X2 Mods - additions and improvements to an X2?

[tumutbound]

For what it's worth, here are the mods/improvements I plan to make to my X2:

1. Belt drive - already done using LMS kit. Real reduction in noise which I'm sure my neighbours appreciate.
2. DRO and scales - I've got a Shumatech DRO kit to build and 3 scales from Shars. Still to design and make some suitable mounts. Lots of ideas both here and in the Yahoo (Shumatech and GrizzlyHFMiniMill) groups.
3. Y travel extension - Previously mentioned the link to this one. If I do this then I'll certainly do 4.
4. Column support - a 15mm - 20mm steel plate to mount the mill on and a large angle bracket should do the trick. Not sure about the epoxy filling though.

CNC is on the list but I want to get some manual milling experience first - while I save money to buy the CNC bits.

[Farasien]

I wouldn't bother buying the CNC parts... If you have a decent set of accurate calipers, your mill has a working DRO (or you really know how to do accurate machining without it) and know a few fundamentals, you cam make them for the cost of a few plates of aluminum and a weekend's worth of time. That is, if you aren't considering upgrading to ballscrews. In any case, go check out Hoss's site (www.hossmachine.info)- he has most of his plans for free on there and sells stock kits and plans for a whole bunch of other interesting mods.

The nice thing about learning how to manufacture stuff is you'll find, more and more, you don't have to buy much of anything anymore outside of raw materials and the occasional tool.

-Farasien

[tumutbound]

When the time comes to CNC, I hope to make the mounts my self. The bits I have to buy are the motors, controllers, ballscrews etc.

[hoss2006]

Originally Posted by jalessi Chris, I though you might like this. Jeff...

BeltDrive1.pdf‎

I built my belt drive from that design from J. Rollett posted on the GrizHFminimill Yahoo Group.
I made a few changes to make fabrication easier.
Some of the pdf dimensions are not correct such as the motor mount holes.
I left out the provisions for mounting a Hall IC Sensor but would leave that in now to output RPM.
JR did a great job, it's as nice as LMS's.
Hoss

[ibuildstuff4u]

Here is the link for adding a new power supply to the 2X mill. Sorry I thought I added it to my last post. It's a pretty easy project to do and made a big difference to my machine.

Dale P.

http://www.harrisson.biz/controller/power.htm

[acondit]

Originally Posted by tumutbound Increase Y travel - this one doesn't look too difficult, provided you have a spare mill to do the work on Column brace There's a number of spindle lock mods including this one from Hoss. But as Teyber12 said, CNC it. You know you want to...

Here is a link to a post that I made on my Y axis extension and a drawing showing the measurements.

Alan