Newbie- Seeking input on choosing an upgrade path.

[kwyrbndr]

Good day, All,
I have been using my cnc ready 4400 and 5400 Sherline machines on my jewelry bench for a few years,now. I've pretty much worked out work holding issues and have been cranking the dials long enough. I NEED to go CNC.
I'm at the place where it's time to choose which upgrade path to commit too.
The Sherline package with 5 motors and their drive box appears to be the easiest and softest entry. I've already been exploring the Linix and EMC software from Sherline, as well as familiarizing myself with Mach3. I have basic skills on Bobcad ver20.
There are other several prominent providers of packaged systems which retrofit Sherline machines to cnc. How does one make an initial choice?
I would be most pleased to hear from others who might be at this same space in time.

Thanks,
Ken

[Stepper Monkey]

It depends on how much you want to get into doing some of it yourself. The kits that Sherline and the many others sell are nothing particularly special, and in fact can even somewhat underperform a package you assemble yourself. In any case they usually cost a couple of hundred dollars more than the parts that make them up, parts you can just buy directly if you desire.

If you are at all familiar with even the rudiments of basic electrical and electronic work you should not be worried about the technical aspects of assembling your own kit. It's pretty straightforward. It should be primarily just a value judgement as to whether or not the hours saved and the peace of mind to have someone else pre-assemble your setup outweighs the extra cost, or perhaps of you just having a desire to do it yourself.

After that it is a question of budget and desired performance.

After you have made those two decisions we can suggest options to best fit, there are a lot of them.

BTW, I'm a jeweler as well, and you won't regret going CNC. It changes the way you will look at the business, your designs, everything in fact. Just get damned good software, its the best investment you can make by far. Artcam, 3Design, Matrix, etc. The cheaper stuff just doesn't cut it, costs you a lot more money and grief in the end, just like bad bench tools do.

[Crevice Reamer]

Hi Ken. Welcome to CNCzone! It's about time you posted something, hehe.

I'm wondering if you are a good candidate for a CNC conversion--Especially a DIY one. You obviously use these machines for business, so down time while you convert might be a problem. Also, I imagine you have long since depleted their depreciation.

Before converting the old machines, you will want to refurbish them a little--at least new gibb strips and possibly lead screws, to withstand the more rigorous use.

Also, if you are doing jewelry, you may want to do fine cnc engraving. This would mean an emphasis on fine resolution and repeatability--Especially if you are thinking of Laser engraving.

Taking all that into consideration, you might be better off to buy a NEW CNC ready mill, keeping your old ones at the ready until all the startup finagling is accomplished, and then when you are well up and running, sell the old ones on ebay. This way, you would get to fully depreciate your new investment.

A SERVO system would give you the finest and most repeatable resolution. IMSERV has a good Sherline mill/lathe system--Just try not to go with the Deskcnc software:

http://www.imsrv.com/sherlinemachines/

Good luck!

CR.

[kwyrbndr]

Thanks to both of you.
I am leaning toward using a package for a few reasons.
Down time is certainly one.
Learning to match motors, drivers, power supplies, and wiring the box is not a task I care to invest my time in right now. Perhaps once I learn the limitations of whatever I end up using, I'll have to spend more time learning to make those choices, to better equip the machines to do what I want.
This time, unless it's real simple, I'd just as soon buy plug and play...
But, which way to go? I haven't a clue that's based on any solid knowlege.
I've seen the products at the imsrv site, as well as Flash-cut, and all the rest.
What makes one more desirable than another? What makes the choice of system more obvious?
Thanks again
Ken
Ken

[Crevice Reamer]

Two questions for you:

1) What do you want to do with the machine? (or have the machine do for you.)

2) How much is your budget?

CR.

[kwyrbndr]

Initially, I'll be setting up drilling cycles and faceting/texturing routines. Sometime later, I'll begin using BobCad to create small parts and pieces.
Nothing larger than perhaps 1.5" x 1.5" x 1.5"
Materials will be precious metals, wax, some hardwoods, aluminum, plastics and steel for tooling.
Beyond that?...
So, any and all advice and sources from more experienced craftsmen will be enthusiastically received!

Thanks,
Ken

[kwyrbndr]

... and I'd like to keep the initial investment under $1000.

[Crevice Reamer]

Hi Ken! Your $1000 budget, (I assume that is for the mill only) relegates you to converting your present mill. The Sherline conversion mounts for $250 are a start.

In about one month, the new Gecko 540 quad driver board will be released. This will revolutionize CNC conversion as we know it, and offer more value, performance and protection then anything that has been available.

The G540 contains 4 mini-gecko drives incorporated into a total protection break-out board. This means that all you have to do is plug in the computer parallel cable, 6 or 8 wires from power supply, and your stepper cables.

I advise you to wait for this, and buy whatever kind of packaged enclosure/power supply/motor & cables Tom Caudle of http://candcnc.com/ builds around it. This will probably cost about $500. He will also sell you the Mach3 license very reasonably.

If you need a computer, Tiger Direct has off lease values for $250 w/1 yr warranty.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...415&CatId=2646

You may also be interested in this very nice ready-to-go 4th axis:

http://kdntool.com/_sgt/m3m1s1_1.htm

That will give you a bolt up and play system with very little effort or investment.

You can go the same route with the lathe if necessary.

CR.

[kwyrbndr]

Thanks, CR.
The mill and lathe are "cnc-ready" from sherline. The motor mounts have temporary covers and are fitted with the original cranks, so that pretty much leaves the choice of motors. There must be variables, galore here. What should I be looking for in a quality motor?
The Sherline box and 5 motors is on special for $735, til the end of the month. I am assuming the new Gecko will outperform this older design. Am I correct in this?
Thanks, again.

Ken

[Crevice Reamer]

I would assume so. Firstly, you DO realize that the sherline 4 drive box only powers EITHER the mill OR the lathe? You would have to transfer the box between mill and lathe.

The Sherline motors are fairly small. I know you don't need HUGE motors, but.... To get full power from the Sherline motors would require 50 or 60 volts. I doubt the Sherline board or PS is rated at even 36 volts.

The G540 definitely will provide more fault protection, power cability and compact size. You MIGHT be able to get two separate systems for mill and lathe for not much more than what Sherline wants for 1 1/4 systems.

But the Sherline system has the advantage of being available right now.

CR.

[Crevice Reamer]

Motors in this weight range are relatively cheap. I would imagine that Tom Caudle will package high quality motors.

To get an idea of stepper motor cost in the Nema 23 < 200 Oz. class:

http://kelinginc.net/NEMA23Motor.htm

I think the Sherline kit includes 135 Oz motors.

CR.

[Crevice Reamer]

That link doesn't work. try THIS one:

http://kelinginc.net

CR.