Grizzly G0602 10" x 22" Lathe Conversion

[derekbackus]

Hi all.

I've been reading these forums for a long time now and have gained a lot of knowledge and thought it might be time I post something...

You can check out some of the things my company does at http://www.ammodel.com.

Anyway, I've completed my first project...

1) Remove 2/3 of the parts on a Grizzly G0602 lathe and throw them in a bin.
2) Throw on a couple steppers and it cut parts.

Okay, there was a lot more to it, but it amuses me how much of the original lathe goes away.

Attached are some screenshots of the design. There are couple things missing in the screen-shots as I need to update the CAD geometry with the parts I made. Hopefully, I can get some pictures taken and put online tomorrow.

I made no modifications to the lathe casting or cross-slide (no new holes, etc.) for the Z axis.

The X axis needed two holes drilled and tapped for a plate that holds the ball nut (on the cross-slide). I chose to put the nut under the slide, so I had to mill a pocket in the cross-slide so the nut would fit. That is the total modifications to the original lathe -- two tapped holes and a pocket.

I modified the lathe electronics quite a bit. The E-Stop now connects to a CNC4PC C11 board to shutdown the spindle, steppers, etc. The fwd/rev switch still switches direction, but the C11 is in charge of the spindle on/off. The enable button is just there to look pretty now.

I get 65"/min rapid -- I could probably get more if I tweaked it, but that is PLENTY fast for me.

Parts:

- Grizzly G0602 Lathe
- 5/8" 3' Ball Screw (Z axis)
- 5/8" 1' Ball Screw (X axis)
- Ball Nuts
- CNC4PC C11 Multifunction Break-Out-Board
- CNC4PC C21 Voltage Regulation Unit (supplies power to the C11 board)
- Xylotex 3 Axis Bipolar Stepper Motor Driver "Kit" With Power Supply, 269oz/in Steppers.
- Various bits of Aluminum.
- Lots of #10 Screws.
- 2.4ghz Used Computer from the Store Down the Street.
- 15" Dell Touchscreen Monitor (very important!!)
- 4 Angular Contact Bearings
- 2 Hi-Misalignment Spiders (0 backlash)
- 15/16-16 Tap for Nut Holders

I'm sure I missed something...

I can post pictures, etc. if anyone is interested.

[Crevice Reamer]

Yes! Pics please!

CR.

[derekbackus]

I was going to send a video (.mov) but it was too large.

Everything I did was as easy as I could make it... Everything (except the Y nut) mounts to existing holes in the lathe.

[GaryCorlew]

Very nice!! I would cover the limit switch with something to keep the chips away from it, I would also move the pc, They also contain the magic smoke!

[derekbackus]

Originally Posted by GaryCorlew I would cover the limit switch with something to keep the chips away from it

The limit switch is not hooked up yet. Still have some final things to do (limit switches, flexible tubing for the wires, wipers for the screws) but it is working well.

Originally Posted by GaryCorlew I would also move the pc, They also contain the magic smoke!

The CPU is actually under the bench. All the electronics for the steppers, break out board, power supplies, etc. are in the PC box with an extra fan to keep everything cool. What I really need is a membrane keyboard.

[acondit]

Originally Posted by derekbackus I was going to send a video (.mov) but it was too large. Everything I did was as easy as I could make it... Everything (except the Y nut) mounts to existing holes in the lathe.

Derek,

It looks nice. Are you going to protect the X axis screw from chips somehow?

What is the Y nut?

Alan

[cnczoner]

Derek, I am interested in CNCing one of these lathes, but my stumbling block will be figuring out the dimensions of the brackets for the motors and ballscrews. Would you be willing to share/sell the plans? Or sell me a set of the brackets?
Thanks,
-Neil.

[chich2]

Nice Conversion!!!! Keep up the Pictures,

Chich

[derekbackus]

Originally Posted by cnczoner Derek, I am interested in CNCing one of these lathes, but my stumbling block will be figuring out the dimensions of the brackets for the motors and ballscrews. Would you be willing to share/sell the plans? Or sell me a set of the brackets? Thanks, -Neil.

I'd be happy to share the drawings -- I just have to make them!

I'll see if I can get these posted today. I also need to get a list of materials, etc. used to make this -- as the brackets are designed for the bearings I used.

I don't think I'm interested in making brackets to sell, but if you are interested, I could ask the machine shop next door how much they'd charge to make them -- though, this could be expensive!

[derekbackus]

Originally Posted by acondit It looks nice. Are you going to protect the X axis screw from chips somehow?

Yes, but haven't figured that out yet. I cut mostly ABS so haven't been too worried about hurting the screw or nuts -- but this is something I have to do.

Originally Posted by acondit What is the Y nut?

That'd be the Z nut. This is my first time using/making a CNC lathe and my brain still hasn't wrapped itself around the idea that the right/left movement is Z and not X.

[acondit]

Someone once explained to me that the axis running parallel to the main spindle is always Z, I don't even know if that explanation always holds true.

Alan

[cnczoner]

Having drawings, sketches or measurements would be 80% of the battle for me, as I could make the parts on my CNC mill. But I'd definitely pay a fair price to have a shop make the parts.

Thanks!
-Neil.

Originally Posted by derekbackus I'd be happy to share the drawings -- I just have to make them! I'll see if I can get these posted today. I also need to get a list of materials, etc. used to make this -- as the brackets are designed for the bearings I used. I don't think I'm interested in making brackets to sell, but if you are interested, I could ask the machine shop next door how much they'd charge to make them -- though, this could be expensive!