CNC milling and 3dsmax

[stevesideas]

I'm wondering if any of you guys have had any involvement in this side of things. I've been looking around at different CNC desktop milling solutions because I think it would be great to supply a service like that of producing small, bespoke objects to order. It would also allow me to actual create something physical in the end instead of just virtual.

I've checked out the Roland MDX-40A which looks ideal. http://www.rolanddg.com/product/3d/3...40a/index.html

I'm just wondering if anyone has any experience doing this type of work and how straightforward it was ?

[stevesideas]

A bit of a step down from the above model but this looked like a good beginner tool: http://www.rolanddg.co.uk/products/r...yping/imodela/

[Alan Iglesias]

This is becoming the next coolest thing! Thanks for these links Steve as I am very interested in this too.

I live near San Diego, and this area is simply booming with "craft" breweries these days. I notice that some of the newer ones do not have custom tap pull handles with their logo/beer name, so I'm thinking of working up a few prototypes with one of these CNC solutions and seeing if there is a market...Maybe I'll just work for beer!!

-Alan

[stevesideas]

Definitely sounds like a plan. Good luck with your ventures. The more I look at this process the more straightforward it is starting to look...a bit of learning but it could end up being a lot of fun.

[chriserskine]

if you want to get into this cheaper. there are a number of people putting together kits to build these using arduino.

I don't have link on me at the moment. but one i did see was about $600.

[stevesideas]

I found the arduino website but it's down for maintenance until today/tomorrow. Looks very interesting though.

I found this site which sells arduino parts: http://proto-pic.co.uk/categories/Ar...FaLHtAodC3IAew

and this site that sells a kit: https://www.inventables.com/technolo...-kits-shapeoko

If you check the gallery it looks pretty cool although I would definitely want a mill with a turning ability.

[chriserskine]

that inventables link was the one i was thinking of.

I've been looking this for a bit. though I won't be doing anything about it soon.

but building one of these uses a lot of the same gear that you would use to build a motion control rig. you can see http://www.openmoco.org/ for a idea's of the ardiuno side.

and here's a kit i found on ebay. for the ardiuno and motors. gives you and idea of whats needed.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CNC-Kit-Ardu...-/190683188173

though i haven't looked too much at the opensource cnc software yet. there are a few mentioned in the FAQ on the inventables site. but looks like you'll just need to export out a dxf.

keep us updated on how you go.

[Alan Iglesias]

Definitely sounds like a plan. Good luck with your ventures. The more I look at this process the more straightforward it is starting to look...a bit of learning but it could end up being a lot of fun.

Yes, it does look like fun.

Thanks Steve,

-Alan

[stevesideas]

No worries. It would be good to share some images if any of us go ahead with this.