Home Made CNC

[RCEXTREMEPOWER]

There is software that will convert your cad files to G code, point and click.

But still nice to know the basics of G code in order to make small changes like speed and cut rate.

Milton

[rcpilot82]

	Quote: Originally Posted by RCEXTREMEPOWER
	There is software that will convert your cad files to G code, point and click. But still nice to know the basics of G code in order to make small changes like speed and cut rate. Milton

Exactly, and the numbers are coordinates based on the cartesian(sp) coordinate system. I and j values are for radius. P is for a dwell. This is all things you need to know to properly read and edit code. Speeds and feeds are VERY important for finish and tool life not to mention safety. you dont want a 1" dia endmill to plunge into a 1/2"piece of aluminum at 100 in per min!

[RCEXTREMEPOWER]

If anyone is serious about building a router or mill, Take the time to read through this thread, it is very long and will take hrs to read and is two sections long with about 4 years of posting but will answer about 99% of your questions.

One suggestion while reading it, A lot of the post are chit chat and a lot of them are use full, Keep a note pad and when you see something that sounds important write down the page number and post number so you can look it up later

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=62920

Milton

[RCEXTREMEPOWER]

Here is a good source for buying the aluminum for the frame work, It is where I bought most of mine, If you email them they will send you a catalog with all there products and it is use full to see what you are buying and what it will do.

http://stores.ebay.com/8020-Inc-Garage-Sale

Milton

[Piper13]

A cnc is very usefull, when it is time to do plugs and moulds for giant scale

[eng1_romy]

try my blog you will find video

http://buildowncnc.blogspot.com/

[Crash-Man]

I've been playing the CNC game for a little over a year now. It all started with a PhlatPrinter (www.PhlatBoyz.com) MKI in September 08, and then earlier this summer I branched off into their newest machine, the MKII. Both of these machines are mainly for cutting foamies out, but have proven themselves quite capable of cutting some thinner ply and balsa up to 3/8"!

The machine in the attached picture is my new overhead gantry system that I worked up from a kit by Nathan over at FLA (www.FineLineAutomation.com). I have about $3,000 in this one, but it's a BEAST! In addition to hardwoods and ply, I can cut HDPE, Polycarbonate, G10 - even aluminum! LOL

On my PhlatPrinters (for my foamies), I use Google's SketchUp (free) to work up my design, and then use the PhlatBoyz' "PhlatScript" (also free!) to create the machine code (also known as gCode). Once I have created the gCode, I use Artsoft's Mach3 (free for up to 500 lines of code) to tell the CNC machine what to do from the instructions in the gCode. It's really amazing how easy it is to get into CNC and make it work for you, once you have an idea of how everything works. I learned the ins and outs from the PhlatBoyZ. Most everything you'll ever want to know about the CNC hobby can be found on their support forum - www.PhlatForum.com

Be careful about getting into the CNC hobby... You may start it to support your RC addictions, but what you may very likely end up with is another hobby altogether! LOL

If you ever want to get any dope on this stuff, please check out my podcast (www.TheCrashCast.com) where, in addition to the Radio Control hobby, we also discuss CNC as it relates to the RC hobby.

Michael "Crash" Hancock
AMA 2992