SMW Shop / My NEW Hobby
 

So a few years ago I sold off most all of my RC stuff to fund a CNC Mill build. Plan was to get it up and running then start RC'ing again but only with cooler toys. Turns out the whole DIY CNC, and machining in general, is way too much fun not to be my #1 hobby now.:ror: Anyways, I thought some of you might be interested in seeing the process of taking a manual machine and converting it to CNC with "hobby" grade, somewhat off the shelf, components. Other than that I'll probably use this thread to update my goings on once everything is rolling again...

A little over a month ago we moved into a new house. Between the endless honey-do lists I have managed to get some work accomplished with setting up my new workshop. Still a shit ton to do but the weekends are only so long:cry:

One of the selling points of the new place, two garages, even if I only got the little one."thumbsup"

http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps497718f9.jpg


Picked up a mill from Grizzly, G0704, here in stock form (April '12). I'll update the mills current condition later...

http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/t...2-59_678-1.jpg


Now that I have more room I picked up a new lathe from Grizzly too, G0602, CNC conversion is in its near future.

http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/t...psbe4d0e49.jpg


Lathe tooling from Shars to get me started,...

http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps5e53fd26.jpg


Built the mill a new stand and enclosure. Still need to seal the inside of the chip pan and give the rest a paint job. I really don't care much for wood working.

http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/t...psade5da0f.jpg


New generic lathe bench until I have some sort of direction in mind.

http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps4be21df3.jpg


Turns out .040" press on a 4x4 though particle board is a little too tight...

http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps8bc97f1a.jpg

Lots more to come, just wanted to start documenting some progress."thumbsup"

Re: SMW Shop / My NEW Hobby
 

Cool! Bigger toys! Where at in QC you at? I live on Guadalupe & 202 now.

Power and Germann

Re: SMW Shop / My NEW Hobby
 

"thumbsup""thumbsup" for having a nice to place to call home and having your own private space for your shop! 2 things on my short list of things to achieve very soon.

I'm really interested in any feedback you have on the mill. I've been eyeing the same one. I've been down the Micro Mark machine path and I wouldn't do it again. I need machines with enough beef in them to comfortably work steel.

Thanks. Its been many years in the making, lots of hard work and a bit of good fortune.

In stock form these machines are basically assembled kits. It's advisable to do a complete teardown and rebuild before you do anything else. You will be amazed at what some guy thought was acceptable work. It also helps you learn the machine. I never ran the machine in stock form and my current spindle motor and drive setup leans toward plastic and aluminum rpms. The only steel I've done on it was engraving some A36 with a 1/4" carbide ball mill which was no problem. The G0704 is one of the lighter mills in its class but I feel that it has the best design.

Re: SMW Shop / My NEW Hobby
 

So like I said these are in need of a complete rebuild. But I had other plans and very little was kept from the stock mill. Basically all the castings and the spindle. Everything else was made/bought new.

http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/t...-18-36_957.jpg


Some Y-Axis CAD design work. Had to drill a big freaking hole though the castings on the Bridgeport at work to package it all the way I wanted.

http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/t...704/G0704c.jpg

http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/t...04/G0704f2.jpg

http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/t...04/G0704h2.jpg


I'll have to take some CAD screen shots to show more...

Re: SMW Shop / My NEW Hobby
 

Looking nice, its nice having your own machines and the ability to build or upgrade your own is even better.

--Dan

Re: SMW Shop / My NEW Hobby
 

Wonderful news, congrats on getting the move done"thumbsup"
Later,
Farmer

Re: SMW Shop / My NEW Hobby
 

Thanks for sharing the information...I'm looking to pick up some smaller hobby grade units to see what I can get myself into "thumbsup"

Re: SMW Shop / My NEW Hobby
 

nice toys and VERY nice HOUSE

Re: SMW Shop / My NEW Hobby
 

Thanks guys!

Some X-Axis shots while I'm on break...

Under side. Did a direct, zero backlash, coupling for the X ball screw. Bearings are angular contact with the far side bearing fit being sliding to allow for thermal growth. Actually the Y is the same way.

http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/t...psce32e21f.jpg

http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps5ee67559.jpg

Re: SMW Shop / My NEW Hobby
 

Very cool!

I just bought the same mill and lathe a few weeks ago with full CNC conversions for both. Not as talented as you to make the stuff myself, so I had to buy premade mounts for the cnc stuff. All my parts finally came, so I am starting on the conversion next weekend.

Are you doing the motor upgrade on the lathe? From all my research its a big improvement and fairly cheap to do.

Later EddieO

Re: SMW Shop / My NEW Hobby
 

C'mon Eddie...build an axle buster for it :twisted:

Re: SMW Shop / My NEW Hobby
 

For the lathe I was thinking this VFD

http://www.automationdirect.com/imag...2xsmdrives.jpg


and this motor

http://www.automationdirect.com/imag...tr0023bd18.jpg

Once you hook an encoder to the spindle you will be able to do threading and constant surface speed turning. Seem like some fun features to incorporate. "thumbsup"

Re: SMW Shop / My NEW Hobby
 

This is cool!!! I've thought about DRO on my Smithy but never considered CNC...until now. Keep it coming.

J

Re: SMW Shop / My NEW Hobby
 

Z-Axis, more of the same but bigger components. 3/4"-.200 ball screw and a 906oz stepper motor. Also, the bottom side floats as it has gravity working in its favor. (the X-Y are 5/8"-.200 and have 570oz motors) I did the end machining on the ball screws from blanks purchased though Roton. They had a very hard candy shell!

http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps3cf5b0ed.jpg

Re: SMW Shop / My NEW Hobby
 

Nice, nice, nice "thumbsup", will be watching this conversion. I've only put DRO on my machine in the X & Y axis, still us a caliper and quill stop for my Z for now.
Nice new pad too by the way rob, that lil personal shop is sweet.

Re: SMW Shop / My NEW Hobby
 

Thanks! Some more mechanical.
Ditched the stock DC motor and made a mount and various pulley setups for a new DC treadmill motor.
8000RPM @ 130V although the 2.9HP is complete BS.
Shown is the last pulleys I made for running a 1" ball mill through UHMW.
Also shown are some plates I made to up the bling level a bit.

http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/t...psaed3be8a.jpg


The mill is currently broken down to move/upgrade it some.
Current WIP pictures...
The two sizes of bolts are killing me. It must be fixed.
Material is .060" 304 SS #4 Finish cut on the waterjet at work.

http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps86644252.jpg

http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps34180e02.jpg

Re: SMW Shop / My NEW Hobby
 

There is a guide out there to do the motor conversion that simply bolts in.... My entire motor conversion was about $450 with the rpm readout.....

Later EddieO

For the mill or the lathe?