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Looking for 3-d cnc

2K views 27 replies 11 participants last post by  DS 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
I am looking for someone who can cut out human faces or heads out of wood for a project. Please let me know if anyone is interested in cutting out several heads who has done this before.
 
#3 · (Edited by Moderator)
Well, just by way of information, to carve 3D objects with a CNC router, it takes more than the typical 3-axis CNC machine. Most people don't realize that a majority of 3-axis machines can only process 2 1/2 D objects.

It's this thing called interpolation. (Moving more than one axis at a time to form the desired geometry)
Think of an etch-a-sketch. To draw straight lines is simple. To draw a curved line, you need to "interpolate" the two directions, moving them the appropriate amount simultaneously to accurately create the curved line.

To do this in more than two simultaneous axis' at a time requires a special controller and special (read expensive) software. Some "canned cycles" on some controllers can do limited 3D moves, but by in large it is un-necessary for most CNC work.

What you are looking for is someone with a 4-axis, or 5-axis machine with some advanced software.
This is far less common than the 3-axis fare used to make most cabinetry and furniture parts.

Hope this helps some.
 
#5 · (Edited by Moderator)
oldnovice

That is a beautiful CNC machine… Yep, a 3D CNC…

Should be able to make a Head or Bust on it… Sculpturing would be a piece of cake!

Now, we need to be able to develop the Program for the CNC machine to do it!
The development system is probably as much as the CNC machine!
You would really need to be able to run it through a Simulator to be sure it works rather than messing up so much wood, metal, etc. Just the Simulator would be a huge cost!
... in my imagination… One huge programming task…

Take a picture and convert it into the program required to carve it… Like a Head for a Bust….

I see nothing but $$$$$$$$$$$$ and TIME!
 
#7 ·
Someone with minimal carving skills can use a 3-axis CNC to do human heads. Some software allows for indexed operations so a part can be rotated between machining operations. A little cleanup work would be needed at the top and bottom and that's where the carving skills would be needed.

I plan to do a project like this myself within the next year and would be interested in this one too except I'm already over-loaded with work for the next few months.
 
#9 ·
My son, a certified CNC machinist, did manage to make a 3D carving of a BMW 911 about 4" long on my Shopbot Buddy, not a 4 or 5 axis machine by any means!

I did not watch the entire process but he started cutting at the top then the two sides …. etc! For an experiment it turned out pretty good. I guess he was the "indexer" in this case!
 
#10 ·
There is a technique called "rastering" where a small bit is stepped in very small increments from one end to another and the profile is cut a line at a time.
This is still 2 1/2 D as the one axis doesn't move while the other two do. This creates a bit of a rougher cut that has to be touched up, but it isn't entirely unfeasible.
 
#11 ·
oldnovice

That sounds like an interesting unique way of accomplishing the unusual.

I was thinking…(really!)... Google and their SKETCHUP… if they could interface that software to a CNC interface(able to handle the axises problem), that might save a TON of money in development!
 
#15 ·
I've got a little 4 axis CNC mill, but haven't actually used the 4th axis yet. But in order to really do what you are wanting, either indexed (probably 12 positions for best result) or a 4th axis are needed. The machine isn't really the problem, it's getting the CAM program to accurately produce the G code necessary to do all the operations. I have been learning that there is a lot more to running a CNC than drawing a part in CAD. The CAM process requires quite a bit of knowledge and foresight in order to get a program out that will actually produce the result you want.

For anyone interested, the LinuxCNC package is free and works pretty well, mine is running in 4 axis mode, though I just don't use the A axis currently.
 
#16 ·
I was impressed with the Carvewright software utilities and many of the features. (e.g. Digitizing probe)

Where the Carvewright loses me is that it seems to be a lightweight hobby machine that might not hold up under continuous production runs. It more resembles an Inkjet Plotter than a CNC machine.

I wish I had some of those features on a larger, more industrial machine.
 
#19 · (Edited by Moderator)
The software on the Carvewright it pretty nifty. (Highly integrated) The Vector carving is sweet in that it will scale any design almost instantly. The hardware is more proprietary and locks you into that platform and you end up buying patterns more often than creating them.

The Legacy machines has some decent hardware, but, unless something has changed since I last looked, you're pretty much on your own for decent software. (Though they will work with nearly all the packages out there. )

The 5-axis machines require software that can run up to $40k for the decent stuff for 3+ axis interpolation.
It's hard to define that kind of complex motion with a mouse and computer screen. Things get messy in a hurry.
 
#21 · (Edited by Moderator)
@ Oldnovice

I'm currently using a combo of Sketchup and Bobcad. I use Sketchup for speed and then export and finish off the CAM portion in Bobcad. I use both 2d dxf files and 3d stl files for my work and my software combo does work okay for that. It's a little awkward but I didn't have a budget to get a fancy software package. Bobcad I managed to get with a group package deal that got the price down low.
 
#22 ·
The only software I saw from Legacy was an interactive Excel Spreadsheet for defining turnings. That's not much for software…

Fortunately, their g-code is fairly straight forward and non-proprietary, so most CAM packages can output for the Legacy.
 
#24 ·
JAAune, I use Creo Elements/Direct Modeling Express as it is free and generates 2D PDF prints that I can use directly with Part Works. So far it has worked out beautifully as I do not have any additional cost and the 3D modeling capability of Creo gives everything I want/need to checkout my designs.

It is available from the PTC website or CNET site
 
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