CNC ROUTER PLANS

I want to create a 3D environment which makes it possible to create different types of products with one machine. These products are created with different production methods, like steel(?)/wood mill, foam cutter (with wire) and a Rapid Proto Type variant (STL). They all need to be produced with one software program, which is driven on simple 3D data (like STL).

I'm not time driven, this is just for FUN! The project is devided in subjects with their own building blocks. Each building block has it's own phases. This is the list with all the subjects:

• Production Methods:
  • Milling
  • Foam Cutting
  • Rapid Prototyping
• Mechanics:
  • Frame Layout
  • Motion
• Electronics:
  • Motor
  • Power
  • Hardware
• Software:
  • Driver
  • Controller
  • Software

Finaly I've investigated all the building blocks above, including calculations, some stepper testing and writing a '3D CAD' environment. A lot of these findings are written in the different sub chapters.
Important learning: Motor speed is everything! Unfortunately the easy 'VB6/Lpt' approach is not working! That's a big step backwards in building my own CAM-interface. So next steps, should be further focus on the controller part with different software. Beginning 2009, I deceided to stop this cnc router for now. Mainly because of slow progess and 'the never ending story feelings'.