In article , Deloptes   wrote:
>I do not think a CNC is so simple as 3D printer. It is at least more
>expensive but I saw recently there are some mini CNCs on the market as
>well.

The principles are the same: move two or more axes in a coordinated manner
to position a toolhead where it needs to be.  The toolhead could be
anything: an extruder for 3D printing, a router for milling, a laser for
engraving or cutting, a pick-and-place toolhead for automated electronics
assembly, or whatever.  Gcode was originally developed for CNC milling and
has been adapted to other purposes.

What makes even the most basic mill more expensive than the most basic 3D
printer (now available for under $100 if you're not too picky) is the more
robust hardware needed: stronger frames, more powerful motors, etc.  You
could run a mill with the same Arduino Mega and RAMPS stack commonly used
with 3D printers, with the possible exception of needing to hack in more
robust motor controllers.  (The postage-stamp-sized motor controllers
commonly used in 3D printing are adequate for the NEMA 17 and smaller motors
used in 3D printers.  They'll probably let the magic smoke out if you try
driving too large a motor with them.)

  _/_
 / v \ Scott Alfter (remove the obvious to send mail)
(IIGS( https://alfter.us/           Top-posting!
 \_^_/                              >What's the most annoying thing on Usenet?

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05