Originally Posted by philbur  First the software issue, I don't know the full answers but:
Mach2 has some wizards but I don't think they will do the inner profile of your part. Mach3 has more wizards so it might. Mach3 also has lazycam which almost for sure will do the part. If you use the wizards you may have to learn some Gcode in order to stitch it all together. you will have to learn some Gcode anyway.
So Check out Mach3 wizards plus lazycam.
The Tormach will easily produce the part you show, subject to size of course. However if you are just dabling, together with hope of a little bit of income, $10,000 may be a bit over the top. Only you can decided this.
Also the Tormach is capable of doing the brake discs, together with a rotary table. The coding could be partly done with wizards plus a bit of hand writing.
Overall a $10,000 + leap into something you know little about would be a leap to far for most people.
Good Luck
Phil |
thanks.
i will look into the lazycam.
i have the cash for the machine so it will not be on credit. i am not real worried about making it pay for itself immediately. it may take a while for it to pay for itself but i think the machine will be worth it to me for hobby also. i do lots of fabrication on my 4 wheel drives and also some gunsmithing. this would be my most expensive single tool but between all my welders, plasma cutter and other fabrication tools i don't think it is that far out of line for my home shop. i really think it will open up a whole new world to me having a milling machine. being able to write it off on my taxes would really make it worth starting a small business.