[hoss2006]

Even with the parts from bdtools you know you have to modify the saddle to fit the ballnut
and grind down the x ballnut.
Check out Xnarons thread to see what's involved.
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/bencht...adventure.html
Does the control box come with motor cables?
Don't forget the ballscrews and ballnuts from linearmotion on ebay, billy will have that info.
How about tooling and measuring?
For example,
LittleMachineShop.com - Tooling Package, X3 Mill
LittleMachineShop.com - Inspection Kit, 6-Piece
Also note it can't be any old parallel cable it needs to be one that is an extension of the parallel port.
Maybe plan on at least 2 weekends.
Hoss

[DRock]

Whoops...forgot to throw in the screws, will add those into my previous post. I am not sure if the control box comes with motor cables but I can get some from McMaster next day if needed. I am 100% all set on the tooling and measuring front, I ordered a bunch of tooling from Grizzly and have Mitutoyo stuff from work.

As for the parallel cable, do you mean that it has to be a patch cable as in you wire it up so the wires inside are flipped?

Thanks for the help!

[lriley]

Don't forget the limit switches so you don't wreck the oldham couplers.

[DRock]

Thanks! I keep forgetting to add those to my B.O.M.

As soon as my Paypal account gets re-certified I am going to pull the trigger and kick it into high gear.

[hoss2006]

Add one of these parallel cables to your keling list.
http://www.automationtechnologiesinc...breakout-board
Hoss

[DRock]

Thanks Hoss.

Now I am confused though, is that Keling's website also?

I see the same control box on both websites yet there is a $130 price difference.

High-Torque Stepper Motor, Stepper Motor, Driver, Stepper Motor kit, DC Servo Motor, DC Servo Motor kit, Stepper Motor Power Supply, CNC Router, Spindle, and other Components. Automation Technology Inc

CNC Controller | Stepper Motor Controller

I would hate to order it from the wrong one and end up having problems.

Thanks again.

[hoss2006]

It's the same company just his new website.
Don't trust the kelinginc.net prices, automation technology inc is the new one.
Hoss

[DRock]

Awesome! I like his new website a lot better, much easier to navigate.

I am not quite sure what stepper to get for the Z-Axis though, they have both 4-wire and 8-wire bipolar steppers...which one is the correct and what is the difference?

Also, do you think it would be worth it to spring for the 1805 Oz-In Nema 34 or is that too much for the 5056D which is rated for 5.6A? I planned on going with the 1200 Oz-In before I saw this new one.

Thanks again for the help! I wouldn't have even come close to tackling this ambitious project if this place didn't have such helpful members. I am just hoping that once I understand all this more I can help out new members just as much.

[hoss2006]

1200 is already overkill so 1800 would be abuse of corpse I guess.
570 oz/in is proven enough to move the Z axis pretty well I might say and going
to the bigger motors is to get more low speed torque for drilling,
The bigger motors will have slower rapid speeds, a 906 nema 34 is a good compromise.
You want to wire them bipolar parallel for best performance so 4 wire is good, 8 wire allows other wiring
options that you don't need to deal with.
G0704 Electronics
Hoss

[DRock]

Thanks again Hoss.

I think I changed my mind a bit today though, I may try to tackle wiring up the control box myself as I can save around $500 and put that towards the bdtools mounts. I figured the assembled price difference would be around $100-$200 which would be worth it for myself but $500 is very tempting.

I am going to do some more research to see what is involved.

[DRock]

Just plunked down way too much money for all the electronics, I am going through CNC4PC after having difficulties communicating with the guys over at Automation Technologies INC. I am getting their cheapest box assembled with 2X 5056D, 1X 8070D, 2X Nema 23 570 Oz-In, 1X Nema 34 906 Oz-In and their 48V/12.5A power supply.

Their cheapest box comes with controls for a VFD and also a relay so I can turn on coolant or air which is great to have for the future.

I am into this for almost $4k now after also buying the bdtools mounts and linearmotions ballscrews and nuts.

Yikes!

[DRock]

Just a little update, box came in with an 8056D instead of an 8070D so I am working with Arturo on getting that fixed. I have the mill apart and I am machining the oil grooves with a .125" carbide three flute ball endmill going .060 deep using three .020 passes at 10ipm.

I have decided to document my one shot oiling system after seeing how little information is actually out there. I have found some good info, especially on Hoss's website, but for someone who is new to this like myself it was tricky to find out exactly what to do.

I do have a couple questions concerning oiling the ballscrews, I planned on drilling some holes in the saddle to just drip oil straight down from above which I believe will work well but I am a little confused how to oil the z-axis. Some people drip onto the screw from above where the stepper mounts but I would prefer to be closer to the ballnut.

Do the linearmotions ballnuts have an oiling nipple that you can easily affix to?

Just as a quick FYI I priced out the fittings and line on McMaster last night and got the total up to around $200 with the major cost coming from ten 90 degree flow control fittings. I myself view these as a necessity to assure proper and equal oiling but I may be wrong, I figure they can't hurt anything.

I am hoping to make more progress this week, I will update with pics when I get a chance.

[DRock]

Still working on fixing my box with Arturo through emails...

My X-Axis is not working, does anyone have any methods of troubleshooting this? I am getting 0V across Pul- and Pul+ when commanding a motion and according to Arturo it should read 1-3 volts. But I get motion on my Y and Z steppers even though they also read out 0V across Pul- and Pul+.

I am at a dead end and I am in need of some guidance.

I appreciate any and all help.

Thanks.

EDIT: I am just going to return the box and make one myself. After finding many cold solder joints and questionable assembly practices I cannot trust that the box is going to work without having to worry about it failing. I really did not want to have to do this but it is definitely for the best.

[pws]

!