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I've decided I want to build computer-controlled CNC machines, like 5-axis mills

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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.

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