I will soon share the information so that you can build a kit by yourself (or buy one) and screw it to your mach3 cnc and start using it as a 3D printer.

This I am looking forward to, thanks for the info Nuri.

Tweakie.

You could use the spindle PWM to control the temperature setting. Can even setup the arduino to output a pulse (RPM input) that can me read as true temperature on a DRO. Convert RPM to temp in a screenset. Heck maybe the PID would work too? Give you full control in software.

I have been watching videos over the last 2 months or so about Mendel and Darwin. I thought using my Sherline/A2Z mill would be much better than trying to cut metal with it. Lets jump in! I would like to try. First steps while you work on the interface? Heater, extruder?

It actually dosent look hard at all to make this work. Basically here is what I see that is needed...

1) 3 axes mill / router.
2) Additional stepper axis (4th axis "A")
3) Mach 3 control.
4) Modified skeinforge. Swap E for A in the script so the E control moves the A axis.
5) Mendel style extruder with A axis for the feed.
6) Temperature control for the heat of the extruder.  This one should work great...
http://cgi.ebay.com/Omega-Programmable-Digital-Thermocouple-Meter-Excellent-/110604146539?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19c085576b

Hello:

I'm veri much interested for the topic.
Looking for more info....

I am at the end of the design phase of the ver2 circuit board. It will do all the stuff. With this circuit board I will release the modified skeinforge software and mach3 configuration xml files. I will let you know very soon.

Please find below the images of my test environment which use mach3.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/37197094@N00/sets/72157625166612319/show/

regards,
Nuri Erginer

Excellent work Nuri.

Tweakie.

Can you tell me how you modified Skeinforge from the 'E' axis to the 'A' axis? I am already well into building a stand-alone 3d printer and this is the problem between Mach and Skeinforge I've run into. My feed steppers are on the 'A' axis and I need to change them.

I love your idea of interchangability!  I wish I had thought of that 6 months and several $$$ ago 

Brilliant, Nuri!
I'm following your thread.

Can you tell me how you modified Skeinforge from the 'E' axis to the 'A' axis? I am already well into building a stand-alone 3d printer and this is the problem between Mach and Skeinforge I've run into. My feed steppers are on the 'A' axis and I need to change them.

There is no option for doing this in skeinforge so I modify the source code

Regards,
Nuri Erginer