Re: Is there a comparison between milling machines and software?

"Smoke" <gordonr@...> wrote:
Subject: Re: Re: Is there a comparison between milling machines and
software?

I don't know anything in the way of comparisons but I do know from
experience on my Roland MDX machine that Rolands software generates a huge
machining file which creates a lot of un-necessary motion. I know this just
from watching the machine machine over the same area several times machining
air on the second and subsquent passes.

[I'm not sure why this would be happening. Is this on the ambient
(surrounding) area, or on your actual part? Are you re-zeroing correctly
between tool changes?]

I also know that on this machine it is terrible for cutting wax as the
spindle speed is way to high for this material and is non-adjustable.

[What kind of wax did you try, Smoke? Was this the infamous stuff that
causes metal to rust? It actually works pretty well if you use the blue
machinable wax from Freeman Supply (www.freemansupply.com.) and 2-flute
cutters. You need that spindle speed if you use really small cutters, which
is what jewelers who use these machines tend to favor.]


Fred Smith wrote:

>One thing to bear in mind if doing ANY comparison to the Roland
>machines, they are built similarly to printers. There is not much
>strength in the frame, the spindle mount, the spindle bearings, or
>the axis drive motors. I have never heard from any Roland customer
>that had successfully and satisfactorily machined metals, and even
>plastics are problematic for some. Wax seems to be the preferred
>material.
>
>I didn't answer your question, but maybe I helped you in your quest
>for information.
>
>Best Regards,
>
>Fred Smith
>IMService

[I don't recommend these for 3d cutting in metal either. People have had
better results using them for engraving on various metals, though. Some
plastics are problematic, period, but machinable wax works okay, as does
urethane tooling board like RenShape. The MDX-15 and larger MDX-20
combination scanner/mills are much better at scanning than at milling, but
it's nice that the same machine can do both things, with the necessary
software included to go from one to the other. Anybody interested in one (in
spite of the bashing they've been getting here) should act immediately,
because the Summer Special prices end Friday, and they will each cost $500
more thereafter.]

Andrew Werby
www.computersculpture.com