Need Help!- converting mill to CNC with ATC

[bramvh]

Hi all,

This is my first post here, thought it was time to share my project with you and maybe get some help.

about 2 years ago I bought a new conventional mill, soon after that I decided to convert it to CNC using servos and gecko drives controlled by a pc and mach III.

Picture below is the one I got


Changed all the screws to ballscrews and attached servos to it, works great. rapids on x and y are 4 meter/minute and on z 2 meter/minute


Now the reason why a post this, is because I plan on building a power drawbar and ATC for this machine.

Before i can even think of designing the ATC I need a drawbar, I saw the thread of H.O. and his BT30 spndle: http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41200 , I was thinking of doing something similar. has anyone done this for this type of mill? I currently have ISO30 tools and spindle with a screw for the drawbar.
And if I decided to make a new spindle like the one HO built, does it have to be hardend, or could I just use normal steel and leave it at that?

kind regards
Bram

[pete from TN]

DO you think you could post some pictures of your cnc conversion on this mill. I t is basically the same machine as my Lathemaster and I am curious as to how you did yours. ALso if you could post some video of it running that would really be cool. I have similar ideas about an ATC but I am still converting my machine. Thanks and peace...