Re:Homemade Circuit Board and Software

I'd agree with the Rhino suggestion, I don't think anything can beat
it for the moeny. For a 3d STL and Bitmap CAM program you can use
MeshCAM. I've got it available from my website
http://www.robgrz.com/meshcam.phtml as a free unlimited beta. I
don't have a 4th axis option yet, but it's in the works. On that
note, does anyone know of a good inexpensive 4 axis simulator?

Robert

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "Andrew Werby" <a.werby@c...>
wrote:

> Message: 16
> Date: Wed, 29 Oct 2003 12:40:31 -0000
> From: "dex367" <dexlabboy@l...>
> Subject: Homemade Circuit Board and Software
>
> I am just finishing up the layout of a 4-axis board.
>
> It uses four ST Mico's L6208 stepper driver chip sets.
> It takes from 8 to 52v and drives to 2.8A rms.
> Each L6208 is connected to a single Motorola 68HC908MR16
> microcontroller. You can control the clock, reset, CW/CCW,

Half/Full

> step and even microstep.
>
> It also has a E-stop and 8 limit switch inputs.
>
> The Parallel Port is also connected to the microcontroller.
> With this configuration I can change or modify the I/O of the
> parallel port to operate the stepper drivers. I was thinking of
> using a USB port but heck that will be in my next version.
>
> The serial port works a onboard in circuit programmer for the
> microcontroller. All I need to do is flip a switch and reprogram

the

> microcontroller. I have designed the hardware to change its
> operation in software.
>
> [That sounds pretty impressive, Dex. Are you an electronics

technician in

> real life?]
>
> With this nearing completion, I am now looking for software to run

my

> machine. I now have a three axis wood router.
>
> I need to find software (I am willing to buy.) that will do the CAD
> and CAM. Any suggestions? I need alot of flexability and complex
> shapes.
>
> [Have you tried Rhino? It's good for complex shapes, because the

NURBS

> surfaces it uses are a lot "lighter" memory-wise than an equivalent

polygon

> mesh. Of course, once you're done manipulating your forms as NURBS,

you can

> mesh them for export. The best format to save in for export to most

CAM

> programs is STL. You can download a fully-functional copy (good for

15

> saves) from www.rhino3d.com .]
>
> This winter I will be designing a 4 axis machine. The fourth axis
> will be a rotary axis that will turn a log 36 inch dia by 101 inch
> long. This will be used to make wooden sculptures.
>
> Dex
>
> [Logs don't usually make great carving material, since they have an

innate

> tendency to split from the inside outward. If a cylindrical shape

is wanted,

> you might be better off quartering a log, drying the quarters

separately,

> then gluing it back together before carving. For 4-axis CAM on

sculptural

> shapes, you might look at DeskProto, which has very good 4th axis

capability

> and is also simple to use. You can download a working copy from
> www.deskproto.com that's good for 30 days.]
>
> Andrew Werby
> www.computersculpture.com