[acmarston]

I've been looking into the concept of cnc machines and what they can do recently and I've come across a few videos on YouTube on DIY 5 axis cnc machines that usually have cost the owner around 5k USD to build. Videos like these:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGKNc387LxY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rs48wONzkpI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=is7CCmqe4bs




And I was wondering, what are these DIY machines capable of? Are they able to do for instance things like this?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHstzxuryMk

Or is there something about the cheaper DIY machines that limits them in some way?

Thanks.

[peteeng]

Hi - 5 axis software is the limiting thing. Usually quite expensive. Peter

[routalot]

Hi - 5 axis software is the limiting thing. Usually quite expensive. Peter

I agree with the point about the software.The rest of the build process isn't exactly an easy one and accuracy is vital at all stages.The 4th and 5th axes need to be absolutely square to each other and the spindle has to be concentric with the 4th axis and square to the table.On top of these requirements,the home positions of the 4th and 5th axes have to be accurately located and the distance from the tool tip to the 5th axis pivot needs to be recorded for use with the software.

None of these things are impossible but the task is an order of magnitude more difficult that building a 3 axis machine.Then you have the challenge of creating a working post processor.I have seen it stated that Fusion 360 will do some machining operations in 5 axis mode but i doubt it would do continuous 5 axis machining.It is a lot less demanding of resources to work in 5 axis indexed mode and probably much more common.I will admit to admiring the fellows who build 5 axis machines as they have obviously realised that it makes access to features lower down on a large job possible.It continues to exasperate me that so many people come to this forum and others with notions of building 3 axis machines with very large z axis travel,but no awareness that anything much deeper than the tool length will be hard to reach because the collet will foul the job.Which leads to the point that extreme rigidity and absence of flex in the gantry and column is essential for a decent size 5 axis machine.

[acmarston]

Just came across this thread: https://www.cnczone.com/forums/uncat...-axis-cnc.html

How much would something like this have cost to build?

Any ideas on whether or not that DIY CNC machine could do the things like in the videos in my original post?

[ger21]

And I was wondering, what are these DIY machines capable of? Are they able to do for instance things like this?

All of those DIY machines have different capabilities. The first one is only capable of cutting foam.

None of them come anywhere near the Haas, which cut the engine block. That's a $100,000 machine.

Also keep in mind that the DIY machines may have cost $5000, but they built them themselves. If you don't have the equipment and skills to build your own, they'd cost considerably more.

Most DIY 5 axis machines are not very capable at all, imo.