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Hi Guys,
I am new to CNC but a friend does have a machine and has a basic knowledge of cnc work. Just wondering what he would need to build me a couple of radius dishes ?
I live in Europe and its very expensive for me to try purchase one in USA and ship it over so i thought about making my own.
If anyone has any advise about what software is needed I would be most greatful
Thanks
best regards
Rusty

Radius dishes are very simple. If someone has any CNC experience they shoul be able to whip one out with minimal effort. It can be programmed trough g code fairly easily. If they have any sort of CAM software it will be even easier.

Thanks for that.
I will tell my friend and once again thanks to all who replied
Rusty

No problem. If your friend has any issues just let me know. I don't know why they would though. All they have to do is cut a radius into a piece of MDF (or material of your choice). Pretty straightforward process.

it's pretty easy. even easier with software. a lot of it depends upon what the controller is though. assuming a generic fanuc type box with g68 enabled, one generates an arc in a radial fashion in either the zy (g19), or zx (g18) plane from center to edge. or from edge to edge -your call. in the most basic form, you will be programming from the center of the ball so you'll have to offset your tool accordingly.

with your basic arc done, now with g68 you can rotate the program incrementally around the center point of the dish. starting at 0 deg and ending up at 360 (center to edge) or 0 to 180 (edge to edge). use a rather large ball tool as it will make the scallops smaller, the increments fewer, and clean-up with sand paper more easier. i suggest a minimum diameter of .75

this is just one way to get it done. were it mine and i had no software, i'd try this way and sub-routine all the indexing about center.

regarding software i'm pretty spoiled with access to the latest and greatest, but i'm going to assume that a lot of the basic entry level stuff should get it done -even the open source stuff should handle this work.

Easiest way would be a nice big lathe.