Now this is a machine.

General CNC CNC Routers
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1

Now this is a machine. 5-axis, open source toolchain to give back to the maker community. The design for the 4-th and 5-th axis allows for large movement volume and quick and easy tool head change. I like the design quite a bit.

It does cost some pretty money though.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2003668803/5axismaker-first-ever-affordable-5axis-multi-fabri

2

One criticism. Their first goal is to add extra tools. Their second is to add usable multi axis software. I believe the software is of greater importance than extra tools.
Spending $1000-$1500 on a machine with interchangeable tools and having to add that again to have workable software doesn’t make sense to me.
There is also the possibility I completely misunderstood and their stretch goal is for more efficient multi axis software than they will initially ship with.

3

Perhaps there are existing software that you can already use to generate 5 axis gcode. If that is the case, the pledges should take care of providing you with a machine.

4

Would you prefer a multi purpose machine with little or no software, or, a single purpose machine with functional software?
I want to reiterate. I may have misunderstood the video explanation and this whole conversation is merely academic.

5

I think the kickstarter aims to get the machine off the ground. 5-axis is still non existent in most open source builds. The fact that the tool head is interchangeable is an added factor.

6

@Kyle_Kerr Thats exactly what I thought: what to do with a real cool hardware without usable software…

7

5 axis software… madcam about 10000$… mastercam about 25000/40000$…rhinocam about 10000/15000$ really expensible software for a nice 5 axis!

8

Pricing has shot up since going live though. When it was a draft it was only $500 now I am definitely out

9

I’d be tempted to create a minimal 5-d CAM package if machines like that fell below 2,000 USD (and stayed there). The compute engine for it wouldn’t be in the browser though.

10

I don’t think this machine costs a lot. The parts are not that expensive. The software is where everything stalls.