So I will be routing a deep pattern into a round object [like a police baton]. I will need to make multiple cuts to achieve the depth I require. Will A nema 23 motor on the 4th axis be able to hold the work piece in the same spot while I do so or do I need a diving head? Will I be able to rotate the work piece and return to the same position accurately? -Eds
I would go with no.. maybe.. possibly.... What you could try to do is create a jig with index points similar to what is on a lathe head stock. I would not put lateral pressure on the spindle of the stepper motor. They are designed for rotational force, not lateral.
It depends on how it is connected to your Chuck. If you look in the lathes section if the builds, you can see how a couple have been done. I recently ordered a rotary axis to attach to my CNC to hold me over until I build a CNC lathe.
I have a Jet lathe, so I won't be buying or building another one. Eventually I plan to add an xy cnc getup to my lathe for templating and duplication. In the Interim I am just going to use 2 pieces of extrusion with some plates and wheels, a post with a small bearing at the end to follow acrylic templates I will use the CNC to cut out. Later on, I will see if I can add another stepper to drive the outside wheel of the lathe head stock (will have to tap holes and add a large gear) to rotate the material to set points (the lathe has 8 index points built in, but its a manual screw/unscrew process) to do fluting and other fun things to lathed items, and ultimately, I will automate the process using the xy setup with the rotational stepper.
I guess what I am doing is quite similar to fluting. I am unsure as to weather I understand the answers. Will the stepper motor be able to hold the work piece from rotating while the fluting process is under way or will it need a mechanical device to hold it from moving.
Direct Drive, no it will not hold well enough, but with sufficient mechanical advantage from a gear or belt reduction you will. If you google "belt drive 4th axis" you will find examples like this..
Actually that is almost the same thing I had in mind. Sorry said i was new. So this will stay Put? No need of mechanical lock down?
That is exactly what I was referring too.. except I plan on automating mine. similar to the picture that Gary posted, except instead of a separate unit, I will be using the outer spindle of the headstock and a stepper/arduino in conjunction with an xy axis.. so I don't have to do it manually.
