Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Sorting out the options for a CNC mill system

Thanks for the information and that from Wildhorsesoftware even though you guys differ on the electronics. The mill, chuck and collets as you describe is the way I'm headed.

So what would a generic system include: PC, Taig CNC ready mill, motors, drive (=controller cards for each motor?), software to convert a DFX drawing to G code, software (maybe in the same package) to convert G code to motor commands, power supply for the motors, and power supply for the Drive? Anything left out? I've built Heathkit stuff decades ago so can probably handle the electronics as long as I know more or less what components are required.

What about servos instead of steppers or do servos require a completely different setup?
Are limit switches mandatory?
In your particular case, what software package(s) do you use to get a drawing from the PC to the mill?




________________________________
From: Danny Miller <dannym@...>
To: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, February 14, 2009 9:34:07 PM
Subject: Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Sorting out the options for a CNC mill system


I've just been through this. It's fairly simple.
Just:
Get the larger-bed Taig with the ER16 chuck.
Get a set of ER16 collets. They don't come with the mill.
Get the Gecko G540.
Get NEMA23 motor mounts for the Taig (off eBay, or the "CNC Ready" from
Nick Carter).
Get NEMA23 steppers, SQUARE ones not round-bodied, greater than 200oz
preferably but it'll probably be fine with less with a Gecko Drive. Ebay.
Get a 48v regulated power supply with the current greater than... I
think it was like 70% of the sum of motor currents.
Try this guy on eBay:
http://cgi.ebay. com/48V-DC- 7-3A-350- 4W-Regulated- Switching- Power-Supply_ W0QQitemZ3701575 15392QQcmdZViewI temQQptZLH_ DefaultDomain_ 0?hash=item37015 7515392&_ trksid=p3286. c0.m14&_trkparms =72%3A1205|66%3A2|65%3A12| 39%3A1|240% 3A1318|301% 3A1|293%3A1| 294%3A50
<http://cgi.ebay. com/48V-DC- 7-3A-350- 4W-Regulated- Switching- Power-Supply_ W0QQitemZ3701575 15392QQcmdZViewI temQQptZLH_ DefaultDomain_ 0?hash=item37015 7515392&_ trksid=p3286. c0.m14&_trkparms =72%3A1205% 7C66%3A2% 7C65%3A12% 7C39%3A1% 7C240%3A1318% 7C301%3A1% 7C293%3A1% 7C294%3A50>
That's enough to drive any stepper really.

There's gonna be a lot of splicing together the wires out of the motor
to the Gecko's DB9 plugs. If you're used to doing electronics, this is
not a big deal, if you're not, this could be a huge PITA. Get a high
school kid to come over and figure it out. If the steppers don't come
with long wire attached you'll need some 4-pin cable to make this work.

I don't recommend dealing with these homebuilt toroidal transformers and
huge caps. They're not well designed, poorly regulated, and not saving
you any $ really.

Get a solid state relay for the motor too. And the Gecko only acts as a
DC switch BTW, it can't generate the 3v-32v a solid state relay may
require to turn on. Typically you can get one of those computer drive
male-to-female splices that are inserted into a line just for the 12v
auxiliary wires leading off it to a computer fan. You use that on your
computer to steal 12v for the Gecko to switch on and off to the relay.

Important options you need to look into:
milling vises
work holding tables
rotary tables
coolant systems
milling bits, of course.

Danny

Douglas Vogt wrote:

> I'm planning to get a desktop mill in the next few months and even deciding on a Taig, for example, find the combinations of motors, controllers and software a bit overwhelming. A turnkey system is a bit pricy. It would be more fun to build the system myself but I don't want to get parts only to find out they aren't compatible.
>
> I need an "electronics/ hardware version" of a book like David Benson's "Beginner's Guide to CNC."
>
> In other words, what goes between the CNC ready mill and the PC? Most of the books I see deal with large commercial-industri al machines.
>
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