Need some advice on Building a Mini CNC?

[Oldboy]

I purchase some parts from Little Machine Shop; complete R8 Mini Mill Head assembly Part#1663 & Mini Mill Column Assembly part #1766.
Then I purchase a Heavy X & Y Table that I can move the X=18 inches & Y=8 inches.
The Table is 6 inches wide/with 5/8 T-Slots. The Dove tail slides have adjustable Steel gibs. And the Screws on it look to be 20TPI 5/8 Dia.
graduated .001
Now for some qestions.
First is why is it that when you run the Mini Mill the gears sound like there ripping them apart/Very noisy? Is this normal?
Next qestion is the 4 Axis CNC Controler from HobbyCNC as good as the Xylotex?
I think I want to use Mach 3 software.
And if you where milling 4130 steel. What would you have for your mini mill set up?
Any Advice? Please help?
Thank You!

[cyclestart]

Originally Posted by Oldboy First is why is it that when you run the Mini Mill the gears sound like there ripping them apart/Very noisy? Is this normal?

Hard to say without hearing them, but they are noisy and also fragile. A lot of people install a belt drive when/before they break.

[Oldboy]

It was Mill Head Assembly is New out of the box & seem very noisy,untill I put a load on spindle then it sound ok? But noisy gears.
Im use to my Sherline 5400 mini mill. But I have out grown it.
So is there anyone out there that has used the HobbyCNC & Xylotex driver boards?
And has anyone used there X2 Mini Mill to mill 4130 Steel?
Please tell me about it? Advice?

[Rodm1954]

Hi Oldboy
I did a similar conversion a while back with the X2 head and column.
Have a look at this thread.
Here

At this stage fiddle with setting up the column and base so you can get maximum travel on your table in relation to the head. I had to re-adjust the position of my table to get it right. I just build and worry about problems as they occur so on this occassion a bit of planning would have been worth it

The weak link in the X2 is the plastic gears. My advice would be to convert to the belt drive as it is stronger and very much quieter than the gears. Not something you need to do right away so wear out or break the plastic gears first.

I use the Xyoltex boards and have found them to be very good. I don't know anything about the HobbyCNC boards so I can't help you there.
If you read my thread you will see I have substantially strenghtened the column with RHS and plates at right angles to each other. This has made the mill head very rigid but I am still reluctant to mill steel. This is mainly due to the lack of power but with light cuts and low feed rates it should cope alright. I have the luxury of larger machines to do steel so I did not mill any steel on mine.

I'm not sure if I have answered any of your questions properly so if you want to ask more then feel free to contact me about my build.
I have sold my machine now and have a CNC'd X3 but I still consider the X2 hybrid the best CNC'd machine I have built so I think you have made some good choices in your purchases.

[Oldboy]

Hi Rodm1954
That X2 looks very nice & strong.
Wish I could aford the X3.
My Table is longer & wider than what you had on that X2.
In fact my table looks very close to the one on the X3.
As for feed rate taking it slow on steel? Im use to that with my Sherline Mill.
Thats why im upgrading. Dont get me wrong my Sherline is very nice on small fine milling work. And as most people know Sherline mills are belt drive.
Rodm1954 Thanks for the idea of that Air pump. My Air Compresser is very noisy. Anyone use there X2 mill on 4130 steel? or Use the Hobbycnc board?