In the market for a cnc lathe/mill

[krap101]

Hey guys,

I've been reading around, and I think I've decided on the Sherline 4400 cnc lathe and the Taig 2019 cnc mill. As for the drivers/steppers/power supply, I've been looking at the probotix and gecko's, but I'm not sure what I want here. Is there any downside to getting a stepper which is too powerful?

I'm wanting a fourth axis for the mill, and quite a few people have used the sherline rotary table. Are there any problems I might encounter here?

Finally, I want to install a power drawbar and might eventually want an atc.

Thanks!

[awerby]

[QUOTE=krap101;1109460]Hey guys,

I've been reading around, and I think I've decided on the Sherline 4400 cnc lathe and the Taig 2019 cnc mill.

[Those are both good machines, as long as the parts you're doing fit in their work envelopes]

. As for the drivers/steppers/power supply, I've been looking at the probotix and gecko's, but I'm not sure what I want here.

[The Gecko 540 is pretty hard to beat. They've started selling stepper motors too, which would be a good choice to go with them.]

Is there any downside to getting a stepper which is too powerful?

[Yes, the "holding torque" isn't the only number to pay attention to. Inductance is also important - a motor with too much of it will be sluggish compared to one that may be less powerful in its holding state. ]

I'm wanting a fourth axis for the mill, and quite a few people have used the sherline rotary table. Are there any problems I might encounter here?

[That's what both companies use; it's a solid and well-constructed unit with chucks available.]

Finally, I want to install a power drawbar and might eventually want an atc.

[You won't need the power drawbar for the Taig mill, since it uses an ER taper collet system that tightens with two wrenches. I suppose you could use one on the lathe, but I don't know of any that are available for it. I also haven't seen any Automatic Tool Changers for these machines that I'd recommend, although people seem to enjoy coming up with candidates...]

Andrew Werby
ComputerSculpture.com — Home Page for Discount Hardware & Software

[krap101]

Thanks Andrew!

Here's my build list so far:

Taig 2019CR:
4x Gecko 280oz-in
G540 Driver
Sherline Rotary Table
Sherline Rotary Table Mount
?Power Supply?

Sherline 4410:
2x Gecko 280oz-in
?G540 Driver?
?Power Supply?

For control software, I'm using Mach3, and for CAM, I'm using aspire.

Thoughts?

Thanks,

Danny

[wizard]

Hey guys,

I've been reading around, and I think I've decided on the Sherline 4400 cnc lathe and the Taig 2019 cnc mill. As for the drivers/steppers/power supply, I've been looking at the probotix and gecko's, but I'm not sure what I want here. Is there any downside to getting a stepper which is too powerful?

These are very good machines, but make sure you understand what you will be doing with them. It is very easy to buy a machine that is too small for your needs.

As to buying a stepper that is to large you certainly can do that. A stepper that is to large can easily damage a machine buy over driving it. Further from the practical standpoint it doesn't pay to go any faster that the machine is capable of supporting.

I'm wanting a fourth axis for the mill, and quite a few people have used the sherline rotary table. Are there any problems I might encounter here?

Again the only question is is it suitable for your needs. Only you know what your needs are, the problem againg is that it is easy to buy to little.

Finally, I want to install a power drawbar and might eventually want an atc.

Thanks!

Doing an ATC for the Taig is likely to be a bigger job than you might realize. In fact if it is high on your list of desires, I'd suggest a different mill. Do your own research here but I'd look for a mill that supports R8 spindles if you really think an ATC makes sense.

[krap101]

I'm going to be making mostly small aluminum and plastic parts, so I don't think that the mill/lathe should have any issue. I always liked the idea of qc or atc, but realistically, I wouldn't be making too many changes anyways :P.

[awerby]

[QUOTE=krap101;1109963]Thanks Andrew!

Here's my build list so far:

Taig 2019CR:
4x Gecko 280oz-in
G540 Driver
Sherline Rotary Table
Sherline Rotary Table Mount
?Power Supply?

[That should basically work. But the Sherline right-angle mount won't fit the Taig base without modification. There's a guy selling some hybrid mounts on Ebay that aren't too bad: SHERLINE ROTARY TABLE ANGLE MOUNT FOR TAIG CNC MILL | eBay Or you could get one from Taig. Their version doesn't have the rear stabilizer, but it works fine nevertheless. The Sherline tailstock, which you'll need to handle workpieces of any length, has the same issues; you can modify it or purchase Taig's version (which is considerably different, but fits the Taig). You'll also want at least one chuck for the rotary table - if you're only getting one, I'd suggest the 4-independent jaw type.

As for power supplies, here's one that would work: Antek - PS-8N50 ]



Sherline 4410:
2x Gecko 280oz-in
?G540 Driver?
?Power Supply?

[That should work okay, although you don't really save much over Sherline's #8765 CNC upgrade kit by going that route. ]

For control software, I'm using Mach3, and for CAM, I'm using aspire.

Thoughts?

[Mach3 is a good choice. Aspire is great for making some things, like signs, but you might find yourself running up against its limitations if you're needing a general-purpose CAD/CAM system.]

Andrew Werby
ComputerSculpture.com — Home Page for Discount Hardware & Software

[krap101]

I found a mount drawing from Nick, so I think I might just make my own.

Sherline Rotary Table to Taig Mill Adapter Plate

I'm also reconsidering getting the lathe in favor of getting a second taig. There are a couple things I'd have to get by with, but since I'm going to be doing production runs, I think it'd be nice to have dedicated machines. I'd imagine that I'd need to separate computers to run both machines simultaneously? I'm trying to figure out what I'm losing by not having the lathe. Right now it seems like internal threads and the ability to cut smooth curves quickly, but it seems like many of the functions of a 2 axis lathe can be pretty well replaced by a 4 axis mill. Is this correct?

Here's the new list(ish)

Taig 2019CR A:
4x Gecko 280oz-in
G540 Driver
Sherline Rotary Table
Antek - PS-8N50

Taig 2019CR B:
3x Gecko 280oz-in
G540 Driver
Antek - PS-8N50

Thanks,

Danny

[awerby]

somewhat, but one isn't a substitute for the other. A lathe is quicker, for one thing, and the tooling is different, so it's much easier to get sharp corners and clean facing cuts (perpendicular to the lathe's spindle axis). You don't have the ability to drill into the center of the part with a mill, unless you set up a rotary table in the face-up position, which would take a third dedicated machine unless you want to change your setup. While you can do a certain amount of threading with thread mills, it's going to be a lot more accurate if you do it on the lathe. And of course, you can smooth and polish things on the lathe, but the rotary table is too slow for that to work.

Andrew Werby
ComputerSculpture.com — Home Page for Discount Hardware & Software

[wizard]

I found a mount drawing from Nick, so I think I might just make my own.

Sherline Rotary Table to Taig Mill Adapter Plate

I'm also reconsidering getting the lathe in favor of getting a second taig.

I have no idea if that is smart or not as we don't have a good grasp as to what you are making. In many cases you can not effectively substitute a mill for a lathe.

There are a couple things I'd have to get by with, but since I'm going to be doing production runs, I think it'd be nice to have dedicated machines. I'd imagine that I'd need to separate computers to run both machines simultaneously?

What do you mean by production runs? That sends up red flags when I see that phrase. Now don't get me wrong but a Taig might not be the best machine for a production run. Again it depends upon what you are making.

I'm trying to figure out what I'm losing by not having the lathe. Right now it seems like internal threads and the ability to cut smooth curves quickly, but it seems like many of the functions of a 2 axis lathe can be pretty well replaced by a 4 axis mill. Is this correct?

No! A 4 axis mill is not a substitute for a lathe.

Here's the new list(ish)

Taig 2019CR A:
4x Gecko 280oz-in
G540 Driver
Sherline Rotary Table
Antek - PS-8N50

Taig 2019CR B:
3x Gecko 280oz-in
G540 Driver
Antek - PS-8N50

I don't think you have the background to go this route. Instead look into a ready to go machine like the 2026ER.

Thanks,

Danny

I wish you the best of luck here, but you probably should step back a bit and think a bit about the parts you intend to make. Some people could get by fine without a lathe other couldn't. You really have to think about the parts you want to make and the machining operations involved. It only takes one part to require a lathe over a mill.

[krap101]

I have no idea if that is smart or not as we don't have a good grasp as to what you are making. In many cases you can not effectively substitute a mill for a lathe.

What do you mean by production runs? That sends up red flags when I see that phrase. Now don't get me wrong but a Taig might not be the best machine for a production run. Again it depends upon what you are making.

No! A 4 axis mill is not a substitute for a lathe.

I don't think you have the background to go this route. Instead look into a ready to go machine like the 2026ER.


I wish you the best of luck here, but you probably should step back a bit and think a bit about the parts you intend to make. Some people could get by fine without a lathe other couldn't. You really have to think about the parts you want to make and the machining operations involved. It only takes one part to require a lathe over a mill.

When I said "production run", I was meaning a period where I made a large batch of the same part. I've been cnc'ing with a 3 axis for over 2 years now, although I don't have any experience with the 4th axis cam.

Looking back at the part, going with the 4 axis mill+lathe is probably the direction I'm going to go.

As to the 2026ER, I don't see how that will be much easier assembly-wise. The NEMA 23's will mount the same regardless, wiring is straightforward, so making the enclosure is really the only extra step?

Thanks,

Danny