CNC Router vs 3D Printer

[techhelpbb]

Originally Posted by Akash Rastogi

Just a thought - if you do end up with a CNC router, I would think that modifying a bed and adding a 3D printing head would be a decently easy project for when you have some free time. You could, in the long run, make a hybrid machine with swappable heads, no? Or is that a silly idea? Probably a silly idea

No it is quite doable. Just remember though to add a heated bed to the printer.
Both machines use G-code and M-code. All you need is a head and to list it as the spindle with perhaps a temperature controller which you can get or easily make yourself.

Heated beds are really as easy as a resistor, nichrome wire, or Inconel welding wire. Just put it under the work area with a proper temperature control that you could also use to control the head. An Arduino and temperature sensors like: thermistors, 2N2222 transistors or Dallas Semiconductor temperature sensors is all you need to make a multi-channel temperature controller (you can also buy them off E-Bay). Just make it so you set the temperature from another interface and turn the heaters on and off from the CNC control (this is actually really easy to do). If the entire machine is already enclosed to control swarf the heated bed will work just fine. All the work bed needs to be is a piece of aluminum covered by Kapton sheet or a sheet of glass.

You will want a heated bed for anything larger than 2" on the bed. It will reduce the warping that will start as layers build.