Re: 4-AXIS FOAM CUTTER

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@y..., SNTLewis@a... wrote:

> In a message dated 6/8/01 4:44:22 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
> vandersandtc@a... writes:
>
> Sorry for the late reply but I have been away for a few days. Let

me first

> say before responding that I have built two of these "stinking ;-)"

machines.

> Each one used a different electronic package (one with the

L297/298 bipolar

> driver and the other with a L/R system). Currently I am using

the "old"

> Argentine(?) software, but am upgrading/retrofiting to the French

software.

>
>
> > I hope someone can help me, I have built several toys using

steppers

> > and stepper controllers (L297/298). However, my 2D cnc foam

cutter

> > has been upgraded to independant 4-axis control. I have used
> > shareware (stepster) that I have changed a bit to send S&D

signals

> > via the par. port.
> >
> > My question : Can I use Stepster for 4-axis control, and what

would I

> >
>
>
>
> Simple answer is NO! I worked with Kevin (before his death) on

this issue.

> Stepster is strictly 2D (or maybe 3D depending how you define 3D).
>
>
> I know that there is the wing cutting
> > software available but I would like to cut from dxf drawings

of any

> >
>
>
>
> The trick is the coordinates. If the "cross-section" is a "known"

airfoil

> such as SD7037, CLARK-Y, etc., then the coordinates are available

from

> Michael Selig at UIUC. The software adjusts for chord, skin

thickness, wire

> kerf, etc.
>
> I have done "custom" airfoils which are "fairly" easy to deal

with. I have

> used a drawing and run it through a scanner, "normalize" to a

percentage and

> go (takes about 30 minutes if no mistakes). Another way is

to "read" the

> vertices of the polylines, making sure that you normalize before.
> Coordinates are specified in terms of a percentage of y-to-x.
>
> The commercial software available in our country
> > (South Africa) is unaffordable due to our poor exchange rate.
> >
>
>
>
> Commerical software is more general and the difficulty comes in the
> programming of the x/y and u/v as has been noted in other replies.

I looked

> at "medium" cost Wire-EDM software (which is what foam cutting

really amounts

> to, just different "cutter") and found it way too general.
>
> I can setup and cut a panel in about 5 minutes, not counting time

to "block"

> cut the foam using "known" airfoils.
>
> Hope this helps.....
>
> In His Service+
>
>
> Hi Guys,

I've been lurkin' around this forum for a few weeks and don't have
the vast knowledge that most of you have but I do have a home built
(MaxNC stepper/board kit) 12" X 12" CNC router table that I cut out
balsa and ply parts with for my model aircraft designs. 4-axis hot
wire foam cutting really interests me. Have you looked at Bill
Griggs' "LineDance" machine? Check out
http://www.griggsmodels.com/linedance.htm

Hope this helps,
Milton Dickey

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