As Andy already mentioned, 3D printers are optimized for speed and milling machines and routers are optimized more for rigidity. Superficially, they seem very similar and it should be possible to make a quick change head and convert a single machine between the two functions, but you'll at best be able to optimize the machine design for one or the other task. You'll probably have a slow 3D printer.
There are other issues. 3D printing is a clean technology and the debris that is produced by machining can find its way into the 3D printing mechanism where it could plug a nozzle or otherwise compromise the 3D printing. Even though both use G code, just as there are different flavors of G code adopted by different manufacturers of machine tools, the 3D printing version of G code is quite a bit different from the machining flavors. Machining is a subtractive process, while 3D printing is an additive process. So far, there are intelligent controllers and PC based G code motion control programs that are specific to each of these two machines. It would be possible to have a grand unification controller that could do either function, but it's not really working yet to my knowledge. Nevertheless, there are companies selling machines that claim to do both, usually with different controllers and PC software. A friend just bought a 12 inch X 7 inch gantry router on eBay and was playing around with it today (with LinuxCNC). He may buy the 3D printer head for it, or make his own, but with the understanding that it'll be a slow 3D printer, and without a heated bed he'll probably be restricted to using PLA and not ABS plastic filament. Bruce On 02/02/2014 07:50 PM, a k wrote: > Hi > i found that this and many other companies manufacture 3D printer > http://indimension3.com/our-3d-printers > They also manufacture head that attached to basically 3d CNC 3 axis mill. > So, question is why not just manufacture head as a another tool to CNC mill > on the CAT 40 or CAT 50 tool holder? > in this case every 3 axis CNC mill can be at the same times 3D printer!!! > With EMC2 possible to allocate up to 4 axis and 100 M code to control only > head and use 3 axis to move head in 3D area by 2.5 axis motion/ > ///////////// > Also i think it will be large manufacturing business - make 3D printing > head that work on regular CNC mill. > > thank you > aram > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Managing the Performance of Cloud-Based Applications > Take advantage of what the Cloud has to offer - Avoid Common Pitfalls. > Read the Whitepaper. > http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/clk?id=121051231&iu=/4140/ostg.clktrk > _______________________________________________ > Emc-users mailing list > Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Managing the Performance of Cloud-Based Applications Take advantage of what the Cloud has to offer - Avoid Common Pitfalls. Read the Whitepaper. http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/clk?id=121051231&iu=/4140/ostg.clktrk _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
