Quote:
Originally Posted by MICHAELABICK
The best thing to use a router to do is gusset plates and polycarb. It's great to be able to do these things in house and is a good addition to a shop if you can't afford a full cnc. However, if you can afford one, a haas or even a tormach will beat it any day for speed and accuracy. The router typically has the advantage for size.
The cnc mill will give you the capabilities to do all of the things you mentioned. CNC mills are great for all robotics applications and if you have the money for one, I'm sure you will be happy with it.
I would recondite talking to the lead mentor of 973, Adam Heard. I know they built their own cnc router, and love it. For a better idea about the capabilities you will have with it, talk to him.
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Adam, the other mentors, I had a pretty decent discussion about gussets and polycarb last night and in terms of router capabilities. If you have an existing router or have the time and funds to actually make or buy one then great. However, I personally have and I know many other teams have gotten pretty decent precision with just matching a plotted printout to make the gussets in house with drill presses, bandsaws, and sanders. Granted they aren't as beautiful and super precise as some of the gussets we have created but they're still functional.
As for gear/sprocket spacing, we also decided that its obviously a more precise job to do on a mill. The process for large components (35 chain) wouldn't be too terrible but you would still have the manual mill to take care of that.