Anyone ever built a 5 axis router

[Medemt]

Not sure where to put this so if it is in the wrong area, please excuse.

I have been looking at a lot of 5 axis CNC router builds and was wondering if anyone here has put the two additional axis on a MechMate. I did a search for 5 axis and nothing came up. I can see where some have discussed a four axis machine.

I was particularly looking to have the 4th and 5th axis mounted to the Z axis slide. I did not want to have some added device mounted to the table or elsewhere.

Just wanted to see what might have been done by those building (have built) MechMates

Dan

[Tom Ayres]

Some of us have built 4th axis (rotary) and at one point talk of a 5 axis but I'm not sure if anyone has posted anything recently. I suggest taking a look through the builds.

[ger21]

I think there's a 5 axis machine here somewhere, but it's a plasma cutter.

[pblackburn]

Build and add a trunion and you have your 5 axis machine however the software to program one is extremely expensive. That is most likely the reason you have not seen one. A multi-positional head creates some dynamic forces that I think would require some engineering to the current model design.

[smreish]

4axis yes - 5....I found that it was cheaper and easier to buy a used Funac or other Robotarm for the same use.

[maxman]

I tried it, and like the other posters said,

The problem is the high cost of software, Getting Delcam or mastercam to program a custom Kinematic post processor is very expensive.

definitley not hobby grade