CAD CAM EDM DRO - Yahoo Group Archive

Need Help with CNC Mill Conversion

Posted by Dan Statman
on 2001-09-12 20:53:18 UTC
I have been looking through the list archives, but I can't seem to find a
direct answer, and there may not be a direct answer. I hope that if I am
rehashing the same old subject that somebody will please help me off-list.

I have a basic Sherline mill with the stepper motor mounts installed from
the factory. I have been using the mill as a manual mill only, and I would
like to convert it to CNC. I really only need 2 stepper motors, one for
control of the x-axis and one for control of a rotary table. All of my
current projects use the same depth of cut, so the z-axis can be set
manually (but I may want to go ahead and do the z-axis now).

I have never used a CNC, or ever considered building one. I am not really
interested in making the conversion of the CNC a real project, I would
rather have something up and running quickly and the project would then be
the creation of new pieces. Besides, I am not very electronically inclined.

What I would like from the people on this list is a detailed explanation of
all of the components that I would require for this conversion. Here is
what I am currently looking at:

2 or 3 stepper motors: considering the 2A step-syn h-series bipolar motors
with 180 oz-in holding torque, $102 ea.

Driver for each motor: Gecko 201A at $139 ea, or the 5A Bipolar Chopper
stepper motor translator driver kits from Camtronics, $75 ea.

Where do I get a power supply, any recommendations? I prefer not to build,
but to purchase already made units. Do I need a second 5V DC supply?

After I get the motors and the drivers and the power supply, do I need
anything (some sort of controller) to interface the computer output to the
drivers?

Does anybody sell a decent package with all components already assembled and
ready to plug in that would give me the same performance at a reasonable
cost?

What are some suggestions?

Thanks for any and all input.

Daniel J. Statman, Statman Designs
http://members.rennlist.com/statmandesigns

Discussion Thread

Dan Statman 2001-09-12 20:53:18 UTC Need Help with CNC Mill Conversion Tim Goldstein 2001-09-12 21:22:07 UTC RE: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Need Help with CNC Mill Conversion Carol & Jerry Jankura 2001-09-13 06:39:59 UTC RE: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Need Help with CNC Mill Conversion