Hi,
I work in a Seconday school, we've just had some surplus equipment donated from a local college. The machines in question aren't much to speak of but could still have a use if some time was spent on them.
We've aquired three TEP CNC Machines Mk1, the machines are controlled via a controller which programs the tool path line by line via and LCD display and then saves onto a small memory card. They would need an upgrade, possibly TEP's own PC interface and TechCAD software. Toolpaths could be drawn and then imported into TecCAD and output to the machine via RS232 Serial cable.
The machines only have X,Y axis steppers, the Z axis is a simple solenoid which drops the spindle down by 3mm. An end mill would need to be used to cut out the profile and holes would need to be drilled to allow the machine to cut out any inside parts.
The following is the description from the TEP website:
http://http://www.mutr.co.uk/catalog...roducts_id=402
[img]http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/6919/imagemagicphpwg7.jpg[/img]
The low-cost CNC machine tool is a robustly engineered machine offering X Y movement of the cutting tool over a 150mm x 240mm area. It takes standard mini-mill cutters - typically 2mm diameter. The tool moves up and down in a single movement (maximum plunge 3mm) but will cut up to 5mm plastic in a single pass without plunging. (Note the tool will plunge into polystryrene but not metals - although it will cut 1mm aluminium etc. in a single pass. Please allow six weeks (approx.) for delivery.
