Well i finally got my X2 this past saturday. This will be a full CNC build and more. I just got done with the my first project "Belt Drive."

Check it out.
Got it home from harbor freight and unpacked it.
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn169/silentdaredevil/100_2107.jpg


This grease is 10x harder to get off when its 10-30deg.
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn169/silentdaredevil/100_2108.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn169/silentdaredevil/100_2109.jpg


10 minutes later.... Majority of the parts I don't need. (Anyone need anything let me know
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn169/silentdaredevil/100_2110.jpg

Parts I am re-using
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn169/silentdaredevil/100_2111.jpg

And the belt conversion
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn169/silentdaredevil/100_2112.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn169/silentdaredevil/100_2117.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn169/silentdaredevil/100_2118.jpg


My belt is a 14" belt instead of the commonly used 13", which just about has the the adjustment maxed out on the "high" side of the pulleys. Also I went with something simple for the motor plate until i get the CNC working i want to make a nicer one.

Heres a video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vb_dAKd-f1Q

Stay tuned.

Looks good.
I've just bought one of these (still awaiting delivery) so I'll be watching what you do to yours.

Nice belt conversion. Now tell me about your turbo project! What are you turbocharging?
A few years ago I did a complete (and budget) custom turbo setup on a 4 cyl. S-10 pickup. Turned out great! Thinking about doing the same on my '88 Toyota 4x4.

Those are cool little mills. I wish I had one.

Best,

BW

sub'd!

what are your plans for the cnc parts?

gecko 540 + cnc fusion kit?

Gecko 540 - Yes
CNCfusion - No

I'm going to make up mounts and pretty much everything myself.

I'm machining a new table for longer X travel. Also, I'm trying to locate a base, so i can do a similar setup to Hoss's Y extension.

LMS are out until the end of april.
Grizzly is out for 4-6weeks
I contacted SEIG and they are trying to find one for me. I have a feeling this will be the strap on the project. I can't order ball screws until i have all the axis's done.

Also 8 tool ATC, and full enclosure.

It's going to be a neat little project. I often design and build very unique machines where I work, so achieving what I want should not be to difficult.

Gecko 540 - Yes
CNCfusion - No

I'm going to make up mounts and pretty much everything myself.

I'm machining a new table for longer X travel. Also, I'm trying to locate a base, so i can do a similar setup to Hoss's Y extension.

LMS are out until the end of april.
Grizzly is out for 4-6weeks
I contacted SEIG and they are trying to find one for me. I have a feeling this will be the strap on the project. I can't order ball screws until i have all the axis's done.

Also 8 tool ATC, and full enclosure.

It's going to be a neat little project. I often design and build very unique machines where I work, so achieving what I want should not be to difficult.

Hello SSfab,
Why did you change to belt drive? To avoid noise? How many HP that spindle motor? Thanks. Asuratman.

Here (http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/showthread.php?t=43237)'s an alternative way to get increased XYZ travel from an X2.
This is a complete rebuild using only part of the X2. table is a standard Sieg item

(There's mention of a similar thread here on cnczone but couldn't find it)

Hello SSfab,
Why did you change to belt drive? To avoid noise? How many HP that spindle motor? Thanks. Asuratman.

I did it for a number of reasons
1.Noise is greatly reduced
2.The plastic gears inside the X2 head are very weak. You can ask anybody how bad it sucks when they break.
3. You can get faster spindle speeds with a belt drive.
4. Belts are alot easier to change then gears.

My low speed, at full speed is around 2000 RPM and high is around 4000 RPM

The stock X2 with gears can reach a weak 2500 RPM on high.

Here (http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/showthread.php?t=43237)'s an alternative way to get increased XYZ travel from an X2.
This is a complete rebuild using only part of the X2. table is a standard Sieg item

(There's mention of a similar thread here on cnczone but couldn't find it)

Thanks for the heads up. Although I'm looking for more travel then that.

Well I found out that harbor freight has a division that is strictly parts for their machines. The soonest I could get a base is 6-8 weeks, BUT it was only $23.27 Shipped to my door.

And it will be red instead of green like the gizzly base.

Right from gizzly it was $45 plus S&H
LMS sells them for $59.95 plus S&H

So all in all not a bad deal.

SSfab,

Are the parts listed Online at Harbor Freight?

Jeff...

No you have to call them. The number is 1-800-444-3353

Little update on the table. I'm waiting on my t-slot cutter from Shars. Other then the slots it is pretty much done.

Pics:
Old Table
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn169/silentdaredevil/100_2132.jpg

New Table (22"x4":wee:)
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn169/silentdaredevil/100_2127.jpg

Side by side
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn169/silentdaredevil/100_2129.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn169/silentdaredevil/100_2131.jpg

Thats all for now

Little update on the table. I'm waiting on my t-slot cutter from Shars. Other then the slots it is pretty much done.

Thats all for now

Sweeet. Very nice indeed. Although I'm curious how did you machine it? I'm assuming it's aluminum too. Also I'm guessing since it is longer than the X2 travel that you made it on a different machine. I'm interested in doing a Hoss type conversion too and right now I think your table looks alot better than using a Z axis as a hack.

I'll be interested in seeing how you do the Y-axis base extension. That is what is giving me the most head-scratching as to how to achieve with my tool set.

haha No i didn't make it on the X2 it was done on a manual bridgeport at my work. And no its not aluminum, its steel.

Like i said before using the Z column is a great idea. But to me, it just looks out of place.

That was the point of the column, most people don't have access to a bridgeport at work.
If you could get more access, could be a good little money maker, they don't make an extended table like is available for other benchtop mills.

yeah i agree. Although its ALOT of machining. I'd rather start from a casting thats semi roughed out.

I have about 10 hours in so far, and i push it.

Update finally 3/3/09

Got the t-slots cut, X axis endplate made, and also the X axis motor mounts

Im unhappy with dovetails on this machine. Very sloppy machining from factory. I plan to go to linear slides. Stay tuned.

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn169/silentdaredevil/100_2134.jpg

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn169/silentdaredevil/100_2135.jpg

This is looking very nice SS! You've done some fine work there.

How do you plan to CNC the Z axis?

CR.

387oz keling stepper. But I'm going to mount the actual column on a peice of 4" sq. tubing and run the ball screw down thru the center. I'm waiting on my additional base i ordered from harbor freight, to tackle that project.

The next thing is to get my linear slides going. I was never a fan of dovetails/gibs, a poor excuse for sloppy machining.

Just my 2cents

Also using solidworks to 3D model this mill is saving me tons of headaches and mistakes.

:cool:

beautiful work mate!

SSfab,
Nice work. Your doing halfway from scratch. Why don't you make the mill from scratch? that table spend your 60% work. Looking at table, you can do other parts easily.

well just like designing anything you make revisions as you move foward with the project. When i first got the idea to convert an X2 to cnc, thats all i wanted to do. Then i started doing some digging and ran across hoss's site. Well this got the screws turning , and ideas started to flow. For my first CNC machine i will stick with the X2. If things go well, I might build one from scratch.

Great rebuild, love what ya did for the table. Keep up the good work !!!

Any updates?