Knee Mill Z axis question

[Deano7/11]

i know what you mean. i want a cnc mill and my knee mill would be perfect (same as yours pretty much) but i guess i just need to take the plunge. for me the biggest thing that don't want to do is rely on mach3. i guess it is more fear of the unknown. i am a newbie at machining and now sfa about cnc other than watching vids and reading up on it. hands on experience would be the best way to pick it up i guess. just as long as my mistakes dont consist of a cutter through the table.

would be great to hear what you think once done.

[chrisken]

I know stuff all about cnc but Mach3 is very easy to set up once you decide to go for it . The setup tutorials and manual are downloadable and you do not have to buy the program until you are happy its what you want. It restricts the number of lines of code until licensed . If you set up your limit switches on each axis you should not drive a cutter through the table. Biggest pain was machining ball screw ends . I found after reading many posts here the easiest way to do that (after I had been through six tips on first two) was to just turn them between my fingers with a well dressed wheel on the bench grinder until almost down to base of thread so you were through about 90% of the hardened surface.

[Deano7/11]

for me the mach3 thing is more the fact that i seem to read about alot of bugs etc with the program. the more i read the more it turns me off in a way.

learing a new process doesn't scare me but relying on a program that i am not convinced is that great does concern me. i have downloaded the program and had a play but i struggle with it. if / when i take the plunge i will be forced to understand it more and my perception of it will most likely change. i would be wanting the utilise the importing of g code from solidcam or similiar more 80% of the work i would want to do, but then again as i get more familiar with the program i may not need to do this.

how did you go adjusting the ball screws to zero backlash. how did you sort out the ball screw mounts under the table?

[chrisken]

The x axis on the mill when it was cast has a split mount for the circular acme nut much like putting piston rod on crank shaft . The acme nut was 30mm diam and ballnut was 28 mm so just sleeved it with a 2mm Delrin sleeve and used same mount. Y axis acme nut had enough meat to just set up in 4 jaw and machine out to 28mm . Z Axis you can see in photos . Go to 5 Bear's website and have a look at his bearing housings for ballscrew's I did the same design and machined out original acme rod housings to fit them. Chuck up a couple of pic's of your mill ,mabee give you some ideas

[chrisken]

Just ran the the circle wizard in Mach3 to test the machine PVC then bit of scrap ali

[lukewarm]

for me the mach3 thing is more the fact that i seem to read about alot of bugs etc with the program. the more i read the more it turns me off in a way.

learing a new process doesn't scare me but relying on a program that i am not convinced is that great does concern me. i have downloaded the program and had a play but i struggle with it. if / when i take the plunge i will be forced to understand it more and my perception of it will most likely change. i would be wanting the utilise the importing of g code from solidcam or similiar more 80% of the work i would want to do, but then again as i get more familiar with the program i may not need to do this.

how did you go adjusting the ball screws to zero backlash. how did you sort out the ball screw mounts under the table?

EMC is great

[Deano7/11]

The x axis on the mill when it was cast has a split mount for the circular acme nut much like putting piston rod on crank shaft . The acme nut was 30mm diam and ballnut was 28 mm so just sleeved it with a 2mm Delrin sleeve and used same mount. Y axis acme nut had enough meat to just set up in 4 jaw and machine out to 28mm . Z Axis you can see in photos . Go to 5 Bear's website and have a look at his bearing housings for ballscrew's I did the same design and machined out original acme rod housings to fit them. Chuck up a couple of pic's of your mill ,mabee give you some ideas

this is mine. it is a rebadged kingrich going by the kr-v2000 model number on the id plate.