New X2 convert here

[wildwhl]

Hello. Been playing with an HF3/1 machine for a few months. Have the bug. Found an X2 locally that had been previously converted to CNC, but the motors were pulled off for the owners (new) x3. So here I am. Out in my shop. New KL23H276-30-8a in hand, power suppy, driver board and my trusty old IBM x220 server. Time to get dirty, errr, my feet wet.

Me? I'm just a car guy mostly. Printing is my day job (has been for 21 years). Why CNC? Seems like a fun hobby. Had a VLS300 laser cutter a few years back until we had an incident. Probably shouldn't have put the fire out, and just let it take my whole printing company with it (just kidding)!

I'm going to open with a question. Given that I've become a packrat of all things that might be millable, I have a very nice heavy duty 4 castor base, and am considering of building a rolling table for the little x2. Will I HossMachine x2Freak the machine someday? Unlikely to that extent, but it would be nice to have a rigid cart where I can roll it around my 20x30 shop. Pros/cons for a setup like this? If I go this route, I'll mount the control board and powersupply on the back of the x2 machine, up high (will machine a bracket of sorts).

Thanks - all input appreciated.

WW

[Crevice Reamer]

Hi WW. Welcome to the Zone!

Rolling carts are nice. Just make sure it will handle the weight, can be locked down, and won't tip.

If you use the G540 (Although those 4.2A 282s aren't the best choice for it) and a switching PSU, it can very easily be column mounted. Be aware though that it will have to be protected from the horrendous swarf swath that the X2 throws--Not to mention flood coolant if you go that route.

CR.

[wildwhl]

Thanks CR. Didn't really feel like welding today, and am short on some tubing, so for now the mill is setup on my workbench. I have (I think) a couple of clever ideas for swarf mitigation, but we shall see!

BTW - using a cheap 3 axis board from ebay - and she's up and turning screws. We'll see how it goes. Ultimately I think the G540 is the way to go, but this is a hobby on a budget

Now time to read about motor tuning, get the limits wired, and some other fun setup stuff. Then there's this CAD/CAM item everyone keeps mentioning, haha.

WW

[wildwhl]

OK - I'm going to need some direction. I know photos will be helpful so I'll try to post some this evening.

I have the mill working, am beginning to understand some of Mach3 including wizards, and getting a general idea of how to go about things. I've spent a fair amount of time trying series vs. parallel wiring, different steps, etc. to get the motors turning as well as possible. The Y axis really needs some work (gibs, lapping, etc.) but I finally have it moving throughout about 4" range without any binding and with very minimal slop.

The Y axis seems to be the problem, though. I ran a program this morning with a .375 4 flute end mill, to mill a 1.0 diameter pocket, 1.0 deep. X dimension looks perfect and measures darn close (haven't done the precision steps calibration yet). However, the Y axis looses steps, it would appear, in one direction only. Meaning it taper on the wall towards the back of the machine (hard to explain I suppose).

Machine specifics: (CL ad here - http://reno.craigslist.org/tls/1762997039.html)

X/Y- It has a KDN Tools X and Y Axis CNC Kit on it, with backlash adjustable ACME nuts 10TPI.

Z - The Z Axis is a Thompson 5TPI Ball Nut Drive

Motors - http://www.kelinginc.net/KL23H276-30-8A.pdf

Driver - 3 axis Stepper motor Driver TB6560 (ebay - $63.99)

Power supply - 6.5A 24V

Right now the rapids on X are 70 ipm, Y 33, and Z 30 - plenty fast imho.

So - thoughts on how to get the Y axis to perform more accurately? Basically, what I think I'm seeing is it looses steps only when pushing the axis (and maybe losing only 1 step) but it does it EVERY pass. For example, I cut the pocket .1 DOC per pass, and there are 10 little lips on the Back of the Y axis (column side). Each lip is consistent with the previous lip (so, if they're 5 thou they are all 5 thou - didn't measure them though).

Thanks.

WW