The Fourth Axis

摘要

To date, I have built two different CNC control systems and purchased a third. I suppose the CNC bug has bitten hard. The first system had only two axes, but the other two systems, one assembled around a Geckodrive G540 and the other around a PMDX-340 turnkey system, came equipped with four axes. Using the usual X, Y, and Z axes on the mill left an empty axis socket. Whether on the PMDX or the Geckodrive, the unused axis socket bothered me. It just seemed like something ought to be plugged in there. To compound the situation, the Mach3 driver software stands ready and willing to do something with the fourth axis.