Member postings for Nick Hampshire

I suspect that I have come in the opposite direction to most of the ME forum readers in developing an interest in CNC tools. Having spent a lifetime working in the world of computers and electronics (including spending much of the 1990s as editor of ME and MEW’s then sister magazine Electronics Today International) I have over the last few years been exploring computer aided design and manufacture, and from that have developed an interest in 3D printer technology and the possibilities that this technology offers.

A 3D printer is of course a 3axis CNC machine that uses an extruder to add material to build up a component, as opposed to a 3 axis CNC mill with uses a rotating cutting head to cut the component out of a bar or block. This means that 90% of the mechanics, software, and electronics in both these types of CNC system are functionally, if not mechanically, identical. Indeed this generic similarity applies to all sorts of other CNC machines such as laser cutters, wire benders, or electronic component pick and place machines.

Having built a couple of 3D printers, and used them to make various items including the parts for the second printer I have become interested in the concept of using a 3D printer as a machine to create other machines. In particular the combination of standard aluminium extrusions, with printed plastic parts, off the shelf electronics, and open source software, a combination which opens up the possibility of creating a wide variety of different types of CNC machine. I am currently working on the design of a small table top CNC router using this design philosophy and capable of drilling and milling wood, plastic, casting wax, composites, and possibly also aluminium and perhaps brass.

If the editor is interested I would be delighted to do some pieces along the lines suggested by Niloch.