Newsgroups: comp.robotics
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From: nagle@netcom.com (John Nagle)
Subject: Re: Desktop NC Mills
Message-ID: <1993Jan31.191514.23950@netcom.com>
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest) 
References: <1ka2kpINN54m@tumbler.usc.edu>
Date: Sun, 31 Jan 1993 19:15:14 GMT
Lines: 19

goldberg@tumbler.usc.edu (Ken Goldberg) writes:
>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.
>I'll post any leads that I get to this group.

      Little 3-axis mills exist, although my machining friends sneer
at them.  They're usually unsuitable for anything much harder than aluminum.
Machines with more than three axes are much more complex
mechanically, since you need articulation of the spindle head.
Noting the low Z-travel requirement, do you really want to machine, or 
just drill holes?  

      N/C machine shops have been going out of business rather 
frequently lately, from the auction announcements, so you might start
with a used machinery dealer.

					John Nagle
