Home-Brewed CNC Bench Mill Using Siex X2 Mini-Mill Head

[fignoggle]

hi all-

as we're working on a harbor freight 8x12 mini-lathe cnc conversion, we decided to jump into making a cnc bench-mill from the ground-up.

here's the blog entry that we're updating.

it's basically a 24"x18"x24" mill with travel as yet to be determined. it's basically a prototype that we're working on to see if it's possible to get a larger work envelope like that of a sieg x3/super x3 (or larger) with the costs coming under that of a x3 conversion. we'll be using (most likely) the x2 head since it already has the r8 spindle. we may upgrade this to a x3 head as well..

we're still working on the x3 cnc conversion, but this is a more promising project at present since we'll be able to piece together a fairly accurate machine using ground ballscrews, linear slides, etc.. and we won't have the myriad design constraints we encountered when working with a small mill like the x2 (still a great little machine, but it's always nice to have bigger machines!)



enjoy!

http://www.fignoggle.com/workshop/it...e-introduction

[Deviant]

Awesome.

I been toying around with the idea of building something like this for a long time.

I'm extremely curious how it all turns out. Cutting speed, chatter, accuracy etc..

Keep us posted.

[fignoggle]

thanks deviant. will definitely report back. right now the nema23/34 mount for the x-axis is completed and the an intermediate mounting plate is being cnc'd. then the motor will get hooked up to the gecko drive and huge step motor for a test run. should be interesting to see what happens!

[XYZABisFUN]

Hello,
what kind of total weight are you aiming for? Is the idea to make a Bridge type or a C frame mill? Just a couple of questions...
Thanks
Will

[fignoggle]

it's probably going to end up being between 200-300lbs, and can be disassembled and put into a car trunk.

here's the x-y (some of it). the fignoggle website should have a slew of pictures and video in a day or so - there were quite a few interesting moments so far.

sometime this week the drives and motor will be hooked up to play around with the x/y and see about accuracy and the dreaded backlash...

the x axis is using a cheap rolled ballscrew with a re-balled ballnut to reduce backlash and the y-axis has a grade C1 ballscrew with preloaded ballnut (but there were some issues with it)... the z-axis should be the fun part - trying to figure out how to mount everything.

[RTP_Burnsville]

I have thought of doing a similar project come winter. Will look forward to your progress reports.

Thanks,
Robert

[XYZABisFUN]

Hello,
Thoughts on using a "tube" frame out of steel for the entire frame?
Think it would be lighter and still have good rigidity?
Checked out the write up...so far looks good.
Considerations for an enclosure?
Coolant tank and drainback?
modular...x/y axis then z...then enclosure etc.
add as you get to it but have a running machine first.

Thanks,
Will

[fignoggle]

just finished the x/y axes today with motor mounts, etc.. friday (that's today! and here's the video) will yield some videos of test runs. should be fun to see what it can do! we're probably going to re-work the x-base later, but as a proto it's fine.

aluminum plate is nice since you can mount all sorts of stuff on it and it doesn't require welding/cutting. so far this proto hasn't required any "heavy duty" work - just drilling/milling/cutting with small-shop tools like the mini-mill, 4x6 bandsaw, etc.. the goal is to see if we can build a more portable, larger work-envelope mill using the small machines many of us have.

[digits]

Originally Posted by fignoggle just finished the x/y axes today with motor mounts, etc.. friday (that's today! and here's the video) will yield some videos of test runs. should be fun to see what it can do! we're probably going to re-work the x-base later, but as a proto it's fine. aluminum plate is nice since you can mount all sorts of stuff on it and it doesn't require welding/cutting. so far this proto hasn't required any "heavy duty" work - just drilling/milling/cutting with small-shop tools like the mini-mill, 4x6 bandsaw, etc.. the goal is to see if we can build a more portable, larger work-envelope mill using the small machines many of us have.

Any updates on this - the links don't seem to work anymore

[jleb]

hey can you fix the links?? can't see this.. and we need more pictures of your done conversion vs that blurry video on the site

[fignoggle]

Originally Posted by jleb hey can you fix the links?? can't see this.. and we need more pictures of your done conversion vs that blurry video on the site

hi. thanks for checking it out. we moved the blog to another server and we're working on getting it back online.

we'll have more video, but it's still blurry until we get a video camera set up.

happy holidays!

[digits]

Originally Posted by fignoggle hi. thanks for checking it out. we moved the blog to another server and we're working on getting it back online. we'll have more video, but it's still blurry until we get a video camera set up. happy holidays!

Excellent! This really is one project I'm very interested in