Using CNC as a 3D Printer

[TommeyLReed]

One thing to remember is the extruder does not need to stop the feed of PLA or ABS while running, infact most cnc driver could turn it off/on by the mill motor control.

This also means that you could add a special extruder/ hot tip to any cnc and just reverse the z axis to move upward after each pass.

Anyone could see that using a CNC as a mill could easily convert it to a 3D Printer as I explain in my video.

I still have to work on the extruder driver and heated tip software that is a separate item, not a problem when I did it last year on the SmartScareCrow Show.

[memoryman]

I also post as nge-pro.
No, Mach3 is a commercial product for low-end cnc machines US$175.00/license + US$50.00 for add-ons.
I am most familiar with Fanuc products, but have worked with Delta Tau hardware and software.
My financial situation does not permit me to do much experimentation at this time, but I can still discuss.
Bill

[TommeyLReed]

 Financial situation is hard on most of us, even I cut corners to save a dime or two. This is why I keep increasing my knowledge to save dollars.

As someone that did mechanics on all type of engines for many years, every time I work on any engine of my own, it's like getting paid and not putting a dime out for labor.

No different in technology, anyone could do it in a cheap way and still be good enough to get the job done.

I always have this opinion that our limits are what we are willing to learn. Even when I did mechanical engineering in school I could not finish because of how they want you to think.

But this did not stop my studies in mechanical/electrical engineering. My point is knowledge is power, money is just a tool. I believe I can build just about anything I want, I would just need to do enough research to get it done.

Tom

[Marsing]

The microcontrollers have to take care of the real time positioning work.  The host software takes care of slicing the 3D structure into layers and calculating the motion that the microcontrollers then execute.

No markE,
mach3 didn't use any micro-controller, all outside PC is just motor driver( without MC ) and censors, no MC is necessary, computing and real time timing for position is done by this software. amazing stuff of this software is  it has "window-driver" can hook interrupt 0.

LoL, i got you this time.

...

[memoryman]

"and censors," we have too many 'censors' already; surely you meant SENSORS?