Anyone converted this to cnc

[Bugpac]

Has anyone converted this machine to cnc, and or have the total cost involved? also is the sieg x3 a better machine than this?

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=33686

[DSL PWR]

It is doable, but the x3 is better due to the square column. When you move the head on a round column it shifts and youy need to redo the setup on the job. You also have much more z travel in a square column mill.

[Bugpac]

how much would it cost to do the sieg x3, i havent bought a mill yet, i have a lathe and want to get a mill, really would like to do cnc later on tho...what is the envelope to the sieg x3?

[phantomcow2]

The X3 is a bit smaller than that mill, but in my opinion, better designed. You can get 16x6" with the stock X3. If you do a slight modification to the end plate of the X3's table, you can get probably 18x6".

[phantomcow2]

As for a cost to CNC, it all depends on how high up the totem poll you want to climb. Do you want to buy a kit or make the parts yourself? Many people use Gecko drives and pretty large stepper motors. I think that with a ballscrew, you can get away with a nema23 motor and appropriately sized driver for it, saving you a good amount of cash.

[Bugpac]

ok, you guys are talking me into the x3, now ballscrews and nema23 and gecko drives, is this something i can buy easily, any links?

[Bugpac]

his is the lathe i bought, i have used it a lot, had it about 7-8 months, Im not real sure were to put it, but is there any upgrades to this i can do, lead screw wise etc?

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=33274

[Bugpac]

ok guys, i am really up in the air now, what about something of this nature, as im sure i can get cheaper, all you have to do at hf is ask...how hard of a conversion would this be, i assume no harder than any other...

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=40939

[acondit]

Originally Posted by Bugpac his is the lathe i bought, i have used it a lot, had it about 7-8 months, Im not real sure were to put it, but is there any upgrades to this i can do, lead screw wise etc? http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=33274

Bugpac,

This same basic lathe is sold by a number of companies including Birmingham and Grizzly. A couple of companies sell a CNC'd version of this lathe (maybe not the HF version). So this lathe could be CNC'd as well.

[Bugpac]

Thanks for the info acondit, any links to were i may find a cnc version, then maybe i can try to compare the 2 a bit more and see...

[acondit]

Originally Posted by Bugpac Thanks for the info acondit, any links to were i may find a cnc version, then maybe i can try to compare the 2 a bit more and see...

I haven't kept links to them but here is one I found with a quick google search.

Here is a link to microkinetics CNC'd lathe.
http://www.microkinetics.com/lathe1236/index.htm
Here is a link to their cnc conversion kit.
http://www.microkinetics.com/convkit.htm

The price says to me, you can do it cheaper yourself and this is a DIY forum.

[Bugpac]

Originally Posted by acondit I haven't kept links to them but here is one I found with a quick google search. Here is a link to microkinetics CNC'd lathe. http://www.microkinetics.com/lathe1236/index.htm Here is a link to their cnc conversion kit. http://www.microkinetics.com/convkit.htm The price says to me, you can do it cheaper yourself and this is a DIY forum.

thanks, i sure would think a diy kit would be far less expensive, it may be doable, but i really want to get a mill up and running first...it is amazing at 4 k or whatever it was, what you get with it...not much...

also can anyone explain this ballscrew thing...Im not 100% sure what exactly it is...