Newbie- CNC retrofit, coupling motors

[stickben]

Hello,
Just wondering, I want to fit my mill with steppers and a control box to create a CNC machine. What is the best way to couple the shaft of the motor to the lead screw? Most of the couplers I have seen usually have the same input and output shaft diameter. The mill has a 17mm shaft, do NEMA23 motors have a standard shaft size? I was thinking about getting the 305oz kit from hobbycnc. Do you think the 305oz motors are strong enough for a medium sized table top mill? The mill has removable hand wheels that have some sort 3 prong interlocking teeth that mesh together in order to turn the screws. Does this sort of interlock have a name? I was thinking that I might be able to make somthing to go on the end of the motors that meshes with what is already on the lead screws.

Any Ideas?

Thanks!
Ben

[mackeym]

305 oz-in is adequate. You could turn the ID on one end of the coupler to a different diameter as long as it's not big diameter change. Could you order a few of the hand wheels, and take the 3 prong interlocking teeth off the hand wheel and put it on your motor?