Hello all,
I am looking to convert a small desktop CNC to machine some small parts for a product I designed. My parts are roughly 1.5" square and are machined from custom aluminum extrusions I had made for me. I cut the pieces off the raw extrusion bar and then do supplemental machining. One part is easy, but the other would require a soft jaw. I am currently having the parts made by a friend with a full machine shop, but to cut costs down I want to run them myself at my leisure. I will likely run them in a linear fashion where I run one operation on all parts then change tools and run the next.
At the moment I am looking at the G0704 mill but I am open to other suggestions as I don't know enough of what out there that is comparable. I would also be open to stepping up to the next size mill but would want to pick one that has an existing upgrade kit I can buy. I am capable of designing my own as I work in the linear motion industry but I don't have the time and would rather have a kit to get to cutting chips sooner. I would like, to go from mill to cnc in 2 months project time.
I have seen many different G0704 kits and curious which one is the best? Also I plan to convert to ballscrews. If i had the money I would get a Tormach or if I had the space I would get a used VMC with Capitol equipment prices being so low now.
I design everything in solidworks but none of my parts require 3D surface interpolation and I am curious what programs I need to program in to output to the machine. I just found delcam and am curious if it can make a program that works with the interface of a converted mill?
Best regards,
Marc
I am looking to convert a small desktop CNC to machine some small parts for a product I designed. My parts are roughly 1.5" square and are machined from custom aluminum extrusions I had made for me. I cut the pieces off the raw extrusion bar and then do supplemental machining. One part is easy, but the other would require a soft jaw. I am currently having the parts made by a friend with a full machine shop, but to cut costs down I want to run them myself at my leisure. I will likely run them in a linear fashion where I run one operation on all parts then change tools and run the next.
At the moment I am looking at the G0704 mill but I am open to other suggestions as I don't know enough of what out there that is comparable. I would also be open to stepping up to the next size mill but would want to pick one that has an existing upgrade kit I can buy. I am capable of designing my own as I work in the linear motion industry but I don't have the time and would rather have a kit to get to cutting chips sooner. I would like, to go from mill to cnc in 2 months project time.
I have seen many different G0704 kits and curious which one is the best? Also I plan to convert to ballscrews. If i had the money I would get a Tormach or if I had the space I would get a used VMC with Capitol equipment prices being so low now.
I design everything in solidworks but none of my parts require 3D surface interpolation and I am curious what programs I need to program in to output to the machine. I just found delcam and am curious if it can make a program that works with the interface of a converted mill?
Best regards,
Marc