Thread: G540 & CNC Build

Does anyone know where I can buy a long 1/4 BN bit with a long cutting surface? When rough cutting foam the depth I can plunge is limited to the length of the cutting flute of the tool. My current 1/4 bit has about 30mm cutting flute so Im only plunging that distance.

These are 5mm with 50mm LOC and 100mm OAL and priced well.
Long flutes on 6mm bits are usually restricted to 38mm as there is a lot of material removed to form the flute. Spin them at 24,000 and make sure you are not in the firing line.

$25 PCI parallel card and a little soldering.....



The Xylotex worked great. And it also has another 3 drivers on it...lol.. what else can I motorise!!!

Now I just need to figure out how to make G-code to get all 4 axis working together.

Brad.

Are you going to make a Ironman helmet or are you just messing around? I would sure like to see some pics if you do!

Added a little more to my machine. I was asked to mill a mould for part of a costume. But this part had angled sides and required the table to be rotated about 33 degrees. So here's what I come up with.



It's not the most solid of constructions but will hopefully work.



Brad.

Originally Posted by spidey4fun

And it also has another 3 drivers on it...lol.. what else can I motorise!!!

Add a rotary table to that and you will have a five axis machine.

Greg

I'm sure that it is illegal for one person to be so damned clever.
I think you may have stolen some of my cleverosity because I don't think that I could have thought of that.

Well it worked... sort of!! Just need to get some foam as wax isnt up to the task.







Brad.

That's a seriously long router bit! What is it?

Originally Posted by marty989

That's a seriously long router bit! What is it?

I've a few 3 inch 1/8 BN 2FL and 4FL bits. Also some 3 inch 1/4 2FL bits. They come in handy for doing this type of milling.

Here's a video of milling in foam this time.



And some finished pics.





Just need to find some foam sealer so it can be moulded. This isnt the best foam for milling in, but I thought I'd give it a try anyway.

Brad.

Originally Posted by Greolt

Add a rotary table to that and you will have a five axis machine.

Greg

Good idea, but then again I have trouble enough trying to figure out how to use four.

Does anyone know of any type of gear, rack, pinion CAD drawing programs. (shareware) I'd like to draw up a 4th / 5th axis rotary head and thinking I might mill and mould the gears and make it in plastic / resin.

Brad.

Try Gearotic. Not free, but $75 is not a huge price to pay and it is written by Art of Mach3 fame

Originally Posted by spidey4fun

Does anyone know of any type of gear, rack, pinion CAD drawing programs. (shareware) I'd like to draw up a 4th / 5th axis rotary head and thinking I might mill and mould the gears and make it in plastic / resin.

Brad.

Not sure if plastic and resin would hold up very well under load for a 4th/5th axis. I would have to think it would quickly wear over time introducing backlash. I would think it would be a great idea for testing your idea as a prototype or if your not actually applying much load.

Just my 2c.