Re: I need some help with a shopping list. . .

I just bought a HF Mini Mill and have it torn down and am converting
it to CNC (guess I should have turned it on to see it run first).
About 7 years ago I bought 2 large surplus stepper motors 400+ozin
for 9.99 each. I am currently seeking a mate (for the motors). I
build my own stepper drivers (simple step and direction). I have run
them with a pulse generator but not on a machine yet. The real issue
is that third stepper. I am finding that once you get to 500-
600+ozin the price is around 200.00 per motor. The other issue is
software not to drive the mill but to design with. I recently came
across Rhino 3D and love it. I can model in Rhino export dfx or stl
to Deskproto 3.0 to create gcode. I then run it through FilterMAX to
optimize the gcode (Oh I forgot to mention I have a MaxNC10). I am
replacing the Max with the HF and Max will go bye bye (I will keep
the 4th axis through). Anyway if you are technically inclined, I
find it more fun to engineer the project if not buy a kit.

OK I am done rambling....
What's the budget????
Do you want closed loop or open?
Stepper or servo?
Direct or timing belt driven?


3 Stepper or servo motors (I like the big ones, expect to pay)
3 axis controller (home brew for stepper?) (Servo buy gecko)
Power supply (home brew?)
Software (free linuxCNC thing, cheap Master 5, $$ EasyCam Pro,
$$$$$Edge Cam and many others)
Motor mounts (that's what the mill is for)

You will spend alot of time just finding the parts and piecing them
together but that's the fun part (again if not buy a kit).

With a kit you will be paying for someone else's pain and suffering
(that's why they cost so much).

By the way I am not professing to be an expert just some guy with
some toyz.