Ok, I have been messing with this for to long. It is time to make it produce.
My machine, (actually a conversion) I never got to work because of software and money problems. I tried shareware and freeware with no luck.
It is a moving gantry with typical xyz axis. The 4th axis rotates the stock underneath the gantry in order to make spindles, with spirals and such, for staircases. Once I have CNC control I should be able to make gunstocks.
I am using Gecko 201's with motors from Camtronics. I am considering using BobCad v17 (about $300.00) to make my designs and convert them to g-code and then using TurboCNC on my DOS computer to drive the Gecko's. I want to use DOS for the g-code interpreter because I never had a DOS computer lock up and windows does all the time.
My max rpm will be 600rpm or 1,200,000 microsteps per minute. This gives me 120 inches per minute. I desire high accuracy.
(group)
The Gecko's can handle the 4 axis and the steps per minute

TurboCNC can handle the 4 axis but can it handle the steps/minute?

Can BobCad v17 handle 4 axis to make objects like gunstocks?

Are all these items compatable in this configuration?

Last, can this same software operate servo's on a future machine?

Please make suggestions but 300 dollars is about my limit for software. If it helps I can use my brothers autocad.

Thanks
Rich

If it helps with the cost any, here is version 18 on Ebay (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7135552531&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT) going for $150.00.

That would be about 20khz you need from the software.
Turbocnc will work it dose about 28khz on a Pentium.
Do you have a specific design you need to cut?
Do you need to change often?
Reason I ask is with enough time on your hand you can
even hand code it to make it work.
Of course if you have a large variety of parts and lots of
changes this is too tedious.
Cam Software is very expensive any medium quality
software starts at somewhere around $3000.- and up.
I would recommend you start with something simple
and learn to gcode manualy.
This will be of great value to you even after you get a
Cam program setting up Postprocessors requires some
good knowlege about your controllers requirements.
Good Luck

Lee, I don't even see a version 18 on the bobcad home site. Is this for real.

Torsten, I do not have a specific design right now but I will want to do many different parts. I do want to learn to gcode manually as I also hope to some day step up to the higher dollar software.

However, in the mean time, can anyone say if Bobcad v17 or v18 along with TurboCNC is a viable alternative to make 4 axis parts like these?

Thanks
Rich

Sorry Torsten. I forgot to ask but if I was to gcode manually what software would you suggest? Keep in mind I want to cut from DOS and some parts could be elaborate.



I just want to cut.

If you want DOS, there is TurboCNC, CNC Zeus http://www.cnczeus.com/ and CNC Pro http://www.yeagerautomation.com/

I've heard that CNC Pro is no longer being updated, but I'm not sure.

You can write the g-code in any text editor, Notepad in Windows, or use the EDIT command in DOS.

Well you could start out with your brothers Autocad do some simple profiles in 2d.
Then export this as a dxf file.
There are some free dxf to gcode programs available that will generate a gcode file
from this that will run with Turbocnc.
This should get you started.
More complex parts can be made by making several simple sections and
manualy conecting them using a Text editor such as notepad or edit.
It will require more knowledge of gcode the more complex your parts become
so start with something very simple and go from there.
I don't have any expirience using bobcad, I think it would probably work but
I hear it is not a very easy program to learn.

Thank You all Very much. I think I will contact the people at Bodcad for more information because I think my parts will be to complex for writing gcode by hand. In the mean time I will try by hand.

Rich

If you have access to AutoCAD, you can use the macro I wrote to get g-code without leaving AutoCAD. http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8226

A lot easier than exporting .dxf and doing the conversion. More powerful, too. If you can model your parts in AutoCAD in 3D, MeshCAM http://www.grzsoftware.com will have an indexable 4-axis option in the near future.