Choosing the right Keling kit for my mini-mill.

[TXFred]

Hello,

I have an X2 mini mill, and am planning a CNC conversion using the CNCFusion kit (replacing the lead screws with ball screws).

At some point, I plan to upgrade to a larger machine, most likely an X3. I will want to convert that machine to CNC when I get it. When I purchase my power supply, drivers and motors, I want to get a setup that will drive the X2, but will also be able to work with the larger X3 mill.

Keling makes an X2 kit for $339.
http://www.kelinginc.net/Three23XCNCPackage.html

They also make an X3 kit for $539.
http://www.kelinginc.net/Three34XCNCPackage.html

It looks to me like I could get the X3 kit, purchase an extra NEMA23 motor, and use this kit with the X2 mill by using the NEMA23's and not using the NEMA34. Later when I get the X3, I would have the right hardware and a NEMA34 motor for the Z axis ready to go. And I'd have a spare NEMA23 motor that I could now use to add a fourth axis.

The other option is to buy the X2 kit, and later on buy a NEMA34 motor when I get the X3 mill.

So the first question is, what is the advantage of one kit over the other? The biggest one appears to be the power supply. It's 24 volts/8.3 amps for the X2 kit, and 50 volts/5.6 amps for the X3 kit.

What advantage would I get from the larger power supply on the X3? Faster rapids? More torque to the motors?

Would I be happy with the X2 kit, or is the X3 kit a better investment?

And lastly, what do you all think of Keling in general? I'm surprised that their website doesn't list a phone number. An inquiry sent to their website over a week ago has gotten no response. That doesn't bode well. I like the fact that they sell complete electronics kits, but if I cannot get in touch with them, then I'll look elsewhere.

Sincerely,
Frederic

[carvemylog]

As far as Kehling as a company, I had no problems with them. I emailed to ask if the motors I wanted were in stock and they responded within a day or two indicating the motors were back ordered for a week. The next week I ordered motors, stepper drivers, and power supplies from them and received them all well packages within a week. Everything I ordered has worked without any problems.

[draughted]

i hear the x3 does require a bit of grunt, so yeah get the larger kit and the 23 nema motors
it should be a nice setup

[Crevice Reamer]

Hi Tex.

I'm coming late to this rodeo, so I hope you have not yet purchased your kit. Keling is one of the best CNC dealers here. His kits however, are not always optimum. If you want the best performance from both mills, this is what I recommend:

For X3:

$289 G540 This IS a deluxe, advanced features breakout board also.
$098 Keling KL23H2100-35-4B 381 oz motors for X and Y
$099 Keling KL34H295-43-8A 906 oz N34 motor for Z (Detunes to 520 oz W/G540. Changing Z pulley to 1.23:1 = 640 Oz)
$060 Keling KL-350-48 48V/7.3A PSU. (This will handle 3 motors. 4th axis may need more amps.)
$014 pulley https://sdp-si.com/eStore/PartDetail...52&GroupID=217
---------
$560

http://kelinginc.net/

For X2, delete N34 motor/pulley and add another 381 motor.

CR.