Best Ball Screw supplier for Tri-power?

[bherr]

Well, I guess I'm going to bite the bullet and purchase ball screws for my tri-power. Because I'm new to machining, can anyone out there in CNC land tell me the best place to purchase these for all the axis? Shopmaster wants $799 for all three and C&G research which states zero backlash wants over $1200 for all three axis. I want to eliminate backlash as much as possible.

Ben

[borrisl]

I like Chuck with C&G research for the ball screws. Double nut. Nuff said. VERY tight tolerances. Both my machines have his conversion and no backlash!

[PoppaBear10]

Yea,

Chuck is the man!! (little side note he is the one who makes the screws for John).

He uses "Nook industries", rolled screws (last I time I got mine about 4 years ago now, he may have changed since then).

[borrisl]

Chuck doesn't make them for John at Shoptask anymore. John's are welded on. Single ball nut. Nook Industries. Chucks are completely new assemblies. Double nut, with bearing blocks on both ends.

[PoppaBear10]

Borris,

Really? then I stand corrected, and sounds like I need to get some of his new stuff, since mine are the welded on versions........

[Ron111]

Ben,

I also have a shopmaster and have the cnc setup straight for shop master and I have been able to make about anything that I have needed and I don't intend to cut down the machine, for what it is intended, it does well. BUT I would recomment spending the extra $400 and getting the zero backlash setup. I heard through maybe Dan M. at Camtronics that someone has a ShopMaster and has increased the table length. If a little more Y axis is appealing, you may want to find out about this before you proceed. But go ahead and get the most percission that you can.

Ron

[borrisl]

I've got 8" extensions on my Y axis. With total travel of 18"

The Shoptask does do what it is intended for. In my opinion, if I knew what I know now, I'd go a differant route.

Ballscrews are wonderful though.

[Ron111]

borrisl,
How did you do your extentions? Is this already in a thread from days gone by. I would be interested is having 8 extra inches of travel my self. If it is possible , I love to se a couple of pic's.

Thanks

Ron

[borrisl]

Here are a few pictures of my two Shoptasks undergoing modification. Y axis extensions, completely differant Z axis, VFD motors, etc...

[Ron111]

Borris,
Looking at the first picture, it reminds me of a scene from a movie "BladeRunner" where a lasor went wild during a high tech surgery. What exactly is going on in the first pic? With the VDF, it sure cleans out the cabinet. I like the extentions on the table, I would have trouble aligning the new section of dove tail with the existing dovetail on the table. But do the new sections of dovetail actually reach the gib ?

Let me ask a rookie question, What can you do with a power tailstock? Looks like you have added extra bracing to it also.

I am impressed!! Thanks for the pic's.

Ron

[borrisl]

The first picture is an articulating 4th and 5th axis head. It rotates about the B and C axis. This unit was used when I got it, but have seen turbine blades that it produced.

Dovetail lines up perfectly. Once they are aligned it stays that way. And, yes, they do reach the gibbs.

With a CNC tailstock it makes it really easy for boring and internal threading. Mainly used with a drill bit. It can deep bore while you are doing something else. Feed rate is about 1 ipm with a tailstock and deep boring. You can also set up a peck cycle for it.

[PoppaBear10]

Ok Borris here is what I need from you....hehhee

CAD drawings on those extensions, who did and where did you get the Y axis ball screw?

Where did you get your lathe moter pully, and what size belt is that, I love the way you cleaned out all those noisy gears/chains.

What CAM do you use to run the 4/5th axis head?
On the lathe, what CAM do you use on the X, Z (and Z'? tailstock?).

How did you mount the 4/5th to the spindle? Can you get some close ups, I see you removed the spindle Arm, what do you use to push/pull your Z axis up and down?

I see that the 4/5th hangs down alot, how small is the Z part of your milling envelope, (not including the tool).

Scott, BTW nice work on the extensions, I really hate the 10" that I currenlty have.