5 axis and 3 axis cnc

[DistortedDesign]

I am a newbie but not a strager ( I have done some minor cnc but that was over a decade ago) to electronics, cad, 3d and everything else. I really like the ganty 5 axis cnc that is on the forum but not sure if I can afford to build one. I can't find any plans for a 5 axis gantry sytem. I just wanted some specifics about cost of making a 5 axis cheaply. I also needed some specifics about the motors for both 5 axis and 3 axis.

The stuff I would be doing would not have to be super super accurate. I would most likely be doing mostly foam work like making halloween stuff like skulls, tombstones, front facia pieces, plexiglas etching, wood carving, and maybe some metal etching.

[spoiledbrat]

I currently run a 3-axis home-build, and I have a 4th axis attachment. I use Rhinocam to generate my code, and Mach 3 to run it.

My cad/cam software runs around $2600, and Mach 3 (the most excellent controller for the price) runs around $150.

While the motors, drives, and controller can be had for cheap, software to create 5-axis Gcode is very cost-prohibitive for the hobbyist.

It is also difficult to cheaply create a 5-axis system rigid enough to tackle any kind of metal work, unless you are a machinist, resourceful, and able to do a lot of research on the mechanics/control issues on the 5-axis head.

I wish you the best of luck, but I do not expect you to meet your goals anywhere under $24,000 (for software, controller, drives, linear components, drive mechanisms, spindle, etc.)

Just my opinion.

[ger21]

Unless you use the CNC Toolkit to create your code.
http://www.rainnea.com/cnc_toolkit.htm

[DistortedDesign]

The only metal work that I will be doing is envraving so it doesn't require any more regigity than a 3 axis. I am not cutting metal or anything of that nature. Most of what I would be doing with the 5 axis is cutting foam. I need the specifics of the motors needed for the 5 axis as well as plans for a 5 axis gantry.

[FunnyNYPD]

I didn't realize it is so cheap to own a CNC machine.

[DistortedDesign]

Rannea's gantry is what I want to build. I know it didn't cost $10k to build. I don't need the fancy box that he mounted it on. I can't find any plans anywhere for a 5 axis.

[DistortedDesign]

Are there no 5 axis plans out there?? How is it that everyone is making them? I can't believe that no one has done 5 axis plans yet.

[ger21]

Originally Posted by DistortedDesign Are there no 5 axis plans out there?? How is it that everyone is making them?

Rab's is the only completed homebuilt 5 axis machine I've ever seen. I've seen people plan on building them, but have never seen another completed.

[DistortedDesign]

That one is exactly what I want. What has to change in order to covert a gantry 3 to 5. How much stronger steppers do you need to keep the backlash down? I am not going to be milling metal. Wood or Plexi would be the worse thing I would do.