Hello everyone!
This will be my 3rd cnc conversion. My first was a Linley jig borer, my second an unfinished cnc router for a friend and now this 1988 BP mill.
I just picked up the mill the other day. Chrome ways, variable speed, oiling system, all for 250.00 Needless to say, I am very happy!
I have been hoarding components for a large machine build for the past 2 years.
I have 2 large ground ballscrews, 1 Nook ground ballscrew with mounting block and dual nuts. 4 pacsci 870oz hybrid steppers. smooth stepper board. keling PS. 4 gecko 203V's. large control box etc...
I cant afford to buy ballscrews that will fit into my BP, so I have decided that I can "bolt" them on, via structures made of 1" thick aluminum plate.
I know that in the router world, outboard, one sided drive mechanisims lead to "racking" I am guessing that this will be much less of a problem on a BP. Not that I dont anticipate that this method wont be slightly less than ideal, but if constructed robustly, I believe it will be quite reliable and functional.
I bought the ballscrews for 30.00 or 60.00 each at HGR last year. They are new old stock and I believe that they came from the Ford Batavia plant. They are 2TPI and are very heavy. I estimate that they are 30lbs each. The major dia is 1.5in and they are 52in OAL and have 36in of actual travel when you take into account the 9.5 inch length of the ballnut.
I will be running belt reduction on XY and Z. I have timing pullys with 44 and 20 teeth. This gives me a 2.2:1 Ratio.
Has anyone else done or seen a converted BP that had the ballscrews mounted outside the table/saddle?
BTW, I plan on mounting the X axis screw in front of the table (closest to the operator) thus making sure that my Y axis will be able to travel all the way back to the collum. My BP has a 42x9 table and an actual travel of 24X x 12Y.
Of course, the ballscrews will be covered so as to not get all gunked up/destroyed. I have a 1Gal solinoid operated drip oiler that I may wire into the machines main power switch. Its NOS and is just begging to be a dedicated ballscrew oiling device.
I am making the best of a somewhat less than ideal component stash. I welcome your imput.
