Folx,

was wondering if anyone has followed in Swede's footsteps & built
a CNC mill from scratch (as opposed to converting one of RF/Sieg clones) ?

I personally find 5bears.com's serialized CNC mill project a great reading
and find myself often going to it to read it over again. I'd gosofar as to compare Swede's writing to Lautard's (MBR series)... with Swede's writing
being a little better illustrated :p


I think that with rolled ballscrews/nuts being quite affordable these
days, and 0-backlash nut techniques being well documents (2 B2B
$20 ballnuts with wavy washers seems to be a favorite), one doesn't
have to spend his lifetime looking for killer Ebay deals (the kind Swede
is probably still gloating about ... $5 "THK mounting thingie" & likes).

20/80's Ebay store is MORE than reasonable http://stores.ebay.com/8020-Inc-Garage-Sale for Al extrusions. Rex is not
that much more expensive: http://rexroth.starlinear.com/framing_shop/default.aspx

With cost of CNC electronics/motors being equal for both "FTS" & "Retrofits" the only remainning piece of the puzzle is the linear slides (well that plus the spindle).

Outside of Ebay - does anyone know a good steady source for used/new slides of decent quality and affordable price ? It is interesting that one can buy a fully sufficient (with 0-backlash being within anyone's financial reach) and decent rolled ballscrew at 1/20 of the price of ground variety, yet there doesn't seem to be a good source for similar "budget" type slides ?

And of course, there's The Spindle Question ... I feel that even retrofitters discover that stock (0-2500 rpm) spindles are not quite good
in terms of IPMs and finish so they all could use a high-RPM one ... which again levels the playing field between FTS & Retrofits. If one is willing to
settle for lower RPM spindle for an FTS design, there's LMS etc - should not cost one more than $200 to get Mini-mill type spindle & motor ...

Continuing with the Spindle Question, there's a report of HSM-made high-RPM spindle, complete with plans etc, with non-detectable TIR - on this very Website ...


So ... what do you think ? Did any1 ever consider doing it the Swede's way and, if the answer is yes, did you ever do it ?

And, if Swede himself reads this post, can you describe to what extent have you used your home-made CNC mill ? BTW, continuation of the
CNC's project @ 5bears.com is long overdue :banana: (just kidding)




TY
Rashid

"I'd gosofar as to compare Swede's writing to Lautard's (MBR series)... with Swede's writing being a little better illustrated"
I consider my english to be first rate and yet I have trouble understanding most instruction manuals. On the other hand when Swede writes, his meaning is instantly clear to me without over explaining or using baby language. I think he could make a fortune as a technical manual author and that's from someone who doesn't hand out compliments.

It is funny how Skippy took words outta me mouth.
I was about to post another msg advising Swede to
do just that - the CNC mill is almost a book in itself.

I'd buy ! No need to go finding a publisher,
a PFD is good enough ...


I fully agree also on Swede writing style - it IS
most remarkable ! LIke I said I find myself,
quite often, going to 5bears to re-read his articles,
as if they were novels or what not :p

Look how Lautard has established a dynasty with
Bedside Reader series.

[So ... what do you think ? Did any1 ever consider doing it the Swede's way and, if the answer is yes, did you ever do it ? ]

The answer is YES !

RC-cellar,

looks great! What kind of work do you do with yours ?
How do you find the spindle TIR ? Looks like you used
linear slides ?