Need Help!- Setting up home shop on a budget. CNC & Manual

[CNC_Penmaker]

Hopefully i can get some advice on my setup and maybe help someone else in the same boat as me.

i have recently moved from NC to TX and let me tell you the move is like night and day. I went from living in the country with lots of room to the city with a postage stamp yard and a small garage.


Anyways I want to build a small shop for pen and knife making etc, (hobbys) and i want the tools to be kinda quite since the houses are close.

I'll get into my manual tools in a bit right now I want to talk about the CNC stuff i hope to get running

I found at a local Garage sale a pair of "Paxton Patterson CNC Machines" about 10 years old but well cared for hardly used from the looks of em. They are Sherline retrofits from a company called microkinetic's anyways this weekend i stopped by the same garage sale and they guy gave me a toolchest with a few small lathe tools etc, he said went with the machines i picked up a couple months back. And inside was a MN400 Motion controler he had picked up to try and get them working and also a mn401 breakout board. I took a look at the microkinetics website and it seems they are still selling these parts. But i am wondering how much trouble it would be to get them working or if i should still pick up a couple sets of geckos as suggested by a few on this forum.

manual tools (so far)

7 x 10 mini lathe
I picked this up at a local thrift shop it seems to maybe have a blown fuse the light will come on but the motor will not respond note with it said it died while on auto feed any ideas?

hf x1 micro mill
hf 10 inch 12 speed drill press
ryobi 9 inch band saw
hf 16 inch scroll saw
hf bench grinder

I am quite surprised to be saying this but Harbor freight seems to sell decent tools. as long as you don't buy the cheap cheap models.

hope to go to some secondhand shops and check out tools later today if i find the time.

[jalessi]

You will need Millmaster Pro software for the MN400

http://www.microkinetics.com/mmpfw/instruct.htm

Do you have the stepper drivers and steppers that go along with it?

Jeff...

[CNC_Penmaker]

Originally Posted by jalessi You will need Millmaster Pro software for the MN400 http://www.microkinetics.com/mmpfw/instruct.htm Do you have the stepper drivers and steppers that go along with it? Jeff...

Not sure i'd want microkinetics software. Anything stopping me from using other applications or is this just what they offer?

Here are the specs for both units as i know them

Sherline model 4000 and 5400 converted to CNC by microkinetics The lathe has a two axis "Optidriver Plus" the mill has a three axis "Optidriver plus" Both where Mfg in 1998 the steppers are the older "83 oz in"

Also the Driver boards have a "Controller Port RS-232 OR DB50" and a "Robotics Interface DB-9" the motion controller I was given connects to a machine through a 50 pin scsi ribbon or a breakout that connects again through the scsi

the way i see it my options are a "rs-232/db25 to 50 pin scsi cable"
"pinned to the machine" or use the breakout board still i have to guess the pinout not that big of a deal just takes time. also need to locate a power supply but thats pretty standard.

[jalessi]

CNC_Penmaker,

You can interface the Optidriver Plus drivers to your P.C. with a inexpensive breakout board like a C10 from CNC4PC.

http://www.cnc4pc.com/Store/osc/prod...products_id=45

Then you can replace the Microkinetics software with Mach3 to control your machine.

Jeff...

[CNC_Penmaker]

Guess my next question would be is which is the best option has anyone here tried the microkinetics software?

What is the problem in using some other software and does it support non microkinetics cad/cam with the mn400 (i mean in making your own postprossors)

alot of questions just stop me when i'm not making any sense

[jalessi]

CNC_Penmaker,

Microkinetics Millmaster Pro software will only communicate with the MN400

Microkinetics Millmaster Pro software is not compatible with a parallel port.

Mach3 is not compatible with the MN400 unless there is a plugin I am not aware of.

http://www.machsupport.com/plugins.php

For me it would be a easy choice, I favor Mach3 for several reasons.

The number one reason is there are thousands of users here or on the Mach3 forum providing awesome technical support free of charge.

I have not seen a Millmaster Pro software user chime in yet.

Jeff...

[CNC_Penmaker]

Cool though i would be interested in hearing from some millmaster pro turnmaster pro users in the future since i have this motion controller

Any ideas on why the 7x10 Harbor freight lathe powers up but the motor will not start? nte on it when i picked it up said it was new and stopped while on powerfeed. Maybe a fuse? (want to cnc this too after its running lol) i'm thinking of turning some of my hobbys into a small time money maker pens knives lures if i can get a ok setup

[jalessi]

CNC_Penmaker,

It may be a fuse, if not get a hold of John Gerling.

He is a expert at repairing speed controllers, I believe he has a $55.00 flat rate for repairing one.

http://www.www.repaircontrol.com/RepairProgram.htm

gerlinglabs@repaircontrol.com

Hope this helps, good luck.

Jeff...

[CNC_Penmaker]

Originally Posted by jalessi CNC_Penmaker, It may be a fuse, if not get a hold of John Gerling, he repairs the speed controllers. I believe he has a $55.00 flat rate for repairing one. http://www.www.repaircontrol.com/RepairProgram.htm gerlinglabs@repaircontrol.com Hope this helps, good luck. Jeff...

thanks alot you have a wealth of info .

[jalessi]

CNC_Penmaker,

You are very welcome.

Please post pictures of some of your work once you are up and running.

Jeff...

[CNC_Penmaker]

Originally Posted by CNC_Penmaker Cool though i would be interested in hearing from some millmaster pro turnmaster pro users in the future since i have this motion controller Any ideas on why the 7x10 Harbor freight lathe powers up but the motor will not start? note on it when i picked it up said it was new and stopped while on powerfeed. Maybe a fuse? (want to cnc this too after its running lol) i'm thinking of turning some of my hobbys into a small time money maker pens knives lures if i can get a ok setup

Anyone have thoughts on using a surplus touchscreen monitor to control the cnc to keep dust out of the pc since it would replace the keyboard and mouse saw a few local for around $50.00.

[CNC_Penmaker]

Originally Posted by jalessi CNC_Penmaker, You are very welcome. Please post pictures of some of your work once you are up and running. Jeff...

Count on it and thanks again