Re: inexpensive 4 axis CNC software (yeah, right!)

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@y..., "S.L.Ramsay" <slramsay@n...> wrote:

> ok, so it's a long shot. but does anyone know of an inexpensive 4

axis CNC software that will run a closed loop CNC mill on windows NT
or 2000?

>

Scott, By requiring Windows NT or 2000, you severely limit the
software options that are available. By adding in Closed loop, you
just about get to no answers at all, and then needing 4th axis
too! ;-)

Your options for hobby class Windows(of any kind) controllers are
Flashcut, MicroKinetics, DeskNC for Windows, and Master5. There are
several others, but they are quite a bit higher priced, just for the
software. Check these four for capability. (I thnk Art has said that
the current version of Master 5 won't) The other 3 I believe all use
an external box and do not rely on use of the parallel port. You may
be able to hook some Geckodrives up to them and end up with a good
solution. Your problem, however is probably going to be to find a
rotary 4th axis that is reasonablly priced. New Servo rotaries
start at about $6000 for a 5C collet size. One that takes a chuck
will be at least $8000. Used ones seem to go for 1/4-1/2 these
prices. They typically support .001 degree resolution, +/-20 arc
second accuracy with repeatability in the 4 arc seconds range.

The Sherline based ones are only good for about .01 degree. This is
an order of magnitude difference.

In order to think about Cad-Cam software, you need to have some idea
of what kind of parts that you want to make. If you just need to do
a cylinder wrap, just do that with a scaling factor and your Y axis
plugged into the A rotary. That's built into Bobcad 17, but you can
do it nearly as well just by drawing the flat skin of a cylinder and
placing your etchings or engravings on that flat area. Sub and scale
the Y axis and you magically get the part. I think that some of the
controllers can do this in the controller software too. MaxNC I
believe.

If you need wisiwyg 3D full contouring with a rotary and 2 linear
simultaneous axes, Vector is a good fit. Vector also has an internal
function that wraps a 3D wireframe about an axis, thus creating
a "wrapped cylinder" It will be conical shaped if the orginal is at
an angle to the Z axis.

If you need to create a complex 3D swoopy/contoured shape like a
statue or "Totem Pole" you can design a model, create slices with
StlWork, and then machine the part using the rotary contours
developed with Vector. The two programs are designed to complement
each other for this function.

Best Regards, Fred Smith- IMService
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