5 axis cnc versus 5 axis cam software
I've built and used a 3 axis device for machining 3D cad surfaces.
I am considering building a 5 axis device as I have seen this can be done cost effectively - and will mean I can mill a complex 3D form and not have to worry about designing the CAD shape to match the abilities of my 3 axis machine.
However when looking at the project costing I think I could end up with a machine that works but no affordable CAM software to generate the toolpaths to run it. In web searches I have found examples of home built 5 axis cnc cutting 3d splines and pockets but no 'surface machining'.
Have any other home builders found this dichotomy between access to 5 axis cnc machine and toolpath generation?
If you want to see the toolkit running a machine..
Quote:
Originally Posted by
davidsutton
this sounds very promising - I will go there and have a look in particular the examples offerred - thanks again
Hi there,
glad you found it helpful....
If you want to see the toolkit running a machine... follow the Rotary drive links on the Project page at cnc4free.
This link will take you to Colin Doughty's website. There's video there of his 5 axis design running CNC_Toolkit Gcode. Colin sells the plans for the machine in the video, discounted against the cost of a BC axis head kit.... If I was building again I'd be very tempted to build Colin's machine, or an adaptation of it....
Colin has some additional 4 and 5 axis machining videos using toolkit code on youtube. Rab Gordon, the author of the toolkit, also has some videos on youtube..
A FREE 3,4 and 5 axis solution has been available for at least 10 to 12 years.... The vast majority of CNC users have just simply failed to realise it....
TTFN
Danny