Learning how to pick and put computer parts together to retrofit older CNC's.

To the moderators:

I own three older CNC mills, one servo controlled and two stepper
controlled. I am working in a friends garage. He has two older CNC
mills, one servo controlled and one stepper controlled. I am trying
to learn how to pick and put together computer parts so that I can
retrofit these mills. My friend and I have invention ideas that we
cannot afford to contract machine shops to build. So, after we have
worked our regular jobs and paid the family bills, we try to take
another step forward with the retrofit projects. When we get the
mills up and running, then we can begin to build and test our
invention ideas. It seems the effort in the garage would put me in
the hobbyist category.

However ....

My day job is work as a CNC Field Service Engineer repairing CNC
mills, lathes and whatever else in the shop the customer needs up and
running. So when I am successful with the retrofits in the garage,
that experience will go out into the field with me and provide
additional business opportunity (I am self employed,
www.cncservices.ws).

So ....

Someone has to decide whether I am a hobbyist or a commercial
participant. I read and understood that this forum is for
hobbyists. I desire to participate with respect to my efforts in the
garage. I will not post questions for problems that I experience on
customers machines while working in the field.

Just a thought ....

I am coming to this forum because there is information I need to
learn. I also have much to offer from my experience as a Field
Service Engineer. I have rebuilt several machines from the casting
to the control. I look forward to the assistance I may receive from
others and I look forward to the contributions I may be able to make
to this forum.

I look forward to a reply and will respect the decision of the
moderators for this forum.

Have a good day!

Jim Fleig