A little something for a 4th axis.
- DavidCousins
- Vectric Wizard
- Posts: 359
- Joined: Sat Mar 17, 2007 2:56 pm
- Location: Huntsville, Alabama
Table suggestion.
I emailed this guy. He gave me a quote of $750, for the "A" turn table. But really I couldn't figure out what else is needed.
http://www.doughtydrive.com/products.html
Looks like a neat tool. Complete with stepper, but I'm sure you need more hardware too.
http://www.doughtydrive.com/products.html
Looks like a neat tool. Complete with stepper, but I'm sure you need more hardware too.
Can't see where they get the 5th axis from in the you tube video.
That's just bog standard 4th axis work.
You can easily get or make a 4th axis by fitting a stepper to a horizontal / vertical rotary table, add a separate driver and if you are running Mach then a bit of setting up get you on your way.
I know this is milling but it also applies to routing.
John S.
That's just bog standard 4th axis work.
You can easily get or make a 4th axis by fitting a stepper to a horizontal / vertical rotary table, add a separate driver and if you are running Mach then a bit of setting up get you on your way.
I know this is milling but it also applies to routing.
John S.
On my desktop pc (Pentium 4 3gig with 2 gig of ram)
convert 87070 blocks 13min10s
convert 61000 blocks 6min30s
Ok, I know it's slow with large files, but it does get there. I have noticed that the progress bar sometimes stalls it's something I'm working on.
I'll second John with making your own, there's really not much to them.
Here's a couple of pics of one I made, I used two belts to get enough reduction (about 20:1) in a small package, an extra Gecko and that's all there is.
convert 87070 blocks 13min10s
convert 61000 blocks 6min30s
Ok, I know it's slow with large files, but it does get there. I have noticed that the progress bar sometimes stalls it's something I'm working on.
I'll second John with making your own, there's really not much to them.
Here's a couple of pics of one I made, I used two belts to get enough reduction (about 20:1) in a small package, an extra Gecko and that's all there is.
Careful with just belt reductions.
Under heavy cuts they can flick the motor forward or back a step.
Don't ask
Possibly not so obvious for wood and routers but a definite non starter in milling metal.
Go for a worm drive, they can't be driven backwards.
This is an off the shelf gearbox with a stepper driving the input shaft thru an oldham coupling and in this case as it's only for a Taig it has a Jacobs chuck on a parallel shank in the output hole.
No reason why it can't have a top hatted output shaft with a 3 jaw chuck on.
These gearboxes are standard reduction boxes for electric motors and are very well made and not expensive.
John S.
Under heavy cuts they can flick the motor forward or back a step.
Don't ask
Possibly not so obvious for wood and routers but a definite non starter in milling metal.
Go for a worm drive, they can't be driven backwards.
This is an off the shelf gearbox with a stepper driving the input shaft thru an oldham coupling and in this case as it's only for a Taig it has a Jacobs chuck on a parallel shank in the output hole.
No reason why it can't have a top hatted output shaft with a 3 jaw chuck on.
These gearboxes are standard reduction boxes for electric motors and are very well made and not expensive.
John S.
-
- Vectric Wizard
- Posts: 999
- Joined: Fri Sep 21, 2007 1:44 pm
- Model of CNC Machine: UCCNC Router, Plasma, Laser
- Location: Australia 3781
Re: A little something for a 4th axis.
Andrew
Your wrapper program is quite handy.
I was wondering about the need to enter radius value as a negative.
This is not very intuitive. Is this something that can be changed in the program?
Greg
Your wrapper program is quite handy.
I was wondering about the need to enter radius value as a negative.
This is not very intuitive. Is this something that can be changed in the program?
Greg
- Thkoutsidthebox
- Vectric Wizard
- Posts: 1487
- Joined: Wed Oct 25, 2006 3:19 pm
- Location: Europe
Re:
Ok, so that probably explains mine.....I just didn't wait long enough!Andrew wrote:On my desktop pc (Pentium 4 3gig with 2 gig of ram)
convert 87070 blocks 13min10s
convert 61000 blocks 6min30s
Ok, I know it's slow with large files, but it does get there. I have noticed that the progress bar sometimes stalls it's something I'm working on.
Re: A little something for a 4th axis.
Greg
Glad to here you find Wrapper of some use, the new version will not need the radius entered as a negative.
Thkoutsidthebox
I've rewritten the code for wrapper and the new version is much faster, 200,000 lines for example takes under 1 second to process.
I combined Wrapper with another project which has GCode specific functions and customizable syntax highlighting. With current commitments though, realistically it will be another 2-3 months before it's ready.
Glad to here you find Wrapper of some use, the new version will not need the radius entered as a negative.
Thkoutsidthebox
I've rewritten the code for wrapper and the new version is much faster, 200,000 lines for example takes under 1 second to process.
I combined Wrapper with another project which has GCode specific functions and customizable syntax highlighting. With current commitments though, realistically it will be another 2-3 months before it's ready.
Re: A little something for a 4th axis.
Wow sign me up!
Can anyone explain to a newbie how to wire in the 4th axis? My router runs on mach 3 so I know its possiable but I dont know where to start with wiring and I would like to have an idea so I can size things correctly. I have an 8ft table and it would be nice to do columes that length. Or maybe I'm a dreamer!!!
Thanks,
Nick
Nice work Andrew I wish I knew more about programing...........
Can anyone explain to a newbie how to wire in the 4th axis? My router runs on mach 3 so I know its possiable but I dont know where to start with wiring and I would like to have an idea so I can size things correctly. I have an 8ft table and it would be nice to do columes that length. Or maybe I'm a dreamer!!!
Thanks,
Nick
Nice work Andrew I wish I knew more about programing...........
- Thkoutsidthebox
- Vectric Wizard
- Posts: 1487
- Joined: Wed Oct 25, 2006 3:19 pm
- Location: Europe
Re: A little something for a 4th axis.
Cool I guess a 4th axis will have to be added to the list for my new machine build! I think you just use plugs on your stepper cables and hook the 4th axis stepper up instead of the X axis when you want to use it....is that right?
-
- Vectric Wizard
- Posts: 999
- Joined: Fri Sep 21, 2007 1:44 pm
- Model of CNC Machine: UCCNC Router, Plasma, Laser
- Location: Australia 3781
Re: A little something for a 4th axis.
That is actually how I do it on my router. My 4th axis is used with Z and Y axis. (technically it should be called B, but I call it A)Thkoutsidthebox wrote: I think you just use plugs on your stepper cables and hook the 4th axis stepper up instead of the X axis when you want to use it....is that right?
So I position the X axis over the centreline of the A, then plug the A motor into the X driver. X is now disabled.
Restart Mach with a custom profile and away I go. I have a custom screenset for 4th axis operation.
Just remember never unplug a motor without shutting down the power. Most drivers will die if you do.
Greg
- fretsman68
- Vectric Wizard
- Posts: 1084
- Joined: Tue Sep 02, 2008 7:16 pm
- Location: Pa. USA
Re: A little something for a 4th axis.
Got a screenshot of your 4th axis screen set Greg?I have a custom screenset for 4th axis operation.
Thanks,
Dave
--------------
Dave
Dave
-
- Vectric Wizard
- Posts: 999
- Joined: Fri Sep 21, 2007 1:44 pm
- Model of CNC Machine: UCCNC Router, Plasma, Laser
- Location: Australia 3781
Re: A little something for a 4th axis.
Dave this is a grab of the front page.
Probably looks a bit odd to you but I am very accustomed to the look and feel.
I use a touch screen. Hence the large buttons and fat sliders. Been using these from the start
All my screens look very much like this one. Have different ones for the router, X3 mill and router with rotary axis.
Just a few things are different for the rotary one, and only on the front page.
Cutting diameter, A axis DRO, no referencing or homing, no machine coordinate DROs, no laser cross hair control.
Can't imagine using the dogs breakfast that is the standard screen.
Greg
Probably looks a bit odd to you but I am very accustomed to the look and feel.
I use a touch screen. Hence the large buttons and fat sliders. Been using these from the start
All my screens look very much like this one. Have different ones for the router, X3 mill and router with rotary axis.
Just a few things are different for the rotary one, and only on the front page.
Cutting diameter, A axis DRO, no referencing or homing, no machine coordinate DROs, no laser cross hair control.
Can't imagine using the dogs breakfast that is the standard screen.
Greg
- fretsman68
- Vectric Wizard
- Posts: 1084
- Joined: Tue Sep 02, 2008 7:16 pm
- Location: Pa. USA
Re: A little something for a 4th axis.
Thanks for posting Greg, would love a touch screen at one point, thanks for sharing -
Dave
Dave
--------------
Dave
Dave