[routalot]

Without wanting to appear too cynical,have you ever done any 5 Axis programming from hand calculations?You will need to do a lot of trig calculations involving the pivot distance from the 5th axis centre of rotation to the tool tip.Or you will have to double your budget for some 5 axis software.I wish you well with your efforts but there is a lot to take into account.

[skyways-uav]

Without wanting to appear too cynical,have you ever done any 5 Axis programming from hand calculations?You will need to do a lot of trig calculations involving the pivot distance from the 5th axis centre of rotation to the tool tip.Or you will have to double your budget for some 5 axis software.I wish you well with your efforts but there is a lot to take into account.

routalot: thank you for the candid reply. Not cynical at all. I have not done any CNC programming (3 axis or 5 axis except for 3D printer FDM type programming). I appreciate your realistic feedback. Did more homework and thinking and yeah, I think a 3axis is a good starting point for now.