Hi,
I built a 3 axis milling machine 2 years ago with also has a rotary (A) axis, for milling polystyrene and polyurethane foam, it works fine. I use DESKPROTO to generate the g-codes, and of course Mach (3) to control my machine. Some of my work at
www.franknorton.com.
Now I want to build a milling machine for marble and other stones. I´d like it to have a real fourth axis; that is, I´d like the spindle to actually tilt, and so get to under cuts on the material I´m milling.
A full 5 axis machine seems to be too complex mechanically....eventually I´d like to, but I want to be more realistic with my next build.
The spindle could tilt either parallel to the X or the Y axis, it doesn’t concern me at this stage.
DESKPROTO can´t generate g-codes for this kind of machine; it can for 5 axis index machine, where you tilt your work piece on a rotary trunnion table.
This is complicated while milling big pieces, a more straightforward approach seems to me to be for the spindle to do the tilting, so as to get to those hidden undercuts.
But I need a software package to generate my g-codes.
Any ideas? I don’t mind paying a reasonable amount of money.
Thanks!
Frank Norton.