RE: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: yet another newbie question :)

Hi, Matt:

My answers to your questions would be:

1. CNC is something that anyone intelligent enough to post messages on this
mailing list should be able to handle.

2. Would you be willing to consider "rolling your own" instead of buying a
retro kit? If so, consider the following system:

A. Sherline CNC mounting kit for the motors. A tad pricey but really the
best on the market if you own a Sherline product.
B. Either Sherline's stepper motors (if you want double ended motors to
use the handwheels with) or some surplus bipolar #23 size stepper motors.
C. Camtronics' 2 or 5 amp stepper motor kits
D. TurboCNC G-Code interpreter to drive the system www.dakeng.com
E. Yeager Automation ACE Converter to convert CAD "DXF" files into
G-Codes
F. VectorCAD "special" version offered to list members by Fred Smith
(Look at back messages from either Fred or IMService to find web site for
ordering) or IntelliCAD 2001 from either CMS or Atlas for drawing. Of the
two, I went with the VectorCAD
G. "Old" Pentium computer with MS-DOS & Windows 95/98

You'll spend about $200 for the mounting kit, $150 for three motors, $160
for the 2 amp driver kit, $10 for the TurboCNC, Free for the ACE Converter,
and about $30 for VectorCAD or Free for Intellicad. Hopefully, you already
have a computer. If not, MicroCenter in the Columbus Area offers suitable
used machines for about $150 + monitor. To this, you'll add about $150 for
power supply components, cabinets, etc. which is quite a bit less than any
of the retro kits cost. Of course, you'll have the pleasure of debugging the
system. But, that's not too difficult. I think that you'd find that many
folks on this list have followed a similar path to building their CNC
machines.

I build the system described above for a Sherline 2000 mill. I found that
Dan Mauch, Dave Kowalczyk, and Fred Smith provided excellent support for
their products. Assembly was not difficult. You can generally find better
prices on the Sherline components if you buy from one of their dealers than
directly from them. As most dealers don't stock Sherline but have the
factory ship directly to you, you'll be getting "fresh" parts and I've found
the factory support to be excellent.

-- Jerry Jankura
Strongsville, Ohio
So many toys, so little time....

| -----Original Message-----
| From: pkranger63@... [mailto:pkranger63@...]
| Sent: Sunday, October 28, 2001 12:46 PM
| To: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com
| Subject: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: yet another newbie question :)
|
|
| Thanks for all the replys guys. This does sound like what I am
| looking for. I looked at the Sherline Linear controller as a
| possible answer but the fact that I need one for each axis seems to
| make the price a little steep. I have been looking at retro-kits
| from maxnc, which from what I have read I may need to upgrade the
| stepper motors, and kits from MicroKinetics. The maxnc seems
| reasonable, almost too reasonable while the MicroKinetics looks to be
| a little more complete. Mind you my intentions with all this are
| more or less simple parts and to possible aid in my new found
| addiction to steam engines. BTW is CNC somthing that a guy of
| average brain power able to teach himself? :)
|
| Thanks again folks
| matt
|
| --- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@y..., Alan Marconett KM6VV <KM6VV@a...> wrote:
| > Hi Matt,
| >
| > What you may be looking for is the MDI (manual data input)
| function.
| > Without even writing a Gcode (CNC) part file, you can give the mill
| > "commands"; G01 X1.00 moves the X axis from it's current position,
| to X
| > = 1.00. So, if you want, instead of just "cranking the wheels"
| over to
| > 1.00" on the X axis, just give it a command. I watched my oldest
| son
| > (then in his senior year of college) quickly get the hang of
| > "commanding" MaxNC this way to take the cuts he wanted on some
| simple
| > brass parts. After a few cuts were finished, he asked "Can't I just
| > type these commands into a file and run them?". And so he did!
| >
| > Could this be what you're looking for? If so, I think you've come
| to
| > the right list!
| >
| > HTH
| >
| > Alan KM6VV
| >
| >
| > pkranger63@y... wrote:
| > >
| > > I have just recently gotten started in machining. I am using
| > > sherline equipment and have just about finished my first project,
| a
| > > steam engine from the Rudy Kouhoupt video and plans. I am very
| > > pleased with what I have been able to accomplish thus far. My
| > > question is concerning CNC. I am having a heck of a time finding
| > > resources to explain the very basics. Basically what I am looking
| > > for is a way to "automate" milling of simple shaped items but and
| not
| > > deal with the tedium of cranking and cranking where a fair amount
| of
| > > material must be removed. Am I way off base here? Should I just
| > > stick with what I have?
| > >
| > > thanks for your time
| > > matt
|
|
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