Arduino based 3D cnc mill.

Projects General Guidance
1

I've been trying to come up with a feasible mechanical set up for a 3D CNC machine. I have 2 MakerBot replicator and replicator dual knock off printers that are basically parts as well as threaded rod smooth ride extruded aluminum as well as extra steppers, servos and brushless motors, along with several different types of Arduino as well as a bunch of shields

My question is this I understand that what I want to do would be much larger than MakerBot replicator but I have the equipment to increase the size of it but the general idea would be too attached a Dremel to the end of a robotic arm 9 degrees of freedom six degrees of freedom 10 degrees of freedom I'm not sure butt the arm would then be attached to the extruder carriage on a 3D printer much larger than MakerBot and the general idea would be to have the arm able to carve not just from the normal top down butt from the sides all the way to the building plate. Similar to how some industrial CNC machines work.
I know I could figure out the hardware side of it as far as building the frame and arms I guess I should say understand in the mechanical side of it butt what I need a combination of a reprap and I gimbal or 3D arm controller and then the software aspect just boggles me

Anyways I'd love to hear people's ideas thoughts insights criticisms

Also if anybody is interested in this and understands how to handle the hardware controllers and or the software I would provide the mechanical set up including what I think would be a very successful addition of a tri or quad beam horizontal carriage or two dual Rod carriages that would be able to adequately support the weight of the Dremel and the arm or I could hack the Dremel or use the flexible Arm attachment

Anyways I love to have people collaborate on a potential Kickstarter project because it would be anyways I love to have people collaborate on a potential Kickstarter project because it would be a very inexpensive 3d CNC

Looking forward to hearing from you guys take care

2

I think you get a lot more insight over at the reprap forums, There is a forum dedicated to cnc machines...

3

Try GRBL...most already been done.

4

I suspect the biggest problem will be getting the CGode to make such a complex machine follow the paths you require - unless the shapes are so simple that you can create the code by hand.

Once the tool can rotate into a different orientation you will need to be able to compute where it is in space.

IMHO your first task should be to get or create software that can produce the GCode. Without that there would be little point spending time on the hardware or Arduino programming.

Have fun.

...R
Stepper Motor Basics

5

first suggestion. delete all the fluff in your post, knowing what boggles you is of no importance.
your post could have been 1 overview paragraph and 2 questions.

how to program an extra axis.

look at a lathe or turn table on a mill. you can run your new axis in a linear fashion and rotate the part under or in alignment with that new axis.

if you truly want a 5 axis machine, then do some searching on 5 axis machines.
you might want to spend some time in the CNC forums and discuss your machine.

there is a type of machine, the name escapes me, that has 3 actuators on a plate. by extending them and retracting them, they can lift the plate with the dremel or lower it.
by extending 1 and retracting 2, it can angle the cutter.
never built or operated one. but I think some of the CNC software supports it.