Time to make it work

[DESERT RAT]

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.

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

[LeeWay]

If it helps with the cost any, here is version 18 on Ebay going for $150.00.

[Torsten]

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

[DESERT RAT]

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

[DESERT RAT]

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.

[ger21]

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.

[Torsten]

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.

[DESERT RAT]

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

[ger21]

If you have access to AutoCAD, you can use the macro I wrote to get g-code without leaving AutoCAD. AutoCAD 2 G-Code macro

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.