Re:The Polar Bear – Open-Source, Multipurpose CNC Machine wi...
by pushrax on Thursday August 19, 2021 @11:43AM
(#28235276)
Obviously there is no perfectly accurate machine for any application.
The extent it will be inaccurate depends on a lot of factors, such as tool length, material parameters, feeds/speeds, etc. You can probably cut aluminum somewhat accurately on this if you take extremely slow cuts, with a tiny tool spinning at an extremely high RPM (which keeps cutting forces to a minimum). Surface finish would still be pretty bad simply due to vibration of the arm. Likely going to break a lot of tools too. The majority of metal cutting setups you would do on a mill are simply impossible on this machine.
For a few tiny cuts, it might be handy to have one of these, but it definitely seems more useful as a 3D printer, plotter, etc. Though even most 3D printers are significantly more rigid than this design.
The extent it will be inaccurate depends on a lot of factors, such as tool length, material parameters, feeds/speeds, etc. You can probably cut aluminum somewhat accurately on this if you take extremely slow cuts, with a tiny tool spinning at an extremely high RPM (which keeps cutting forces to a minimum). Surface finish would still be pretty bad simply due to vibration of the arm. Likely going to break a lot of tools too. The majority of metal cutting setups you would do on a mill are simply impossible on this machine.
For a few tiny cuts, it might be handy to have one of these, but it definitely seems more useful as a 3D printer, plotter, etc. Though even most 3D printers are significantly more rigid than this design.