Re: Busy Bee retrofit ?

Hi!
I'm a "newbie" at this too.. just designing my own retrofit for a very simillar sized machine.
I can let you know a few things I've found out...(and if anyone with more experience
contraedicts me, believe them.. like I said.. I'm new...).

The NEMA refers to the frame size of the motor, and determines the dimensions of the
mounting holes.
As for motor power in Oz-In; I'm a little confused about that myself... But I've gathered
that you CAN use as little as a 400 Oz-In motors for XY, but more is better.
I just bought three 680 Oz-In Stepper motors from Dan Mauch at Camtronics (http://
www.seanet.com/~dmauch/). He currently has a GREAT deal on a load of motors he
picked up from a distributor. I haven't been "stepper shopping" very long, but his prices
seemed REALLY REALLY good for the sizes he has.

As for controllers;
A LOT of posts here and on other boards recommend the Gecko drives (http://
www.geckodrive.com/). Camtronics also sells them.
I've had my eye on a cheaper setup from Stepperworld.com, but I think I'm going to
chicken out and probably go with the Gecko's since they seem to be thought pretty highly
of. I KNOW there are other drivers too...

If you want a "bolt on" retrofit "kit"...
MicroKinetics advertises one, driver, motors, mounting hardware, ball screws.. the whole
deal. But it ain't no how cheap!!! I'm gonna stick to some make it myself components.
In the SHORT term, I'm going to use the Acme lead screws in my mill, get it up and
running, and turn out a few projects to 1) learn and 2) make enough "hobby money" for
the ball screws later.

As for software, I've heard good things about Mach2 , but also about TurboCNC.
I'm kinda in the dark about that though... I'm a die-hard Mac user (run a network of 150 of
them), and learned how to write G-code all by myself way back when...
So I'm going to be starting pretty much from scratch with a PeeCee and CAM software...

Yes, all this stuff is possible. When I read about it all 10 years ago, it was possible if you
had a lot more money, and more electronic knowledge. NOW it's a lot cheaper, and
enough of the fine folks around forums like this have done it that they can offer advice to
us "dummies"...

Hope this helps!
Paul F.

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "peterboutakis" <peter@b...> wrote:
> Hi, I am looking to retrofit a busy-bee milling machine:
> http://busybeetools.ca/cgi-bin/picture?
> &NETID=0345350502040532429&NTITEM=B1976
>
> First off, would you guys recommend this machine to be a good
> candidate for retrofit?
>
> If so, I was wondering where I could obtain parts for a quality
> retrofit? I am assuming I would need quite powerful motors, a
> capable controller, and some ballscrews etc.
>
> What size motors? I have been reading about oz/in and NEMA. It is
> all quite confusing, but I am under the impression that with the
> right hardware this can all be accomplished.
>
> Is there a controller that is everyones favourite? A company that
> has knowledgable staff?
>
> I am assuming that the software to use is called Mach2 by artofcnc.ca
> is that correct?
>
> Thanks alot,
> From Peter