Re: CNC flame/plasma cutter

My friend only got the table parts from Torchmate. He is using a bi-polar
chopper drive stepper controller (better torque and rpm than a unipolar)
that he built from a kit he purchased from Dan at Camtronics. For the
software he is currently running DeskNC DOS version which does handle
g-code. But, we are soon going to move him over to EMC and Linux as it seems
to run a stepper machine much smoother.

As far as ball screws v/s rack I think it is not a question of what is
better, but more a question of what is most appropriate for the job
considering the cost. A ball screw is more accurate, but is the rest of the
machine such that the added accuracy will ever be noticed? If you are
thinking of a machine that can handle 4' x 8' and figure the cheapest
ballscrew material is $1/in and nuts are $20 you will have over $200 in
just the parts and I don't think you will see any difference.

Tim
[Denver, CO]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: smcdonal [mailto:smcdonal@...]
> Sent: Thursday, June 24, 1999 1:11 AM
> To: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@onelist.com
> Subject: Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] CNC flame/plasma cutter (was Stepster)
>
>
> From: smcdonal <smcdonal@...>
>
> Tim Goldstein wrote:
> How does the torchmate handle files? Can it read standard g code or does
> it use some other format?
>
> Also would like to know if rack and pinion is better then ballscrews?
>
> Thanks
> Stan
>
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