New Machine Build- Just got my Grizzly X3. CNC conversion to come...

[stag53]

Hi all,

Long time reader, pretty infrequent poster... hoping to change that soon.

Just rec'd my X3 from Grizzly today. Looks like a nice little machine for the money. Came in a fully enclosed crate.

My plans (after the cosmolene cleanoff and spruce-up) are to do the CNC Fusion Deluxe kit, some motors from homeshopcnc, G203V's, 72V PS, and maybe a 3P motor with VFD. I also want to bulk up the column and extend the Y travel a bit. Lots more to come... when I can find the time in between work and life

Will post as things progress.

[stag53]

After the full teardown, way lapping, and cleanup, I got the CNCFusion ballscrews installed... lost some balls from the ballnuts, but quickly learned how to reinstall them. Good experience I suppose. Really well executed conversion kit, however I was a little surprised how they set up the X axis with the fixed end opposite the motor. Prob not such a big deal on such a short screw.

The spindle cartridge from the Grizzly mill had an undersized R8 bore and some crunchy bearings. Called Grizzly and they immediately stuck a new spindle shaft and bearings in the mail. Fantastic customer service. Now, I just have to go buy some blind bearing pullers to pull the rear bearing. Good excuse for some new tools.

I got a Hoffman enclosure from my old boss... donated thanks to an out-of-commission piece of automation. It's a 20x16x8 with a bunch of terminal blocks, relays, and wire tray, much of which will be used for this machine. Today, I will lay out and attach the G203v's, cnc4pc C11G BOB, 72V PS, relays, and power handling garb. I plan to build a cart that the enclosure and a PC/monitor will ride on. Will probably connect the motors via Amp connectors so I can use this system for the host of other machines I have brewing.

Waiting for motors from Keling. Got the 387's for X&Y and a 600 for Z. The 425's were OOS. Need to get my hands on an old PC now... Overstock has some Dell Optiplex's currently that I'm considering if nothing pops up on Craigslist.

Designing a stand/enclosure w/ chip tray & coolant system. In CAD right now; will get some steel this week and start that end of the build asap.

I'll put up more pics later today in case anyone is watching this thread

Adam S

[hoss2006]

Hey Adam,
Good luck with the new build.
Since you have it taken apart, I was wondering if you could do me a favor.
I would like to know the width of the dovetails on the base for a new project.
Doesn't have to be exact, just an idea of how far it is from one edge to the other.
Thanks for any help, Good Luck, Hoss

[Matt McColley]

Green with jeolousy here....

You're way ahead of me....

I've got all my electronic and electrical parts on order....

still haven't bought the mill yet though....

Post away with all the pics you can....

I'm watching and taking notes....

[Crevice Reamer]

Originally Posted by stag53 Waiting for motors from Keling. Got the 387's for X&Y and a 600 for Z.

Hey Adam: What 600 oz motor did you order? The 387s are a 65V MAX motor. You will be over volting them with a 72V PSU. Some of the 600s are 48V MAX. This might be a serious mismatch.

CR.

[Crevice Reamer]

Originally Posted by hoss2006 Hey Adam, I would like to know the width of the dovetails on the base for a new project. Doesn't have to be exact, just an idea of how far it is from one edge to the other. Thanks for any help, Good Luck, Hoss

Total width of dovetail saddle: 6 3/8 inches. Width of top inner dovetail (No gibb) 4 13/16 inches. Width of lower inner dovetail (Gibb removed) is 5 3/8 inches.

That's just with a ruler. I can measure it with calipers if you need it.

CR.

[stag53]

Hoss: Oh, looks like Crevice Reamer beat me to it. I've enjoyed reading about all your projects. What do you have in the works?

CR: Thanks for the heads up. The N34 motor is the 640 oz-in. The inductance is 6.8mH, so 32*sqrt(6.8) = 85.8V and 4.05V*20 ~80V as well. So, I think this one's OK.

The N23's are a different story though. I'd actually ordered the 425oz-in, but they were out of stock. Should have turned around and gotten some from homeshopcnc, but I blindly took the substitute instead. I emailed Jim @ Keling to find out if he had any comment... if this 7V overvoltage would kill them or whatnot. Worst case is I send them back. Sucks though... was hoping to get things moving soon!

Posted a couple of pics of the electronics progress. Haven't run any wire yet... just got everything laid out. Also, I got lucky and Radio Shanty was clearancing a bunch of P4 and AMD heatsinks w/ fans for $2-3 apiece!. I bought them out... the P4 ones fit best, but I only had 2, so I went with the AMD guys. Notice there's space for a 4th axis if I cut out some of that panduit!

Hey, does anyone have any suggestions for cabling for the motors. I found some shielded 16/4 @ Home Depot today for $.30 a foot. Then, I'd still need some connectors... I put together a hypothetical order on Newark for Amp connectors: total was in the $70 range for (4) connectors! What about DB9's? Will the wire in a serial cable cope with the amperage these will see? Any other bright ideas? Thanks.

Picking up a Dell Precision 360 tomorrow that will be the brains of this operation. It's also plenty capable of running CAD, CAM, and anything else I can throw at it. $180 on Ebay... a little more than I'd budgeted, but I like the idea of having CAD (that runs well) on my control PC

My new place is a rental and there's no 220 outlet (and I don't want to impose on the landlord YET), so I don't have my welders going yet... have a little inverter TIG coming though that is replacing my old beast. It will run on 110 or 220... once I get that lit up, I can weld up the cart and frame for this baby. Found an awesome little pond pump that I will run coolant from a 5G bucket under the table. Can't wait to get things going!

[hoss2006]

Originally Posted by Crevice Reamer Total width of dovetail saddle: 6 3/8 inches. Width of top inner dovetail (No gibb) 4 13/16 inches. Width of lower inner dovetail (Gibb removed) is 5 3/8 inches. That's just with a ruler. I can measure it with calipers if you need it. CR.

Thanks, I was guessing 5 1/4, 5 3/8 is even worse, back to the drawing board.
Hoss

[hoss2006]

Originally Posted by stag53 Hoss: I've enjoyed reading about all your projects. What do you have in the works?

Just putting some extra profits to use and trying out some new ideas, new to me anyway.
Hoss

[Teyber12]

Just got my Grizzly X3. CNC conversion to come...

Hey!

beautiful electronics layout(or pics can't tell either way nice!

what are rough dimensions lxw for this control panel?

Thanks!

[stag53]

The box is a 20X16X8 (H-W-D) Hoffman enclosure. Everything fit pretty well... it's funny, no matter what size enclosure I get, I always wish there was more real estate after I lay it all out. Oh well, this one was a freebie from my old boss (Thanks Dave!).

Hopefully more to come soon...

Adam S

[stag53]

Hey, I got the Lovejoy couplings with my kit... horrible backlash on these things... think I will spring for something better.

Anyone use the helical couplings from CNCFusion? Are these the type that are machined/wire-cut from a cylinder? I've heard mixed reviews on this type as they are mildly compliant and are more well-suited for low-torque apps...

HomeshopCNC has some really nice disc-type, but the price is a little higher...

http://www.homeshopcnc.com/Couplings2.html

hmmmm... feedback appreciated...