# Is the X-Carve capable of my requirements? (Helicopter Flight Simulator)
**URL:** https://community.inventables.com/t/is-the-x-carve-capable-of-my-requirements-helicopter-flight-simulator/19557
**Category:** X-Carve
**Created:** [February 1, 2016, 11:20pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/is-the-x-carve-capable-of-my-requirements-helicopter-flight-simulator/19557 "2016-02-01T23:20:49Z")
**Posts on this page:** 9
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@JohnSteensen](https://community.inventables.com/u/JohnSteensen)
#### Post date: [February 1, 2016, 11:20pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/is-the-x-carve-capable-of-my-requirements-helicopter-flight-simulator/19557/1 "2016-02-01T23:20:49Z")
Debating between an X-Carve and laser for my first CNC machine. Basically, I need to be able to create fairly large birch ply structures. (Will have to do the 1000mm x 1000mm machine for sure.) Also, I need to create highly detailed panels from acrylic, which will be backlit, and finally several PCBs. The acrylic panels will receive a .062 6061-T611 backplate each with through-holes. Finally, would this machine be capable of cutting molds with some fine details for casting knobs and instrument parts in? Does anyone offer a 4th axis addition for engraving drums?
I have no doubt there are better tools for the job, but this appears to be my most cost effective solution.
See the pictures below to see a rough idea of part of what I am planning on accomplishing. (These were a design iteration using extruded aluminum…which is overkill. I’m simplifying the structure design greatly.)
  
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### Author:  [@NAM37](https://community.inventables.com/u/NAM37)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2016, 1:10pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/is-the-x-carve-capable-of-my-requirements-helicopter-flight-simulator/19557/2 "2016-02-02T13:10:24Z")
If you need sharp 90degree angles you’ll need a laser cutter.
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### Author:  [@JohnSteensen](https://community.inventables.com/u/JohnSteensen)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2016, 2:54pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/is-the-x-carve-capable-of-my-requirements-helicopter-flight-simulator/19557/3 "2016-02-02T14:54:36Z")
Fortunately, no. There isn’t anything that can’t stand a .06 inside radii. I do have 10 years experience as a drafter & mech/elec designer in the aerospace industry, and some time as a manual machinist, but it’s all Bridgeports in the mill department. I initially was looking at a G0704 CNC conversion, but with this being a little over a fifth of the price, including tooling, I’m definitely interested, assuming the capability is there.
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### Author:  [@CristianHinz](https://community.inventables.com/u/CristianHinz)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2016, 3:36pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/is-the-x-carve-capable-of-my-requirements-helicopter-flight-simulator/19557/4 "2016-02-02T15:36:44Z")
you can do that with the x-carve, not 4th axis, but for knobs and stuff like that a bit of creative CAM will get you through it.
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### Author:  [@AaronMatthews](https://community.inventables.com/u/AaronMatthews)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2016, 4:26pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/is-the-x-carve-capable-of-my-requirements-helicopter-flight-simulator/19557/5 "2016-02-02T16:26:12Z")
> [@JohnSteensen](#):
>
> Debating between an X-Carve and laser for my first CNC machine
If you don’t mind putting in the extra work you can have both:
[laserbot](http://jtechphotonics.com/?page_id=3565)
As you can add a laser diode to your XC. The nice thing about going that route is you can have a laser engraver that has a larger (expandable) cut area.
Cutting molds: Do you mean aluminum? Depending on what you are making I have found that carving a master and making a silicone mold to be a very easy process.
I use machineable wax as it carves very well and can be easily molded.
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### Author:  [@JohnSteensen](https://community.inventables.com/u/JohnSteensen)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2016, 4:39pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/is-the-x-carve-capable-of-my-requirements-helicopter-flight-simulator/19557/6 "2016-02-02T16:39:40Z")
Machinable wax would be fine for low volume molds. I love the laser idea,but not sure if the laser would have the oomph to raster engrave and vector cut laser engravable acrylic?
The more I research this, the more I like the abilities of this thing. Shame nobody has made a simple 4th axis yet - seems mostly like an electronics limitation.
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### Author:  [@AaronMatthews](https://community.inventables.com/u/AaronMatthews)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2016, 4:55pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/is-the-x-carve-capable-of-my-requirements-helicopter-flight-simulator/19557/7 "2016-02-02T16:55:43Z")
Check out [http://jtechphotonics.com](http://jtechphotonics.com) site. They have examples of what their laser can do.
The 4th axis is tricky. You can easily set up a rotary axis (2 axis movement with rotation) using the existing controller. [VCarve Pro supports this](http://www.vectric.com/products/vcarve/features.htm#wtoolpaths). I don’t know of many people who have actual done this yet. But a lot of people plan to eventually.
True 4th axis (3 axis of movement with rotation) would require an additional stepper controller (or a new controller with 4 outputs) and software to support 4th axis.
But unless you were planning on carving objects with undercuts you would probably be fine with just a rotary axis.
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### Author:  [@AaronMatthews](https://community.inventables.com/u/AaronMatthews)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2016, 5:02pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/is-the-x-carve-capable-of-my-requirements-helicopter-flight-simulator/19557/8 "2016-02-02T17:02:15Z")
> [@JohnSteensen](#):
>
> Shame nobody has made a simple 4th axis yet - seems mostly like an electronics limitation.
I think the main reason is that Inventibles doesn’t sell a rotary axis kit. 😉
I looked into buy one and found a bunch of rotary module add-ons for specific CNC machines. Or a bunch from questionable Chinese sources on ebay. It was confusing and I gave it up for the time being.
I kind of waiting for someone else to put one together and come up with a good parts list. 😉
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### Author:  [@JohnSteensen](https://community.inventables.com/u/JohnSteensen)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2016, 5:18pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/is-the-x-carve-capable-of-my-requirements-helicopter-flight-simulator/19557/9 "2016-02-02T17:18:05Z")
For a small 4th axis, this is what I had in mind for if I did a G0704 conversion: [http://qtul.com/cnc-rotary-table-100mm-4in.html](http://qtul.com/cnc-rotary-table-100mm-4in.html)
Unfortunately, for the XCarve, I would have to convert to a Gecko Driver or similar. For most of my requirements, just a simple vertical rotary table should work, and just add pauses for when I need to manually index the part. Eventually, I would love true 4 axis so I can make my own flight grips from plastic.