CNC Router Lathe

[wjfiles]

Has anyone built a CNC Router lathe for turning fancy legs and pillars.
I am about to start building one.
The Y axis would need to be rotary instead of linear. The Z axis maybe a normal plunge router modified to control the plunge
Any Ideas would be welcome

[epineh]

You could build a "standard" 3 axis router and then add a 4th axis in the form of an indexing or angular head that you can setup onto the machine when you want it. This might give you a bit more flexibility in what you can produce as you will have the best of both worlds.

From what I have read the angular axis needs to be VERY rigid, usually with a lot of reduction.

I looked at making a lathe first but decided to go the gantry 3 axis path, and look at retrofitting another axis later on, but I guess it is personal choice.

Russell.

[wjfiles]

Your comment provoked a thought, a normal CNC Lathe with a router attached to the tool post. For cost reasons I would like to eliminate the need for a 4th axis.