mini-mill and motors

Hi,

first off, the mini-mill has a horrible design flaw. you cannot easily lube the ways on the longitudinal travel.
if your machine is getting tight at the ends, then the center is worn and the ends are not. that is a mechanical problem that motors might or might not solve.

if you are open to driving the motors harder, then you do need to ditch the xylotex and put on something more robust.

the geckos will run the machine better.
what I would offer is that you get the $20 power supply from allelectroncis and keep the control panel. remove it from the mini-mill and put it on a small table top router type of unit.

Dave

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "Chuck Merja" <chuckm@...> wrote:
>
>
> WOW –My initialtion of the Xylotex thread was 3 minutes into Sunday the
> 13th, then I went to bed. Dave replied at 12:19, 16 minutes later. Then
> later Sunday AM, I sent the thread below (sent at 08:23 on Nov 13) as a
> reply to Dave's initial reply about the Xylotex power supply. Somehow it
> took 18 hours to hit the listserv and there had already been a lot of
> advice, so the question about steppers looks really out of context. Am I
> doin something wrong with my posts?
>
> Anyway, the motors on the minimill that is run by Xylotex whose power supply
> just went south are the Automation Direct units described below – they are
> about 2.25" square so I am thinking they are NEMA 23. They seem too weak
> for the minimill, as if I tighten the gib enough to have the center of
> travel reasonably tight I miss steps at the endpoints of travel, so I really
> only have about 5" of the "monster" 7" travel on this minimill. I've had
> the table off several times, thinking that I needed to do something
> mechanical to the ways/gib to make the table drag more uniform, and with
> power off I can turn the table to the full "X" range by hand, so I really
> think a little stronger steppers is what I'd like. So I'm wondering if a
> different controller (than the Xylotex) on these steppers would help or if I
> need different steppers. The X and Y screws are ACME 5/8 x 8 thread and I
> built a plastic antibacklash nut for X, that seems to work pretty well, but
> needs slightly more torque to turn (but I can still get "X" to both ends by
> hand with power off).
>
> And for the router, I'm thinking it would be something like a 12"x12 or
> maybe18" gantry type router – maybe a Rockcliff or something similar. I
> thot I'd use something like ½"-20 allthread to run the X/Y. Would the
> Xylotex run something like that or have I outgrown the Xylotex? I was
> hoping to use it (Xylotex) to run both for a while, until there was more
> demand for the technology, then we could justify separate controllers, but
> maybe I just need to build a totally separate unit/control.
>
> So many projects – so little time. I was "showing off" to the kids and we
> were making our first ever real part for one of our competition robots when
> the Xylotex power supply went south. The wind went out of the sails on this
> CNC project with that one :o((
>
> C
> first, changed the subject line. not about xylotex anymore
>
> if you have a decent control box. great. get more cables. do not try to
> switch them. only adds a weak spot, one that could blow out the driver. very
> risky.
>
> I would keep that control box, and start a new project for a new box.
> and, yes, if you feel your motors are under powered, there are options. a
> Gecko would be my recomendation. but which one ?
>
> first nema 23 ? 34?
> what voltage is your power supply ?
> what type of machine ?
>
> before anyone can offer a potential solution, we need the basics.
>
> Dave
>
> --- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com
> <mailto:CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO%40yahoogroups.com> , "chuck" <chuckm@> wrote:
> >
> > Thanks, a question about steppers... I have
> > Automation direct
> > Sure step
> > 1.8 deg/step
> > 276 ozin
> > 2.8amps
> > Would these fit your definition of "low voltage"? They seem too weak to
> me- I have to run pretty light gib pressure. If not, could u recommend
> steppers?
> >
> > And one other question. I'm looking at making a wood, plastic, light metal
> router and am thinking that I'd like to use the same stepper drivers and
> computer - at least initially. So I might change motor cables between the
> two machines or even find a stack of db9 "AB" boxes. Any thots about that
> would be welcome.
> >
> > Thx, C
> > Sent via my "ChuckBerry" by AT&T
> >
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>