Re: Total Novice - Not a Clue

Jerry,

Good evening! I'm kind of an electronics guy so my answers will be
skewed that way. You will need:

1) 3 Motors. I suggest steppers because they are far easier to ease
into than servos and frankly do a very good job. If you buy new,
figure on $250 per axis. If you buy used, figure 10% to 30% of that.
Pick nothing smaller than NEMA-34 and 4A per phase. Figure $250 to
$750 for 3 axies.

2) 3 Drives. All sorts out there. Because step motors have many
vices, pick a microstepping drive, you won't regret it. Your speed
for rapids will depend on supply voltage. Pick a drive that can drive
your motor fast enough on rapids. If it's ours, figure $350 for 3
axies.

3) You will need a power supply for your drives. You can "roll your
own" or buy an off the shelf supply. Figure on $0.25 a Watt. Watts
needed will be the sum of your 3 motor's rated current times your
choice of supply voltage. Divide the product by 4 and your supply
should cost no more than that. Figure $250 for a 12A, 60VDC supply.

4) You need a CNC program. Again, all sorts of choices here, DOS,
Windows and Linux. Maybe $250 worst case, a lot better best case. Let
others convince you of which is best.

5) PC. Enough said. Essentially free especially if it's running DOS.
Everyone has one hanging around doing nothing. May need to be fairly
modern (>1GHz) if your choice is a Windows based CNC program. Figure
on $20 to $250.

6) Breakout board. Not a necessity but a major convenience. This
terminates your parallel port to easy to use terminal strips, buffers
your parallel port signals so any drive can use them. Basically a
major convenience. Figure $100.

7) Wire and a box. Wire to hook it all up and a box to put it all in.
Have your electronics in a box. That keeps chips and lubricant out of
your expensive and persnickety electronics; they don't like either.
Cost < $20.

That's pretty much it. Adding it all up, it ranges between $890 to
$1700 depending on your choices and buying accumen. Keep in mind you
get what you pay for.

Others here will give you better and detailed advice. There are a lot
of good people on this group and their advice will be sound.

Good luck. It will be fun.

Mariss


--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "jerrysteel2000"
<jerrysteel@h...> wrote:

> Hi Guys...
>
> I know nothing at all about CNC and before I start finding out more
> and lusting after a system, I've got a question...Whats it going to
> cost ?
>
> Ok I know thats like 'how long is a bit of string', but I'm after a
> very rough idea.
>
> A Mill about Bridgeport size.
> cnc on 3-axis
> I was a computer programmer before I retired ('C') so I'm ok with
> that side.
> Have used manual lathes & mills for many years, so I'm ok there.
>
> solder, components, pcbs & I do NOT mix, so it all needs to

be 'plug

> & play'.
>
> Anyone want to make a guess what sort of money I need to spend ?
> I want something that is going to work reliably & not require
> constant tinkering. The idea is to use the system, not make it an
> ongoing project in its own right, but cost is VERY important.
>
> Thanks for any help
>
> Jerry