In my last blog I detailed the conversion of a manual rotary axis into a CNC rotary axis. I finally got some time to mount the rotary axis on the mill, configure the stepper in Mach3 and run it through some tests. The parameter for the g-code command to position the rotary axis is a positive or negative number ranging from 0 to 360 degrees. Positive numbers rotate clockwise and negative numbers rotate counter clockwise.
I started by creating a 3 dimensional object using Solidworks and designed a projectile that will eventually be milled in metal for a coil gun project that I’m working on. I decided to do the cut in wood since this was the first project using the rotary axis and I wasn’t sure how it would work out.

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Tags: 3d milling, diy cnc, rapid prototyping, robotics, taig cnc mill, taig rotary axis
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After using my CNC machines to create 3 dimensional art for an art show  I wanted to add a fourth rotational axis to ease in the production of 3 dimensional objects and parts. I decided to add the 4th rotary axis to my Taig CNC Milling machine since I had just upgraded to a 5 axis’ controller and had a matching stepper motor. A rotary table used in conjunction with a mill allows a machinist to produce virtually any part he can design. The only limits are size, not complexity.

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Tags: CNC Mill, diy cnc, diy rotary table, taig rotary axis
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A friend was selling some 200 ounce/inch, 3.5 Amp stepper motors for a great price so I thought it was time to upgrade the taig cnc milling machine. With the old steppers installed, the machine was accurate but slow. Since the old controller couldn’t handle 3.5 amps I decided to upgrade that too. I found a 5 axis controller on ebay for a great price. This controller uses the Toshiba TB6560 stepper driver that can handle up to 36 VDC at 3.5 Amps. I wanted a board with at least 4 axis’ so that I could add a rotary axis to the mill but more about that in another post. I went to the local electronics supplier (Sayal elelctronics) and Parm set me up with a Hammond electronics 24 VAC, 10 Amp transformer (a local manufaturer). I picked up a bridge rectifier, large capacitor, switch, fuse, computer power cord socket and indicator light to complete the power supply. The entire conroller and power suppy were mounted in a computer case.

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Tags: CNC Mill, diy cnc, Karl Williams, robotics, Taig cnc
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