Re: Polar Coordinates CNC?

Interesting idea ... but why? It seems to me the particulars
of the math involved would not make arriving at the end use
coordinates any easier. Do you have a particular application
in mind? I'm just curious why Polar over Cartesian would
be any better and if so why it hasn't been done?

Ken

> Message: 9
> Date: Sat, 02 Nov 2002 12:02:47 -0800
> From: Alan Marconett KM6VV <KM6VV@...>
> Subject: Re: Polar Coordinate based CNC
>
> Hi Lee,
>
> Sounds like this would be similar to a Rho-Theta arm. Yes, the
> controller would have to know how to convert rectangular to polar
> coordinates. I'm wondering if EMC can already do this? That would be
> WILD machine!
>
> Alan KM6VV
>
>
>
> Lee Wenger wrote:
>>
>> What all would have to happen to allow a CNC machine to be based on a polar
>> coordinate system rather than a rectangular one. The big benefit to me would
>> be that the single most expensive component of a router/plama type of system
>> is the slides and drive components (the screws or rack/pinon not the motor
>> itself) for the longest axis (for systems of the size/type I have in mind
>> this would be to move a gantry). But I assume that would mandate a change to
>> the controller so it could interpret g-codes as polar coordinates. Are there
>> any controller packages out there currently that support polar-coordinates?
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Lee Wenger
>> Denver, CO