Newsgroups: comp.robotics
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From: Bathsheba.Grossman@launchpad.unc.edu (Bathsheba Grossman)
Subject: Re: Desktop NC Mills
Message-ID: <1993Jan31.043404.19564@samba.oit.unc.edu>
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References: <1434.253.uupcb@pcb.batpad.lgb.ca.us>
Date: Sun, 31 Jan 1993 04:34:04 GMT
Lines: 32

[oops nuked your attribution]
>Is it possible to buy a small-scale (desktop) 4-axis milling machine
>that has an NC interface (preferably RS-232)?  The XY travel requirement
>is about 10x10 cm^2, and the Z axis should travel at least 3cm.  The
>precision does not have to be very high;  .01 inch would be acceptable.

My desire is similar but a little larger: about 8 x 5 x 4" travel.  (.01"
accuracy isn't that good with a travel of 3cm  B)

In article <1434.253.uupcb@pcb.batpad.lgb.ca.us> william.serrano@pcb.batpad.lgb.ca.us (William Serrano)  writes:
>How much money do youhave?  
<$10K

>How high a level of a NC language do you know, or need?
Can learn what's needed; compatibility with some not-fabulously-expensive
path-generating package would be very nice.

>what material are you cutting/how rigid must the machine be?
Aluminum/wax/wood; wouldn't say no to steel capability either.  

>There are a lot of solutions especially once you get into five figure
>price tags.
I've seen a number of 3-axis high-precision mills  (the Light Machines ones
look very nice) at $16-20K, but as that's a bit out of range I'd love to
hear what else is out there.

-Sheba
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