New and in need of wisdom

[Washout]

Thanks Jazz,

Plenty to think on in your response, so just for clarity:

It would seem that I need at least 2 machines to cover the range of materials I work with: CNC router for softer materials up to say 6061 T6 (will a router style rig handle this grade?) and a Mill for 7075/Steel work.

I had been looking at the Sieg X3 and some other similar machines a while back - I'll revisit those and see what's available with CNC control, either out of the box or after market.

I'd still like to get a router style machine running, for softer materials, so will still pursue that avenue for build/purchase initially with eyes duly opened.

Can you clarify or help with a few things:

When you say "stronger" would this mean replacing many of the extrusions (especially on the gantry) with aluminium plates, upping the size of the ballscrews and supported rails?

I have already lowered the Z axis, widened the spacing on the Y axis supported rails and added in two ballscrews on the X axis - any other areas I should look at and should I look at flood cooling from the outset?

BTW - I don't mind building a purely extrusion based machine first and then using that to cut out the plate gantry sides etc to make the machine more rigid later (I'm sure I can use the "wasted" extrusions I replace for other projects).

A couple of other areas I could also do with some advice on are:

Software - CAD isn't a problem, so no worries there. CAM/toolpath software I have seen is the Vetric stuff and VCarve Pro appears to be what I need (I've also been playing with Cut3D already just to try stuff out) the and Mach 3 for the machine control? Any others out there?

Oh and cutting carbon/glass re-inforced resins and plastics - can this be done, as I also do some composite work?

Apologies for the flood of questions, I'd rather get at least some of the direction of travel sorted now, as I won't be ordering anything for a month or so, as there is much to do to make the space for the new tool(s).

Thanks again


Chris

[JAZZCNC]

It would seem that I need at least 2 machines to cover the range of materials I work with: CNC router for softer materials up to say 6061 T6 (will a router style rig handle this grade?) and a Mill for 7075/Steel work.

Yes and NO.? If steel then YES you really need a milling machine. . . .BUT. . . If you choose a different design router style that doesn't use long gantry sides but instead has strong frame with high sides which the X axis rails sit directly onto so gantry pretty much sits directly on the bearings so reducing flex and handling resonance's better. Along with driving the gantry from both sides with twin ballscrews then coupled with raising or lowering the material near the cutter either using a adjustable bed type system or just putting in tempory raising blocks you'll be able to cut a vary good range of materials right upto 7075 aluminium. Obviously you'll still need a decent spindle for this a run of the mill wood router won't cut it.

You could also build a fixed gantry style machine which tend to be slightly stronger design.? It just requires more working space for the same cutting area.

Search the forum and you'll find loads of references from Jonathan and me regards this type build has it's one of the few things we agree on.!!

When you say "stronger" would this mean replacing many of the extrusions (especially on the gantry) with aluminium plates, upping the size of the ballscrews and supported rails?

I have already lowered the Z axis, widened the spacing on the Y axis supported rails and added in two ballscrews on the X axis - any other areas I should look at and should I look at flood cooling from the outset?

Has I suggested above it would be a completely different design really but would or could still involve profile and alu plates. Regards upping size of ball screws and rails then no that's not required and can actually be detrimental to machines performance if too big.

Flood cooling is always good idea but when cutting Aluminium then blown air works very good, esp if used with a misting system.

Software - CAD isn't a problem, so no worries there. CAM/toolpath software I have seen is the Vetric stuff and VCarve Pro appears to be what I need (I've also been playing with Cut3D already just to try stuff out) the and Mach 3 for the machine control? Any others out there?

Oh and cutting carbon/glass re-inforced resins and plastics - can this be done, as I also do some composite work?

All those you suggest are OK for wood and v-carving, engraving type work but you may want to look at others that are more suited to engineering type.
The difference comes mainly from the 2D & 3D tool-paths they provide which tend to be more suited to milling metals. Things like Drilling, boring, chamfer, thread milling cycles. They also tend to come has standard with more material entry options, things like ramping, contour ramping, spiral, parallel roughing etc.
3D tool-paths tend to come with features like advanced roughing, pencil, flatlands, equidistant offsets etc

Bobcad cam, Dolphin, Mesh cam and even Cambam I believe offer some of these options and his quite cheap.
Personally I use Bobcad cam for most of my basic mechanical metal type work and Artcam for the more Art'y stuff like Engraving, V-carving and general wood/plastic type work.
Really there hisn't one software that does all aspects best so you may find your self using a few different software's depending on what your doing.?

Apologies for the flood of questions,

Don't Apologise and keep asking untill your 100% happy and understand. Esp ask before buying components if your not 100% sure.

[Jonathan]

Steel frame is almost certainly the way to go mainly because it's cheaper if you buy it in the standard 7.5m length. Don't be afraid of welding!

Software - CAD isn't a problem, so no worries there. CAM/toolpath software I have seen is the Vetric stuff and VCarve Pro appears to be what I need (I've also been playing with Cut3D already just to try stuff out) the and Mach 3 for the machine control? Any others out there?

Since you've already used 3DSmax, you shouldn't find it too difficult to use CNCToolkit which is a free script for 3DS that creates toolpaths up to 6-axis. It's not the easiest CAM program (if you can call it a program) to use, but I think that's mainly due to how different 3DS is to most CAD programs. Having said that if you only need to to 2.5D milling, then there's no point overcomplicating the process - just use CamBam, one of Vectric's programs or similar.

Oh and cutting carbon/glass re-inforced resins and plastics - can this be done, as I also do some composite work?

No problem, with the right tool:

http://www.mycncuk.com/forums/showth...ll=1#post29541