Thoughts on 3 axis with indexing to 4 axis upgrade

C

ChampionsRepair

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I am currently using a Taig CNC mill with a Taig lathe based fixture with indexing for my inlays. Have been thinking about an upgrade to a true 4th axis for a while now. I would need to upgrade my controller and software to accomplish it. It seems to me that the time savings for cutting pockets would be significant. Instead of the Sherline system that lots of people are using I was thinking about the item in the following link to reduce the cost of the upgrade as I already have the Taig headstock and my fixture is designed around it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Taig-Mini-Mill-CNC-4th-Axis-Indexer-Pen-Makin-Lathe-Kit-/270684130151?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f06080b67

Any thoughts...
 
ChampionsRepair said:
I am currently using a Taig CNC mill with a Taig lathe based fixture with indexing for my inlays. Have been thinking about an upgrade to a true 4th axis for a while now. I would need to upgrade my controller and software to accomplish it. It seems to me that the time savings for cutting pockets would be significant. Instead of the Sherline system that lots of people are using I was thinking about the item in the following link to reduce the cost of the upgrade as I already have the Taig headstock and my fixture is designed around it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Taig-Mini-Mill-CNC-4th-Axis-Indexer-Pen-Makin-Lathe-Kit-/270684130151?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f06080b67

Any thoughts...
Click to expand...

That fixture is actually a very good idea and not at a bad price. You will get speed over resolution with this setup and that is the oposite with the sherline setup. As far as the controller goes, if you are going to upgrade then replace with a Gecko 540. If you do a search on e-bay you can find a complete setup from deepgroove at a good price. I am not sure what software you are using but Mach 3 has the ablility to run up to 6 axes simultaniously. I still like how rigid the sherline is so I will not change myself.

Jim.
 
Mc2 said:
As far as the controller goes, if you are going to upgrade then replace with a Gecko 540. If you do a search on e-bay you can find a complete setup from deepgroove at a good price. I am not sure what software you are using but Mach 3 has the ablility to run up to 6 axes simultaniously.
Jim.
Click to expand...

I have been using Super Cam from Super Tech & Associates, the original DOS based one that uses the Microproto controller. I hate it, always have hated it. But never felt the need to upgrade as I usually don't even finish the cues I start. I use the equipment to make other things that I do make money on 90% of the time and just make parts of cues for fun and occasionally finish one for myself. Nick Carter suggested Deepgroove's controller also but I don't think the Gecko will work with my existing steppers so I would have to upgrade those as well.
 
ChampionsRepair said:
I have been using Super Cam from Super Tech & Associates, the original DOS based one that uses the Microproto controller. I hate it, always have hated it. But never felt the need to upgrade as I usually don't even finish the cues I start. I use the equipment to make other things that I do make money on 90% of the time and just make parts of cues for fun and occasionally finish one for myself. Nick Carter suggested Deepgroove's controller also but I don't think the Gecko will work with my existing steppers so I would have to upgrade those as well.
Click to expand...

I think you would be surprised at what motors the g540 will run, and run well.
Tell us more about your steppers, and we can let you know for sure.
 
RBC said:
I think you would be surprised at what motors the g540 will run, and run well.
Tell us more about your steppers, and we can let you know for sure.
Click to expand...

It is a stock Taig 1000 CNC mill as sold by Super Tech 10 years ago. I was looking at the upgrade offered by Microproto/Taig from step/dir to phase and was told that would be my only option to upgrade that steppers wouldn't have to be upgraded also, by Microproto over the phone. But that is only 3 axis still but I could use other/better software. So I just bagged the idea until I saw the item on eBay I referenced in my original post. It has me thinking about it again.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top