I went back to work tonight; and finally got to make the X axis parts; a few nights drill and tapping plus a few small details and it will be complete for manual work; I'll post a pic once its assembled
Next will be the CNC re-fit for the cross slide; the X is already done and the belt/pulleys are coming
As promised; the drive for the X axis; the bronze spacer is a dumby just till the timing belt pulley arrives
The overall shot of the lathe; I'll engine turn finish the whole thing once I'm happy with the workings
Next will be adding steppers; the alum support for the X axis stepper is long untill I establish the right belt length; I've ordered a 6.5" center to center with the 15 tooth pulleys for now
It's amazing to see what a skilled person can do with a few pieces of metal. I'm trying to scoop everything up and learn as much as I can . Really cool, thanks for sharing it with us, Stevie!
I'm thinking the compound can be removed for the CNC use; I can always replace it for manual work
I'll increase the cross slide capacity that way too; I feel 5/8" max turnable dia is a bit limiting so the prospect of mounting a 4 or 3 jaw is always within the range of possiblities
Here is the X drive with the handwheel support off; inside you can see the 2 small ball brgs that support the leadscrew; there are 2 more just behind the timing pulley
I decided since the lathe will now be CNC controled I'd need it to be as free as possible; hence the next 3 pics; the first is the handwheel support for the cross slide; here I have machined the big dia to take a ball brg; the support holding screws had to be re-drilled deeper to make room
Here is the back of the hand wheel; I machined just a few thou off to make the brg fit (I got lucky on this one)
And now the oppisite end of the cross slide lead screw; I machined the brg dia into the cross slide block and re-machined the leadscrew down to suit; just behind the brg is a wave washer to keep tension on the set-up (got it from a 17 sized stepper)
I still have to make the drive coupling that will take the place of the small lock coller
I got home and found the first of the Compumotor microstep drivers/motor combo
I used the self test to run the motor at 1-r/p/sec; just to test the drive/motor and to see how the motor which is nema 23 sized would perform; it ran the saddle up and down the bed with no problems; I even asked my little girl to try to stop the saddle; she could not and other than the motor humming a bit; she had no effect at all.
The drive is a Zeta4 with the matching motor I think it's about 65oz/in holding; bigger motors can be used with this drive all the way up to a 400oz/in monster; I have the Japan servo 310oz/in but these are for my mill project
I've never felt the power of a stepper before; and although I did manage to make it skip steps under the self test function; I'm impressed; for a small one; it's got some push
So with the other drive and motor arriving tomorrow; next will be the mountings for the steppers (and one coupling) I'm hoping to be moving it with computer control soon
I'm hoping to be moving it with computer control soon
We are anxious for you as well Stevie.
I have a Haas CNC mill here at the shop but all the fun you guys are having is making me want to get something CNC going on at home. I have been over the months putting together some parts, and I think a router/mill may just be the ticket.
EDIT:
It has to be something that is noisy enough to make my wife mad
Great news on the Mill front; I just won 2 35mm THK slides 1 meter long with 4 trucks on eBay; I got the last bid with 2 seconds left; $202.50; I'm pleased; my wifes pi**ed; so I guess it was a good night all round
Great Stevie,
Really good price, I got a set of HSR25 by 32" with 4 blocks and paid 252.00 and thought that was a good buy, but not as good as you got. And you got the added bonus of getting your wife P***ed Man some people get all the breaks, mine just looked at me like I was crazy. I am not Crazy, I don't care what everyone else says, I am not crazy, I am much better since I had my treatment
Yeah, I admit it, I have been putting together over some months items to build a CNC router/mill to play around with at home. Not really all that set as to size but not too large maybe a cutting area of 36" x 30" x 6" . You can't be a CNC fan and not want to build something can you?
I have a very powerful 3hp x 10,000 rpm motor I would like to drive it remotely with but have not really spent a lot of time figuring how or where to place it, it is bigger then a router, may just go with a router to simplify things.
May start on the plans soon and begin building it come fall when business slows down.
Yes I know the z axis is just cobbled together (motor mount) but the mill at work is tied up this weekend; it will be similar to the X axis motor mount
It will now move under turbocnc control; I am 1 happy camper
Got the cross-slide stepper mount made today on my lunch time; it's a 2 piece mount with a base and the outer plate for the motor; it's screwed to the inner piece with 4-40 countersunk screws; then the inner is screwed to the saddle with 6-32 in counterbored holes