If this is in the wrong sub-forum I apologise, I'm new here.
A friend of a friend of mine is a window restoration guy. He takes old windows and cleans the lead paint off them and redoes the woodwork, etc.
He wants to build a CNC machine that can relatively-automatically clear the paint off window sashes (specifically the 'inside' portion, the profiled wood that holds the glass pane in place against the frame and glazing on the other side) -- hopefully that makes sense.
The basic workflow, idealized, is:
1. Place window sash on CNC bed and clamp in place.
2. Probe (or some other method) to find interior corner locations for each pane.
3. Generate toolpaths for each square, rhombus, rectangle that is sensed.
4. Run a profiled router bit along each sash. (+Z at some generalized value to avoid hitting the glass)
5. Efficiently and effectively collect all dust generated.
6. Profit
Now, I'm not nearly experienced enough with software development or DIY CNC hardware to do this on my own. I know a little bit about CNC hardware and the basic CAD-CAM-CNC workflow. I use Fusion 360 and a Laguna Smartshop M and that's the extent of my experience.
From what I've researched, I could achieve his goal by using a closed loop CNC & controller with a touch probe, finding location data in the machine coordinates, converting that data to something Fusion can read, creating toolpaths, sending those toolpaths back to the CNC router, and running the program.
Ideally we can do something more streamlined where the location data is automatically converted to toolpaths at some variable -Z from the plane of the points found that keeps the bit away from the glass. This requires direct integration between the touch probe and the software.
From a hardware perspective, I can see this machine existing. 3-axis closed-loop CNC router, 4x4 bed with T-slots and clamps, touch probe, computer controller with custom software, profiled router bit. Ideally the touch probe and the router bit don't have to switch out on the spindle, and could exist near each other on the gantry.
From a software perspective I'm completely unaware of how to make this happen.
Any input would be greatly appreciated.