thanks guys,
Ger, when you say "Another issue with a saw blade is that the toolpath needs to be aligned with the blade, sort of like a tangential knife...."
But isn't any tool path ALWAYS aligned with the tool?? Or is it a case of the tool path being aligned with the
spindle axis, which is the same axis as a cylindrical tool, but with a disc, the tool path would be at 90º to the spindle axis. Maybe I am getting confusing (or the subject starts to get confusing for me ; - (
Also, you mention "But you can only make straight cuts." For roughing out material, the cuts could be "straight" in say X or Y axis, but they would obviously need to follow the relief of the 3D form in the Z axis.
And lastly you mention , "I've seen this done in videos, and I think it was with a 5 axis machine.". Yes, here´s one
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GQmgyviNRU , a Chinese machine, which interestingly combines a disc AND a milling tool in the same tool holder.
Both ALPHACAM (British i think) and PEGASUS CADCAM (Italian) are stone CAM programs that use discs to rough out. But, we are talking about prohibitive prices.....
I´m investigating if BOBCAD can do this, as a reasonably priced alternative....any user out there happy with it? And also, Rhino+Madcam...both seem under what ALPHACAM costs.
thanks!