Hey guys,
I am wanting to set up 4x CNC routers in the shop. Each router will be performing the same operation. Instead of having 4 computers and each one running completely independently of one another... is it possible to have them all run the same program at the same time? How would you guys go about this? Thanks and any help/advice is greatly appreciated!
I would say it's ''possible'' to do what you want. But here are a few thoughts. What if you break a tool bit on one machine? Three machines are are not running when they could be while you are setting up the last machine. You could set up to run two and two, this would give you time to load/unload while the other two are running. The tool heights would have to be set exactly the same on all four machines, not impossible, but rather difficult.
In order to accomplish what you want, you could just wire all of the drive inputs in parallel, and all of the travel limits in series and run them that way. But how do you independently adjust the machines for 0,0,0? Then there is the issue of the travel limits and home switches. Each machine would have to be exactly the same as the others.
So the bottom line is: Possible, yes. Practical? Probably not.