Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: cnc lathe/mill

For a majority of small (<2" or so), the 9x20 is probably sufficient...
However, the 12x30 is *much* nicer.. The biggest problem I have with the
9x20 is the compound rest is very weak. (And yes, I've replaced the joke
plate that connects the compound to the cross-slide. Since I don't use
the compound often, I'm probably going to machine a plate to directly
attach an Aloris-type toolpost directly to the cross-slide.)

For the mill/drill archives, you'd have to join the mill/drill group:

<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mill_drill/>

The WTTools website is http://www.wttools.com

--C.S.

>Thanks C.S.
>First I would like to let you know what I will be machining. 90% of
>the material on the lathe will be machined from aluminum, and the
>other 10% is steel and plastic. The part I am going to be making of
>steel is a shaft around 8 inches long and .65" diam. for engines,
>and maybe a few other small steel parts here and there. The same is
>for the mill. 90% of the parts will be aluminum with very few parts
>being machined from steel.
>From the info i gathered sofar, it seem I am better off putting out
>a little more cash and getting a litte bigger lathe around 12x30 or
>so.
>For the mill, lathemasters has a nice size dove colum mill about the
>same size as the rongfu31, but at the extra price of 400 bucks.
>Where are the mill/drill archives, as I want to look up some more
>info before I buy anything.
>what is wttools website? I looked for it but found nothing.
>Once again, I appreciated anyone who can post their opinions on what
>I should do, and their own experiences with lathes and mills aroudn
>the size I want.
>Thanks, you guys are great.
>-Jason
>
>--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "C.S. Mo" <cs@v...> wrote:
>>
>> First - on the lathe, what's nice about the 9x20 is one person can
>> reasonably carry it/move it. What's not nice about the 9x20 is
>that one
>> person can reasonably carry it/move it.. Which is to say, although
>you
>> can do fairly precise work with it and although the work area is
>fairly
>> reasonable, it is a very slow lathe because there is not enough
>mass to
>> give it sufficient rigidity.
>>
>> I've been looking at a Grizzly 11x26 for a while. I haven't
>actually
>> used one but it appears to have the mass and rigidity to be a nice
>lathe
>> while still being small/light enough for 2-4 (strong) people to
>move,
>> although really at ~500lbs, you're getting into the realm of
>requiring
>> equipment to move it. Apparently WTTool is going to be selling a
>version
>> of this soon.
>>
>> Incidentally, the older version of the 9x20, from Enco, Jet..etc.,
>the
>> one with the two levers for threading instead of the single lever
>on the
>> modern version, has much more mass and is actually a quite nice
>lathe.
>> However, I rarely see them in good condition and they're usually
>price
>> similarly to new ones. I believe the weight is around 5-600lbs.
>>
>> However, it all really depends on what you want to do with the
>machine.
>> A 9x20, under CNC control will turn plastics and the occasional
>> aluminum, no problem. The entire machine can easily fit in an
>apartment
>> and can be moved if necessary. However, if you have the space, and
>can
>> deal with the difficulty of moving, in machine tools, bigger is
>almost
>> always better. (Within reason!)
>>
>> Regarding the milling machine, regardless of whether or not you
>have a
>> stepper on the quill, unless all of your parts are the same height
>and,
>> unless all of your tools are basically the same length, you're
>going to
>> have to move the head up and down. I would not (now) even consider
>> CNC'ing a round column mill - for the price difference, the square
>> column mill offers a lot of advantages.
>>
>> As for which one - I've personally seen/used the Grizzly, Enco,
>Rong-Fu
>> (not clone) and WTTool versions. Out of the ones I've seen/used,
>the
>> WTTool version was the clear winner in fit/finish. If you want my
>whole
>> report on that, you can search the mill/drill list archives.. (The
>round/
>> square/brand thing has been discussed over there at least once
>every 6
>> months for as long as I've been a subscriber...)
>>
>> All that said, you might consider a ShopTask 3-in-1. I've never
>used one
>> but I understand that, as a lathe, they're pretty good, as a mill
>> they're adequate and they're fairly easy to convert.
>>
>> Oh yeah - I personally would definitely go with servos rather than
>> steppers. You can get appropriate servos on eBay for around $100-
>150 and
>> with a Geckodrive G320, they're no more complicated than a stepper.
>> Rolled ballscrews should be more than sufficient for your needs.
>>
>> You can see some pictures of my CNC efforts here:
>>
>> http://www.smidgie.com/928/machineshop
>>
>> (Sorry, long overdue for an update)
>>
>> --C.S.
>>
>>
>> >Thanks for the info dave,
>> >I really started to look up info, and like you said they are all
>the
>> >same, but what suprised me was all the bad feedback on the 9x20
>> >lathes. Another downturn is the need to change gears or belts for
>> >diffrent speeds. At my school we have a enco lathe, with about 40"
>> >between centers, but its pretty old, and has as alot of backlash
>and
>> >runout. I needs alot of work to get back to good runnign
>condition for
>> >precise machining, so I want my own lathe and I want to convert
>it to
>> >cnc. Can anyone suggest a lathe of good quality and ease of use
>that
>> >is around the size of 9x20 or bigger under 1200 bucks?
>> >I am favoring towards the lathe, but am still thinking about the
>> >possablilty of getting a mill and converting it to cnc. Just like
>the
>> >lathes, all of them seem to be the exact same thing. Man no one
>can
>> >come up with their own design. I plan on converting a mill to cnc
>too,
>> >but like the lathe I am not sure what to go with. I did see a
>website
>> >selling a rongfu31 mill converted to cnc, but for almost 8k, so I
>know
>> >its a good canidate for a mill, but does anyone have any
>suggestions
>> >what mill they would go with if converting to cnc around 1200 or
>> >below? I know the lathemaster mill has a dovetail colum which is
>> >better than a round colum, but since I am going to be putting the
>> >stepper on the quill, I dont think it really matters.
>> >
>> >I really am mainly looking for people to give me suggestions on
>what
>> >they think is a good lathe or mill for converting to cnc around
>the
>> >size and price I am looking for, as I don't know what type of
>stuff to
>> >look for when shopping for one of these machines. Sorry for the
>long
>> >length of these post of mine.
>> >-Jason
>> >
>> >--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "turbulatordude"
>> ><dave_mucha@y...> wrote:
>> >>
>> >> the Grizley, Harbor freight and JET are all the same lathe.
>> >>
>> >> the longer machine offers lenght. a nice plus.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> check out all the options that come with and price them up
>seperatly.
>> >>
>> >> make sure you list every feature you can. ask the 9x20 lathe
>list
>> >> for more comparisons.
>> >>
>> >> Often there is one unit that offers so much more in options
>that it is
>> >> the best value.
>> >>
>> >> Check shipping also. Harbor freight and use-enco might have
>better
>> >> shipping costs.
>> >>
>> >> make sure the stand comes with or that you add to make it
>compare.
>> >>
>> >> Dave
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> --- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "jak785" <jak785@h...>
>wrote:
>> >> >
>> >> > Hi,
>> >> > I am about to get a bonus at work, and this is my chance to
>get a
>> >> > lathe or mill and I want to convert it to cnc use.
>> >> > I like to play around with small turbine engines, and I want
>to
>> >> > start making my own instead of buying parts, so I need a
>lathe and
>> >> > mill, but right now I can only get one of them. Most of the
>parts
>> >> > are symetrics, so the lathe will probably be the better
>choice
>> >> > although with a mill I can machine all kinds of stuff. I
>found tons
>> >> > of information on retrofitting a mill for cnc use, but almost
>> >> > nothing with a lathe, so I was hoping you all could help me
>out a
>> >> > little.
>> >> > First lets talk about lathes.
>> >> > Can anyone give me some information on a good lathe with a
>size
>> >> > around 9"x20"
>> >> > Here are three I found that are about the size I need and in
>my
>> >> > price range:
>> >> >
>> >> > Grizzly G4000
>> >> > http://www.grizzly.com/products/item.aspxitemnumber=G4000
>> >> >
>> >> > JET 321373 BD-920N BENCH LATHE
>http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?
>> >> > ViewItem&item=6003249800&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1
>> >> > or
>> >> > Lathemaster 9x30" lathe
>> >> > http://www.lathemaster.com/LATHEMASTER9x30Lathe.htm
>> >> >
>> >> > Can anyone give me an idea on which one would be better for
>> >> > converting to cnc? Also what size stepper motors would I need
>for a
>> >> > lathe of this size?
>> >> >
>> >> > Mill
>> >> > If I go with a mill, I was thinking about:
>> >> >
>> >> > RongFu31
>> >> > or
>> >> > Lathemaster mill
>> >> > http://www.lathemaster.com/HEAVYDUTYMILLINGMACHINE%
>207045FG.htm
>> >> >
>> >> > Does anyone have any suggestions on what mill they would get,
>or
>> >> > know of any other brands about this size. The taig mill is
>too
>> >> > small, and I don't want a huge knee mill either, so these are
>in the
>> >> > size range I want.
>> >> >
>> >> > Also about ballscrew and stepper motors
>> >> > has anyone ever bought ball screws from this site
>> >> > http://www.homeshopcnc.com/ , and are these stepper motors
>any good
>> >> > for the size I would need. I'm guessing around 600-1000 oz/in
>> >> > motors. I know ground ball screws are much better, but i dont
>got
>> >> > that type of money. any suggestions on this topic would be
>helpful.
>> >> >
>> >> > Sorry for all the questions, but I'm trying to figure out
>which
>> >> > route to go, and then what machine to get after I decide mill
>or
>> >> > lathe.
>> >> > -Jason
>> >> >
>> >>
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >Addresses:
>> >FAQ: http://www.ktmarketing.com/faq.html
>> >FILES: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO/files/
>> >Post Messages: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com
>> >
>> >Subscribe: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
>> >Unsubscribe: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>> >List owner: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO-owner@yahoogroups.com,
>wanliker@a...,
>> >timg@k...
>> >Moderator: pentam@c... indigo_red@q... davemucha@j...
>> >[Moderators]
>> >URL to this group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO
>> >
>> >OFF Topic POSTS: General Machining
>> >If you wish to post on unlimited OT subjects goto:
>aol://5863:126/
>> >rec.crafts.metalworking or go thru Google.com to reach it if you
>have
>> trouble.
>> >http://www.metalworking.com/news_servers.html
>> >
>> >http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jobshophomeshop I consider this
>to be a
>> >sister site to the CCED group, as many of the same members are
>there,
>> >for OT subjects, that are not allowed on the CCED list.
>> >
>> >NOTICE: ALL POSTINGS TO THIS GROUP BECOME PUBLIC DOMAIN BY POSTING
>> >THEM. DON'T POST IF YOU CAN NOT ACCEPT THIS.....NO
>EXCEPTIONS........
>> >bill
>> >List Mom
>> >List Owner
>> >
>> >
>> >Yahoo! Groups Links
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Addresses:
>FAQ: http://www.ktmarketing.com/faq.html
>FILES: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO/files/
>Post Messages: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com
>
>Subscribe: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
>Unsubscribe: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>List owner: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO-owner@yahoogroups.com, wanliker@...,
>timg@...
>Moderator: pentam@... indigo_red@... davemucha@...
>[Moderators]
>URL to this group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO
>
>OFF Topic POSTS: General Machining
>If you wish to post on unlimited OT subjects goto: aol://5863:126/
>rec.crafts.metalworking or go thru Google.com to reach it if you have

trouble.

>http://www.metalworking.com/news_servers.html
>
>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jobshophomeshop I consider this to be a
>sister site to the CCED group, as many of the same members are there,
>for OT subjects, that are not allowed on the CCED list.
>
>NOTICE: ALL POSTINGS TO THIS GROUP BECOME PUBLIC DOMAIN BY POSTING
>THEM. DON'T POST IF YOU CAN NOT ACCEPT THIS.....NO EXCEPTIONS........
>bill
>List Mom
>List Owner
>
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>