[pp7]

Does anybody sell a decent CNC kit for a ZX 7045? I want a cnc mill but my time is limited recently. I want to convert to CNC quickly and efficiently, hopefully without any major hiccups. I have an old computer that I will load linux and EMC2 onto. Any suggesstions?

[gd.marsh]

The only kits I'm aware of come from IH .. but I'd check them out carefully before I would spend my money .. there's some pretty negative comments on the zone about customer service.

[pp7]

If any of you have made a successful ZX 45 conversion, I'll pay for a copy of the custom machined brackets and fittings. I'm guessing the parts should be easier to make the second time around since you have a prototype for comparison? I'd also be interested in a parts list (with supplier contact info) for the rest that I need including servos/steppers, drives, wiring, etc if anybody is willing to share their preferences and recommendations.

[SCzEngrgGroup]

If any of you have made a successful ZX 45 conversion, I'll pay for a copy of the custom machined brackets and fittings. I'm guessing the parts should be easier to make the second time around since you have a prototype for comparison? I'd also be interested in a parts list (with supplier contact info) for the rest that I need including servos/steppers, drives, wiring, etc if anybody is willing to share their preferences and recommendations.

The second half of your question is easy:

Servos - HomeShopCNC.com or Keling (they're the same motors) 850 oz-in DC servos
Encoders - CUI Capacitive encoders, from Digikey.com
Servo Drives - Gecko G320X
Power supply - Antek
Belts/Pulleys - sdp-si.com - I'd suggest something around 2.5:1
Breakout board(s) - Homann Designs - about $40 each, and work great.

I would suggest keeping supply voltage relative low, or you'll end up with more speed than you will want. I'd aim for 150-200 IPM tops. My 9x49 knee mill using the same servos and Geckos with a 68V supply will easily hit 400 IPM, which is just too darned scary fast! More is NOT always better! So, were I doing it over, I'd go with more like 40V. They have MORE than enough torque to do some serious damage!

I used GT2 belts on my conversion - they're compact (roughly 1/2" wide) and really strong, smooth and quiet.

Regards,
Ray L.

[hoss2006]

Does anybody sell a decent CNC kit for a ZX 7045? I want a cnc mill but my time is limited recently. I want to convert to CNC quickly and efficiently, hopefully without any major hiccups. I have an old computer that I will load linux and EMC2 onto. Any suggesstions?

Contact Microkinetics, they claim to have a kit available for the RF45 though it's not pictured yet.
CNC Conversion Kits from MicroKinetics
Find out what it entails and if they'll sell you just the mechanical parts if that's what you want.
Hoss

[pp7]

Thanks for the suggestions. I did look at the website with the Kit which was $4395 which is a bit more than I was hoping to spend. The kit also had some smaller motors that I'm not sure were optimal. Thanks, Ray for the part suggestions and links. I think the best price vs performance compromise will require that I do some of the work myself. I was curious if somebody had some sketches of their homemade brackets for the ZX 45? I'm willing to convert them to 3d CAD pictures and repost them. This would allow everyone to make their brackets much faster without having to "reinvent the wheel."

[Ekkekke]

Thanks for the suggestions. I did look at the website with the Kit which was $4395 which is a bit more than I was hoping to spend.

I was curious if somebody had some sketches of their homemade brackets for the ZX 45? I'm willing to convert them to 3d CAD pictures and repost them. This would allow everyone to make their brackets much faster without having to "reinvent the wheel."

Once you have finished you will understand why it's so expensive.

They aren't all exactly similar, so it's not that simple.. gd.marsh did some nice 3D modeling with his Bolton ZX45, maybe you should ask him.

[eartaker]

PP7.

All of our conversions have been based around what parts you use and how you would like to run your machine. The cheapest way for you to do the conversion is to just buy all of the main parts and start machining some mounts. Also there are things on the machine itself that many of us have modified and has resulted in how some of the parts were made. At this moment there is no simple bolt on solution without paying $4500

Making the parts yourself would give you a better understanding of the machine and also allow you to better your machining skills.

If you do not want to take the time for the conversion you might be better off buying a machine that is already cnc capable.

[pp7]

This is a preliminary and partial parts list: Qty 1 - Pulley for motor 1/2” shaft - https://sdp-si.com/eStore/PartDetail...11&GroupID=217 ---- $19.31

Qty 2 (for X and Y Axis) - Motors 850 oz/in - Page Title ---- Price $129 each = $258 total.

Qty 1 (For Z axis) – Motor 1125 oz/in - Page Title ---- Price $139

Qty 3 - Gecko Controller – G320X Servo Drive – Price $121 each = $363 total

Qty 1 – Breakout Board - MB-02-V6 Bidirectional Breakout Board [MB-02] - US$39.50 : Homann Designs, The Preferred CNC Component supplier --- Price $39.50.

Qty 3 – Ball screw with one machined end. Part # 5966K5. McMaster-Carr --- $177.15 each = 531.45 total

Qty 3 – Ball screw end mounting block. Part# 60755K15. McMaster-Carr --- $413.89 each = 1241.67 total

Qty 3 – Square Ball nut with flange. Part# 5966K47. McMaster-Carr ---- $96.39 each = 289.17

Total:
19.31
258
139
363
39.50
531.45
1241.67
289.17
=
$2881.10

The largest expense seems to be the ball screw end mounting blocks and ball screw machining. Does anybody know a cheaper way to do this?

[Ekkekke]

Qty 3 – Ball screw with one machined end. Part # 5966K5. McMaster-Carr --- $177.15 each = 531.45 total

Qty 3 – Ball screw end mounting block. Part# 60755K15. McMaster-Carr --- $413.89 each = 1241.67 total

1" for all axes is a pretty beefy and will be a tight fit. I have 16mm for X&Y and 20mm for Z, but I think 20mm all-around would have been nicer, just like IH uses.. There is also something wrong with those end mounting block pricing..

Check linearmotion2008 from eBay if you want cheap screws (I don't know the quality of those, do your homework )

[pp7]

Thanks Ekke, you just knocked off $1500 from the preliminary total.

Qty 1 - Pulley for motor 1/2” shaft - https://sdp-si.com/eStore/PartDetail...11&GroupID=217 ---- $19.31

Qty 2 (for X and Y Axis) - Motors 850 oz/in - Page Title ---- Price $129 each = $258 total.

Qty 1 (For Z axis) – Motor 1125 oz/in - Page Title ---- Price $139

Qty 3 - Gecko Controller – G320X Servo Drive – Price $121 each = $363 total

Qty 1 – Breakout Board - MB-02-V6 Bidirectional Breakout Board [MB-02] - US$39.50 : Homann Designs, The Preferred CNC Component supplier --- Price $39.50.

Ball screws --- 3 ball screws/nuts with couplers --- 3 RM2005 anti backlas ballscrews +3sets BK/BF15 - eBay (item 250477894468 end time Feb-25-11 23:59:05 PST) – $377.00


Total:
19.31
258
139
363
39.50
$377

$1195.81

[jid2]

You need encoders for the motors, power supply, electronics enclosure and odds and ends for the controls. Most use two ball screw nuts.

I will be modeling all the brackets and parts for my conversion, and depending on my free time might have them run by someone other than me. Stay tuned on the build thread I started. As others have said, not all the RF-45's are exactly the same, so a true bolt-on kit is tricky.

[pp7]

You need encoders for the motors, power supply, electronics enclosure and odds and ends for the controls. Most use two ball screw nuts.

I will be modeling all the brackets and parts for my conversion, and depending on my free time might have them run by someone other than me. Stay tuned on the build thread I started. As others have said, not all the RF-45's are exactly the same, so a true bolt-on kit is tricky.

If you decide not to put the drawings on 3d CAD, let me know. If you'll send me the sketches or give me the dimensions, I can draw them fairly quickly.

I guess I'll have to keep updating my parts list as suggestions are given to me. This is the latest:

Qty 3 - Pulley for motor 1/2” shaft, 30 groove, 0.200” pitch, 0.375 belt width, 0.500” bore - https://sdp-si.com/eStore/PartDetail...11&GroupID=217 ---- $19.31 = 57.93 total
Qty 3 – Pulley for ball screw, 72 groove, 0.200” pitch – https://sdp-si.com/eStore/PartDetail...61&GroupID=217 $31.97 each = 95.91 total
Qty 3 – Belt for motor, 130 groove, 0.200” pitch https://sdp-si.com/eStore/PartDetail...18&GroupID=213 $5.07 each x 3 = 15.21 total
Qty 2 (for X and Y Axis) - Motors 850 oz/in - Page Title ---- Price $129 each = $258 total.
Qty 1 (For Z axis) – Motor 1125 oz/in - Page Title ---- Price $139
Qty 3 - Gecko Controller – G320X Servo Drive – Price $121 each = $363 total
Qty 1 – Breakout Board - MB-02-V6 Bidirectional Breakout Board [MB-02] - US$39.50 : Homann Designs, The Preferred CNC Component supplier --- Price $39.50.
Ball screws --- 3 ball screws/nuts with couplers --- 3 RM2005 anti backlas ballscrews +3sets BK/BF15 - eBay (item 250477894468 end time Feb-25-11 23:59:05 PST) – $377.00
Qty 3 - Capacitive encoder - Digi-Key - 102-1307-ND (Manufacturer - AMT102-V KIT) --- $23.63 each = 70.89
Qty 1 – Power Transformer - Digi-Key - TE60604-ND (Manufacturer - 60604) $131.33 each
Qty 1 – Power supply capacitor - Digi-Key - 495-4243-ND (Manufacturer - B41560A9159M) $30.01

Total:
57.93
95.91
15.21
258
139
363
39.50
$377
$70.89
131.33
30.01
=
$1577.78

[eartaker]

You cant just take a transformer and wire it into a capacitor. It will blow up in your face. You will first have to run it through a rectifier, but I suggest buying a pre-built power supply if you do not know how to do that or have any doubts. Also that breakout board is very limited. Do you plan on controlling the spindle via cnc as well? If so that breakout board will not get you very far. Look at the C11T from CNC4pc, and add a new 3 phase motor and variable frequency drive to your list.

The best way to do this isn't to buy ALL of the parts at once but start and figure out what you want as you go. I would start buy ordering the machine, ball screws, motors, pulleys, encoders and drivers. Once you get far enough where you have your motors mounted you will have a definite idea of where you want to go with your machine.

Also on your ballscrews I don't know about buying the mounting blocks. I would just order a length of screw and machine it down yourself if you have a lathe to handle that. I ordered the RM2005 screws with 2 nuts per screw and machined and mounted everything.