access to a machine  shop
Brumby:

--- Quote from: Microdoser on June 30, 2021, 01:49:54 pm ---..... I have to type in my personal PIN number.

--- End quote ---

Expanded form:
..... I have to type in my personal Personal Identification Number number


Made me smile.   ;D
rstofer:

--- Quote from: PaulAm on June 30, 2021, 02:46:22 pm ---There's also something of the chicken and egg problem here - you need a decent machine shop to be able to make a decent CNC machine.

Even using an existing machine like the Grizzly for a base, there's still lots of fabrication involved.

Second question: how big is your wallet?  :-DD

--- End quote ---

Actually, I just bought a ball screw conversion kit and bolted it in place.  It already had the hubs necessary to mount the stepper motors.  No machining required.

Something like this:

https://www.automationtechnologiesinc.com/products-page/g0704-bf20-pm25mv-x2-x3-kit/g0704-with-duf-ballscrew

Then I added steppers, drivers, controller, PC and all the usual suspects.

Drivers like this:

https://www.automationdirect.com/adc/shopping/catalog/motion_control/stepper_systems/stepper_drives/dm542e

Motion controller like this:

https://warp9td.com/index.php/gettingstarted/what-is-a-smoothstepper

An industrial computer like this but much earlier version.  It's running Win 7 I believe (haven't played with it much lately:

https://www.onlogic.com/ml350g-10/

A 48VDC power supply like this:

https://www.automationtechnologiesinc.com/products-page/switching-power-supply/48v-20a-switching-cnc-power-supplykl-1000-48

I put all of the electronics in a PC mid-size tower case.  I had to add a swing-out panel to hold the PC because the driver stuff took all of the internal space.

All of the links above point to things 'like' what I used but I'm too lazy to open the case to see the actual part numbers.  If you go this way, do your own research.

Bottom line:  Everything was off the shelf and a simple bolt-on operation.

Another bottom line:  Pick a mill for which kits are already available.

But... It's only 3 axis and 5 axis is a whole different thing.
Syed Muneeb:

--- Quote from: rstofer on June 30, 2021, 04:34:26 pm ---
--- Quote from: PaulAm on June 30, 2021, 02:46:22 pm ---There's also something of the chicken and egg problem here - you need a decent machine shop to be able to make a decent CNC machine.

Even using an existing machine like the Grizzly for a base, there's still lots of fabrication involved.

Second question: how big is your wallet?  :-DD

--- End quote ---

Actually, I just bought a ball screw conversion kit and bolted it in place.  It already had the hubs necessary to mount the stepper motors.  No machining required.

Something like this:

https://cncrouterhub.com/
https://www.automationtechnologiesinc.com/products-page/g0704-bf20-pm25mv-x2-x3-kit/g0704-with-duf-ballscrew

Then I added steppers, drivers, controller, PC and all the usual suspects.

Drivers like this:

https://www.automationdirect.com/adc/shopping/catalog/motion_control/stepper_systems/stepper_drives/dm542e

Motion controller like this:

https://warp9td.com/index.php/gettingstarted/what-is-a-smoothstepper

An industrial computer like this but much earlier version.  It's running Win 7 I believe (haven't played with it much lately:

https://www.onlogic.com/ml350g-10/

A 48VDC power supply like this:

https://www.automationtechnologiesinc.com/products-page/switching-power-supply/48v-20a-switching-cnc-power-supplykl-1000-48

I put all of the electronics in a PC mid-size tower case.  I had to add a swing-out panel to hold the PC because the driver stuff took all of the internal space.

All of the links above point to things 'like' what I used but I'm too lazy to open the case to see the actual part numbers.  If you go this way, do your own research.

Bottom line:  Everything was off the shelf and a simple bolt-on operation.

Another bottom line:  Pick a mill for which kits are already available.

But... It's only 3 axis and 5 axis is a whole different thing.

--- End quote ---

Thanks it really helped.
MarkF:
Take a look at Clough42 YouTube channel:
   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeKpbMimEGgLM_0tnghfoVw/videoshttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeKpbMimEGgLM_0tnghfoVw/videos
He automated his Grizzly mill.

He uses Fusion 360 to do his design work.
You can search the videos for a instance where he states what software package he uses to drive the mill. 
I know he mentions it several times (and also describes doing calibration for each tool) but; I don't have time to look for it.

It will give you a starting point at least.
I don't think you want to attempt to write you're own software package.
Navigation
Message Index
Next page
Previous page
There was an error while thanking
Thanking...

Go to full version
Powered by SMFPacks Advanced Attachments Uploader Mod