5 axis Z Travel.

[blazedforever]

Hello all,
I am curently in the design stage for a 5 axis router, and have decided to work from the heart of the machine out ("the z axis"). I have already accumulated motors and gearboxes for the head, also a 200 mm travel Parker linear stage (originally intended for the z-axis). My question concerning the z axis travel arises due to the growing size of the machine, planned to be 1000mm x 1000mm x 200mm. I want this machine to be fairly versatile as far as what gets machined(lots of ideas). Now i look at my motors and gearboxes, then the z stage and wonder, how often will i be pushing the limits of my z axis travel.

For those who have confronted this same question, i ask you what are your experiences/opinions?

Is 200mm too little?

[katalin]

I think the 200mm z axis is too small for a 5 axis machine, for a 3 axis is OK.
If you look at factory made 5 axis router you will see that the travel of their z axis is much bigger. I don't know the way you want to design your 2 axis rotational head , but for example if you want to machine a semi sphere when you are at the top point the distance from the center of the "B" axis to the bottom of the semi sphere will be D= radius of the sphere + the tool length+ the distance from the collet to the center of the B axis. To reach the lowest point of the semi sphere you need to have a z axis travel larger then D. In general the workpiece is placed o a device to allow the head to reach all points. For example if the semi sphere were placed on the table when the tool head to reach the lowest point the head wold crash into the table.
The way you design your machine is very important, and i believe you need to optimize the travel of the axis and the construction of the head.
YouTube - Record 132 Prisma - Sphere