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

Hi Andrew:

Thanks for your comments.
"Also, has anyone done a comparison of milling
software?"

[By milling software, do you mean the software that
actually runs the
mill,
or the g-code interpreter software that translates the
model files? ]

I mean the design software that exports as DXF, STL or
STIS?

Mprogee

Andrew Werby
www.computersculpture.com


--- Andrew Werby <drewid@...> wrote:

> Message: 23
> Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2001 02:47:56 -0000
> From: mprogee@...
> Subject: Is there a comparison between milling
> machines and software?
>
> Hello:
>
> Has anyone had experience comparing actual speeds
> milling 3D objects
> with the range of milling machines under $5000? I am
> trying to
> determine how long it would take to mill a 3D object
> like the
> examples on the Roland website
>

http://www.rolanddga.com/products/3d/combo/mdx15/mdx15_features.asp

> (3D Max head, Lightwave cow)
>
> [I'm not sure how these parts were made on the
> Roland machine. The cow,
> particularly, would be difficult to cut in one
> piece. It may have been
> machined as two double-sided parts that were then
> glued together. The head
> would be easier, but it seems to have undercuts,
> which would require
> registered repositioning.]
>
> using other CNC mills such as:
>
> Sherline
> www.sherline.com
>
>
> AcuMotion Mills
> http://www.acumotion.com/products.htm
>
> MicroStep Mills
>
>
> [The Sherline is a manual mill. There are various
> CNC retrofit options for
> it, Flashcut being the most common. The Accumotion
> CNC mill is a modified
> Sherline, but they don't give much information about
> the motors they use, or
> their performance. Microstep is a controller by
> Sierra Robotics
> http://www.sierrarobotics.com/index.htm that is also
> used on the Sherline
> frame. They claim to get 60"/minute rapids using the
> sherline 20 tpi
> leadscrews, but that's not the same as actually
> cutting a contoured model
> that fast.]
>
>
> MacNc
>
> [The MaxNC (www.maxnc.com) closed loop mills are
> fairly zippy. I've run
> mine at 90 ipm, although they only claim 60 in their
> specs. I'm not sure if
> this a nominal or actual figure reflecting cutting
> speed for a 3d object,
> however, since contouring operations seem to slow
> things down considerably.
> Their open-loop mills are a lot slower, in the 6-12
> ipm range.]
>
>
> Model Master
> http://www.modelmaster.com/
>
> [I've never seen the Modelmaster mill in operation,
> although they do have a
> video on their site. It doesn't seem to be feeding
> very fast, but it has a
> high-speed spindle. Since the maximum tool size is
> 1/8", it will not cut a
> roughing pass as quickly as a mill capable of using
> a larger tool.]
>
> I have consulted the webmaster for Desktop CNC
> www.desktopcnc.com
> also. Such a comparison does not exist yet.
>
> [It would be interesting to see, although the
> experiment would have to be
> structured to compare "apples with apples". A
> standard part, using the same
> NC program, and cut with the same tool in the same
> material would be
> necessary to make a valid comparison.]
>
> I am trying to figure out how quick you could mill a
> rough pass and a
> good pass for a 3D model (STL STIS, or DXF format)
> such as the model
> Creature Lab dinosaur at
> http://fxrealm.temp.dataphone.se/index.shtml.htm The
> model could be 6
> inches in height, 4 inches in width, milled in foam,
> modellers wax,
> or wood.
>
> [This looks like it would be a difficult project to
> carve on a 3 or even 4
> axis mill. The areas in between the limbs,
> particularly, would be
> problematic. Like the cow, it would need to be cut
> in sections, and the
> sections would have to be assembled, much like a
> plastic model kit. The time
> it would take would depend on the degree of surface
> detail required- skin
> texture, for example, would take much longer to cut,
> using tiny bits, than
> the basic form. ]
>
>
> Also, has anyone done a comparison of milling
> software?
>
> [By milling software, do you mean the software that
> actually runs the mill,
> or the g-code interpreter software that translates
> the model files? ]
>
> Andrew Werby
> www.computersculpture.com
>
>
>
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