Re: Can anyone recomend a 4-5 axis desktop CNC solution?

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, Jon Elson
<elson@p...> wrote:

>
>
> chainsawbobala wrote:
>
> >Hi ,
> > I've been looking online for some answers to a good 4-5 axis
> >desktop CNC solution. I've found the Microtek minimill with

an

> >added option to put the 4th axis , and the Taig solution also,

and

> >the Sherline based system .
> >
> >Does anyone know of a good 4 to 5 axis system out there

thats

> >fairly priced? Or someone that's working on it?
> >
> >
> The only affordable 5-axis system I know of is to take a

standard

> 3-axis mill, and mount a small rotary table or indexing head

onto

> a large rotary table. They do this at the shop at work all the

time

> for the 5-axis geometries my boss comes up with.
>
> A conventional 5-axis machine requires the cutting spindle to

be

> mounted on a 2-axis gimbal, and this is a very complicated

system to

> build, as it has to resist a lot of forces and torques, and remain
> accurate. It is possible one could find a used 5-axis machine

for

> a resonable price. If it is too big for a home shop, it often can

be

> hard to sell the bigger machines in the current climate.
>
> After settling the machine question, you then need to solve the

CAM software

> problem. I don't know of any cheap CAM packages that handle

5-axis well,

> if at all. If you want to take free-form surfaces and produce

5-axis

> toolpaths,
> you may have to spend much more on the software than the

hardware.

>
> What is it you want to do that requires 5-axis machining?
>
> Jon

I'm looking to do some fairly complex loft shapes in steel and
titanium ,,,, hubs, molds, parts and what not's , that have inner
and outer changing radius's, gradated inclines on the outer
perimeter, plus sectional/incremental cuts on them such like
gearing. with threaded diameters on center for each of the teeth.
So I'm not sure if I pegged it correctly but the typical 3 axis
wouldn't be able to do this without alot of additional set-up
through the process. Where-as If I do find, or figure out a way to
get the 5 axis in a desktop solution, would save immensetime
on set-up change positioning, etc.etc.
Thanks for the info, I really do appreciate it.
-Will-