HF 9 x 20 lathe converted to CNC....

[Chris D]

Hi guys,

This is the latest machine for me - a melding together of 2 machines and some electronics to make a CNC 9 x 20 lathe. As some of you know, the 9 x 20 lathes are okay as a cheap metalworking lathe. I wanted more out of the machine so I decided to covert it to CNC. I also had a Delta woodworking lathe at my disposal, so I salvaged what I could off of that (stand, spindle motor, & motor drive). With the MACH software not only being a good choice, it is really about the only choice I see for the control software.

Basic features of this machine are...

2 HP spindle - VFD inverter drive, full variable speed with Fwd/Rev
Central lube system - DIY
Coolant system - DIY
Touch screen monitor - Ebay
Mach turn - control software
Dual MPGs for tool room / manual use of the lathe
Fully enclosed work enviroment
Gecko stepper drives - the vampire model
200 oz/in stepper on X
.2 pitch, ground ball screw - X axis
400 oz/in stepper on Z
.2 pitch, ground ball screw - Z axis


Thanks for looking.

Chris

[bones]

Hi Chris,
Nice job on the machine and enclosure.
You have given me some idea's for my enclosure.
I cnced an Hafco AL-50G which is pretty much the Australian version of yours.
I would be interested to see how you did your ballscrew on your cross slide.
And your Z-axis nut connection etc.
Do you have any more pics?

Cheers
Rodney

[ZipSnipe]

Dude !!! That is frickin awesome! Absolutely the best cnc lathe build I,ve seen!!
Have you done any milling machines?

[mxtras]

Very, very nice work!

Scott

[drwc]

Truly impressive, a complete full featured conversion!

Video of operation would be in high demand, hint,hint.

Wayne

[Chris D]

Thanks Rodney,

The ball screw for X axis was "shoe horned" into the saddle. I added small linear bearing ways to replace the dovetail ways, then used a solid steel plate for the cross slide.

For the Z axis, I machined two mounting surfaces to hold the bearing blocks at each end of the screw. The machined surfaces are on the front face of the bed of the machine. The nut is attached to the Z axis saddle using a sort of "w" bracket so that I could put a cover over the screw.

Sorry, I don't think I have any construction detail pictures. This machine was built pretty quickly in the free time I had here and there.

Chris

Originally Posted by bones Hi Chris, Nice job on the machine and enclosure. You have given me some idea's for my enclosure. I cnced an Hafco AL-50G which is pretty much the Australian version of yours. I would be interested to see how you did your ballscrew on your cross slide. And your Z-axis nut connection etc. Do you have any more pics? Cheers Rodney

[Chris D]

Thanks ZipSnipe,

I have one woodworking router I did a couple years ago and more recently a very small table top machine for drilling PCBs. I believe I posted some pictures of it here on CNC Zone somewhere - don't recall where though, sorry.

I am designing another PCB drill sized machine right now. I will probably start building that in about a month or two depending on how much traveling I have to do for work :-(

Chris

Originally Posted by ZipSnipe Dude !!! That is frickin awesome! Absolutely the best cnc lathe build I,ve seen!! Have you done any milling machines?

[Chris D]

Thanks Scott, much appreciated

Chris

Originally Posted by mxtras Very, very nice work! Scott

[Chris D]

Thanks much Wayne

Well, it's not as full featured as I would like. I would like to add a turret to the machine, but fitting one in there is proving to be a pain. I might take another stab at that next winter.

I will try to shoot some videos of the machine in operation in a few weeks, right now my schedule is a bit tight :-(

Chris

Originally Posted by drwc Truly impressive, a complete full featured conversion! Video of operation would be in high demand, hint,hint. Wayne

[acondit]

Originally Posted by Chris D Hi guys, This is the latest machine for me - a melding together of 2 machines and some electronics to make a CNC 9 x 20 lathe. As some of you know, the 9 x 20 lathes are okay as a cheap metalworking lathe. I wanted more out of the machine so I decided to covert it to CNC. I also had a Delta woodworking lathe at my disposal, so I salvaged what I could off of that (stand, spindle motor, & motor drive). With the MACH software not only being a good choice, it is really about the only choice I see for the control software. Basic features of this machine are... 2 HP spindle - VFD inverter drive, full variable speed with Fwd/Rev Central lube system - DIY Coolant system - DIY Touch screen monitor - Ebay Mach turn - control software Dual MPGs for tool room / manual use of the lathe Fully enclosed work enviroment Gecko stepper drives - the vampire model 200 oz/in stepper on X .2 pitch, ground ball screw - X axis 400 oz/in stepper on Z .2 pitch, ground ball screw - Z axis Thanks for looking. Chris

Chris,

I am in agreement with all of the other comments, you have set an awesome standard to compare our conversions against.

Alan

[Chris D]

Thanks Alan!

Originally Posted by acondit Chris, I am in agreement with all of the other comments, you have set an awesome standard to compare our conversions against. Alan

[twocik]

Sorry to wake the dead, but this is awesome looking. Any chance you can provide a few links to where the ball screws, 2 HP motor, etc.. were bought ?

I have been looking at this kit for my 9x20 HF lathe. Motor mounts and everything else I plan to make.


Xylotex 3 Axis Drive Box


Proximity sensor ?


.