Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Newbie

At 16:03 01/04/2003 +0000, you wrote:

>Greetings to all. I'm new to this group. I've been making metal
>chips manually for some time wiht my south Bend lathe, Sheldon
>horizontal mill and South Bend shaper...well now I've reached a point
>where I have a project involving a very complex graphic that I just
>don't see a way to do without CNC. I'm leaning toward's SuperTech's
>version of the Taig mill run with SuprCAM...but there's just SO many
>choices out there I'm rather overwhelmed.

If you are prepared to take on a bit of D-I-Y, I would recommend you take a
look at DeskCNC:

http://www.deskcnc.com/

I have used Supercam for some while, with the Taig controller, and am in
the process of converting to DeskCNC with their serial controller feeding
into a Xylotex 3-axis driver board, but using the DeskCNC combined
controller/driver makes life even easier (uses the same driver chips as the
Xylotex; all you have to do is add a transformer, put it in a box, and ad a
few switches & sockets).

Supercam has served me well, but it is limited in some significant
respects, particularly when it comes to converting drawings into usable
toolpaths. For example, DXF drawings imported into Supercam have to be
drawn to allow for the diameter of the cutter you plan to use, as Supercam
cannot generate cutter offsets itself. It is also DOS-based, and has a very
clunky user interface. DeskCNC, by way of contrast, is Windows-based, and
will allow you to generate toolpaths from a DXF file that allow for the
chosen cutter, and also allow you to "area clear" a pocket (which Supercam
cannot do). As far as I can tell, DeskCNC will do all that Supercam does,
and much more besides.

I would suggest that you download the trial version of DeskCNC and have a
play before making a final choice.

The Taig manual mills are very readily converted to CNC; making motor
mounts for the 3 axes is a simple job on a South Bend, or you can by Taig's
own mounts and fit them yourself. Don't be tempted to go for motors of less
than around 200 oz-in though, particularly on the Z axis. You should be
able to find plenty of size 23 steppers of that torque rating that will be
drivable by either the DeskCNC or Xylotex boards.


Regards,
Tony