software . . . totally solved by Mach3 and LinuxCNC which both have good lathe modes. GRBL can probably do it too, with a little inventive setting up. Mach3 used to come with a lathe module , lazyturn I think it was called. this would generate gcode from dxf drawings. one day I might add lathe mode to SketchUcam
Hi Johnny, great build, and I share your "open source everything" viewpoint, I have a friend building a lathe with Taig parts as well, in one of my modular machine frames (this is a google pix album so more pix at the left/right buttons) https://goo.gl/photos/JpFGpbrCY57TwSvy5 I want to build/integrate a broad range of machines into a modular framework so that not only can anyone make anything from digital templates but also make it cheap! the project is "CubeSpawn" oddly enough... ;-) Here is the system concept in one picture: https://goo.gl/photos/9KZ2MhTSZXSucx8V8 the machines scale up by doubling, so larger & smaller machines are next You might look at LinuxCNC and Machinekit as control suites for the lathe Both are FOSS and will run on a beaglebone or R-Pi, many lathes have been implemented in both, machinekit is a project to update EMC2 (LinuxCNC) from its C based roots and give it extended functionality.