Ok, I have been messing with this for to long. It is time to make it produce.
My machine, (actually a conversion) I never got to work because of software and money problems. I tried shareware and freeware with no luck.
It is a moving gantry with typical xyz axis. The 4th axis rotates the stock underneath the gantry in order to make spindles, with spirals and such, for staircases. Once I have CNC control I should be able to make gunstocks.
I am using Gecko 201's with motors from Camtronics. I am considering using BobCad v17 (about $300.00) to make my designs and convert them to g-code and then using TurboCNC on my DOS computer to drive the Gecko's. I want to use DOS for the g-code interpreter because I never had a DOS computer lock up and windows does all the time.
My max rpm will be 600rpm or 1,200,000 microsteps per minute. This gives me 120 inches per minute. I desire high accuracy.
(group)
The Gecko's can handle the 4 axis and the steps per minute
TurboCNC can handle the 4 axis but can it handle the steps/minute?
Can BobCad v17 handle 4 axis to make objects like gunstocks?
Are all these items compatable in this configuration?
Last, can this same software operate servo's on a future machine?
Please make suggestions but 300 dollars is about my limit for software. If it helps I can use my brothers autocad.
Thanks
Rich