Completed my X2 mill conversion :)

[LongRat]

I've been working on this for a few months now. Longer if you count the learning time rwquired to understand how to go about it. Without the CNCzone forums and the internet in general, this would not have been doable. A big thankyou to the forum and members for the pointers, knowledge and inspiration.
The mill itself has been used extensively for my RC car hobby over the last 2 years, in manual mode. I build model race cars from scratch and I've finally got tired of being limited to straigh line cuts and multiple setup jobs. When I worked out that it would take me several hundred hours to make the changes I want to my latest vehicle, I decided to put that on hold and do the CNC conversion. It has gone amazingly well, thanks to the amount of information out there now and good small-time retailers who really know good service.

SPECS
Sieg X2 sold in UK under the Chester Conquest name
Homeshopcnc 5/8" ballscrews with oversized balls (X/Y) and double nut on Z
Homeshopcnc 400 oz.in NEMA34 steppers (awesome)
Gecko G201 drivers running on 39VDC @ 6A
1.5" long solid stand-offs on the X so I don't lose travel due to the ballnut length

This is really overkill for the machine, but I'll be able to transfer the kit easily enough if/when I get a bigger machine. My next step is to add my limit switches, and make an LED ring light to go round the spindle. This will incorporate 40 or so 18,000mcd white LEDs.
Hope you all like.

Cheers

[itsme]

Your machine looks awesome! At a guess, your motors would probably (quite easily) be able to power something like an X3. Any photos of the cars you make?

Regards
Warren

[LongRat]

I'm pretty sure these would easily run an X3, or quite possible an even larger rig. They have some serious torque. The torque at speed also seems very good, I am running the jibs fairly tight and the rapids are set as fast as I am comfortable with (currently 2500mm/min).
The project car website is http://www.geocities.com/dave_beeby/
The speed car was actually all done on an Emco Unimat 3 mill attachment, if you can picture it. A tiny mill with very little capability.
The superbuggy project is still ongoing, needing changes to many parts. Check out the build site with pics here: http://www.geocities.com/dave_beeby/supertwin21.html

For those who can't be bothered visiting the site, here is a taster pic - hopefully it will last a while up on this site without turning into a red x.

[voltsandbolts]

NICE JOB! How about a closer look at that Z axis setup…

[BobWarfield]

Awesome, a CNC'd milling vise!

Just kidding, it is really a cool project. I dig those Sieg mills, but the vise looks huge on that table. And by all means, keep showing us parts and more details of your project. Very well done.

Best,

BW

[LongRat]

Cheers guys.
Yeah, the vice is massive. It is a pleasure to use and cut on though, really adds mass to the machine. Here is a close-up of my z-axis. I got to keep the manual downfeed with the rack and pinion using this arrangement. This proved VERY useful when I was making all the conversion parts on this same mill, when half of the conversion bits were on already. The ballscrew backdrives the z axis motor when the drives are switched off.

Z axis coupler is solid, not as nice as the oldhams on my x and y. But it serves the dual purpose of preloading the two axial thrust bearings and coupling to the motor. Preload is applied to the thrust bearings via two screws which are threaded into the long axis of the coupler.

[itsme]

Hi,

I know what you mean about the vice. I have got a CNCed Sieg X1. I only recently got a 7.5kg vice (yes, on a 40kg machine), but it is a pleasure to use compared to the weeny little vice I was using that was originally intended for the X1. A big vice is the only way!

LongRat, I certainly don't envy you machining all that stuff on a Unimat 3. My Dad has got an Emco Compact 5 with a milling attachment and it is painful to mill on. Gets the job done, but it takes a while...

Nice cars by the way.

Regards
Warren

[LongRat]

Thanks Warren.
The Unimat 3 is a good machine to learn on, but it is gutless. 90 Watts of butch power transmitted through slippery round-section belts... nice. The working envelope is not much bigger than a postage stamp either

[LongRat]

A picture of my first CNC cut part, during machining.
It is cut from a scan of a fossilised lungfish tooth plate. My girlfriend is doing a PhD on them so I'll give it to her as a gift. Never hurts to keep them on your side



Scan data was converted to .STL format and processed through Freemill. Stepover 0.5mm in X, 0.35mm in Y. I scanned the data at work as we produce 3D digitising machines.

[ZipSnipe]

Soooowwweeett !!! The mill looks great, the RC buggy looks great, good job mate!

[Ron111]

Good Job!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ron