Thread: I'd like a fourth axis. :)

Wow that is some rotary axis.

Looks expensive... but very nice. Wonder if it would be even better with a servo on it?

Units for a rotary axis are degrees. So presuming 2000 steps per motor rev.

2000 x 50 / 360 = 277.77777

Greg

Hi Greg,
Thanks for the calculation.
That gives it quite a good resloution.
It was an impulse buy and I paid more than I would have preferred to pay but it is top quality. I have bits for a rotary axis including a 5 inch three jaw but not the time to put it together so this gets me going.
As you say a servo would work better than a stepper for higher rotational speed.

Well done greg, sorry rod I had gone to bed.

Wrapper is still probably one of the better programs out there still for us hobbyists

Im about to pull my machine apart rod, I need to completley redesign my workshop, running out of room very fast

Newest toy arriving soon and no where to put it,

Hi Steve,
Nice tool and cutter grinder.
I can make room in my shed if it is too hard for you.

Has anyone looked at just outputting the file instead of wrapping it via a program?

I mean there is no reason the 4th axis knows that it is rotary. As long as the steps are calculated for the diameter of the work piece, then a flat 2.5D gcode output would work, or am i off the mark here?

Nigel and I should have our 6 units finished soon, they kind of look like Rod new units, but his is very nice and shiny and ours are bland green -: (

Q. Does the wrapper program compensate for tapering round and does it also compensate for the depth of tool cut in this taper (if it does it)

/M

CNCWrapper does only two things.

It scales the positions of the axis that is wrapped according to the diameter/radius/circumference that was entered.

Also it changes the axis designation as required. For example from X to A in my case.

There are lots of ways to wrap an X/Y plane toolpath.

Having tried lots of them, I find CNCWrapper and the Aspire wrap PP to be the easiest and most intuitive.

Greg

Well, i have to say it took us ages but we finally put the finishing touches last night to the 4th axis units that we were building over the last 5 months.

Steppers come from Chris, the chucks were sourced from Asset Plant and the reduction (10:1) were surplus from Nigel stores (Thanks Nigel)

Most of the unit was re-machined to some degree to produce a unit that had as little slop as possible.

Next is to make something on it. A job for the long weekend

/M

Hi Mike,
Nice work. Looks like you are going to have some fun on the weekend.

Legacy CNC Woodworking - Home

I liked some of the products produced with the rotary axis and especially the idea of embedding the rotary axis within the machine. My unit will allow for this and I think i'm going to look at the feasibility of doing it.

/M

This was a good read... handy info for those starting a 4th axis.

Brad.

Has anyone here enquired about the cost of the doughty Drive?

DoughtyDrive

Or know anything about this software?

The CNC Toolkit - Creative Toolpath Control

Brad.

HI brad I got a quote some time ago couple of years maybe when he first started out I think it was around the 1k mark he priced it in US$ and I think our currency was quite low at the time but it was some time ago so get a quote off him and see what price he is putting on them now maybe they are more reasonable due to the AU$.

I actully dont like that he doesn't put a price up on his site, but I guess that way he can price it as he likes depending how busy he is.

I'll see what they're selling for now.

Brad.