RE: consider resurrecting a dead CNC

Hi Roger,

I must agree with you that with your plan you do end up with much
more machine for the money. However you did omit the cost of a phase
converter, new ball screws to replace the likely worn out originals
and at the very least a minor overhaul to fix, replace or adjust the
whole machine to revive it back from the dead. By the time it is all
said and done I believe it will cost you a bit more than $4000 to get
it up and running. And again, yup, when you are done you will have a
lot more machine for the money. If I had a much larger shop area I
would consider resurrecting a dead CNC for myself.

Regards,

Ron Steele
http://www.stirlingsteele.com/millplans.html

==========================================
--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "vrsculptor"
<vrsculptor@h...> wrote:

> --- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "Ron Steele"
> <ronjsteele1@y...> wrote:
> > Hi Steve,
> >
> > At "http://www.cncmasters.com/CNC%20Jr%20Mill.htm" they also sell
> a
> > kit you can install on your mill for about $4000. Keep in mind
> that
> > this kit includes 1200 oz/in steppers and the huge power supply

and

>
> Yipes! $4,000 to retrofit a manual mill doesn't seem cost

affective.

> It makes a whole lot more sense to buy a dead CNC mill that already
> has axis motors, spindle drive, and ballscrews on all three axis

and

> retrofit that with a PC controller. The big drawback to this
> approach is space. It will be bigger than the mini mill.
>
> Costs:
> 2,000 (or less) for dead CNC machine.
> >600 for gecko drives
> 120 for new encoders from US digital (if needed)
> 150 for sound logic breakout board.
> 200 for a surplus computer.
> 150 for Mach2 software or free for EMC (if you can figure it out)
>
> Total cost around $3,200 and when you get done you have have a real
> mill that can take heavy cuts.
>
> There is a downside. With this approach you will won't have a kit.
> You are going to have to spend some time and effort to research
> exactly how to do it. Its realy not all that difficult. A lot of
> people have done it. A lot of Bridgeport Boss machines have been
> retrofitted and there is a lot of knowledge on this and the Mach1
> news groups.
>
> Roger