custom machine build

Hello to all,

My first post!

I think i'd like to use linux to control a custom machine, I am reading through the site but perhaps some help would be cool too. I have experience of mach3 and we have a small machine running that at the moment. I also have used an xyz machine for the last few years with the prototrak control. We program entirely offline with cam software and import gcode to run.

We desperately need a super rigid and accurate machine and I have budget for one of around 20k, which doesn't really seem to get me what I want.

But for that outlay i'm thinking we could build a machine. The design i'm thinking will have a bed that moves on the x only, travel will be as long as possible. The head will be on a gantry above that moves in the y axis, to keep the atc simple the y will extend past the milling area to an area to the side where it will be able to slot the tool in, move away, then there will be an axis for the tool carriage to move along and bring the selected tool to the correct position, the head will move down attach and then slide out and back to the milling area of the bed.

I'm hoping that is fairly simple to control.

In the future I will add an a and b axis to the bed.

I need a fairly substantial spindle, bt50 would probably suit, but there is much less choice from the sources I have looked at. Most of the bits will be sourced in China. So bt40 gives a better choice so i'm not sure on that yet. Also considering hsk63, so not sure on that aspect yet.

I will want the usual home and limit switches, coolant and air blast etc.

I have no idea on the hardware I need to run this I haven't looked into it as you can lose hours looking for things and I am super busy all the time. So any suggestions would be well received!

I am also open to servo drive suggestions etc!

Many thanks indeed, Ryan.

I am looking at this option, hadn't come across anything suitable. I was hoping to buy a t slot base that was flat and build off that. I don't need a massive machine, our parts are around 400 * 600 at the largest. Mostly aluminium but also some hard steel up to 40mm depth which needs to be very accurate and we aren't achieving that at all on the xyz machine. The way I was going to do it extra x travel is there for minimal extra cost so was going to take advantage of it.

There are plenty of vmc on ebay for 10k ish, but they are all old of course, and I assume could have a modern control system installed, but how rigid will an old machine like that be? I could change ball screws to c3 class if they weren't etc.