[TroyO]

Well, kind of... LOL. It's been ordered anway!

I have an order in for my G0704 to start my first actual CNC conversion. It only took 5+ years of lurking and research!

I have a 8x12 lathe and X2 mini mill already. I was going to convert the X2 using a SX2 Base and table, but have since decided the G0704 is a better route. (I'll be selling off bits and pieces on Ebay soon.)

To that end, I have 4A/48V drivers ready to go and a host machine running LinuxCNC.
I only have one 570 Oz stepper though.

I thought the 262 Oz/4A Steppers that Automation direct had (but don't seem to anymore) were a better match to the SX2 build. I think I will still try them and see what it does.... I think it *may* actually work OK. (140-ish IPM) That's based on watts at play at speed.... 147 IPM is where the "knee" of the torque curve starts to fall off, right around 175 watts based on Volts/Amps/Inductance.

Anyway, all it takes is to try them.... if they don't work they will bet Ebayed and I'll have to buy a couple 570's.

Now where the heck is that Grizzly truck..... I guess they aren't doing drone delivery of milling machines yet!

[ph_4570]

Good luck with it. I finished my conversion a few months ago and could not be more pleased with the results and performance. I used Hoss's plans.

[pista01]

I'll second the plans from Hoss. I'm just now starting the process on the mill I bought last year. The plans have been extremely helpful. The cost is such a small percentage of the cost to convert these.

Good luck and have lots of fun! Looking forward to seeing your progress.

[TroyO]

I'm all about Hoss's plans! I won't need the CNC conversion plans as I intend to use a kit.

I will probably get the Belt drive plans, but I wasn't clear on one thing... IF you belt drive you pretty much have to also do the bearings? All of the belt drive options push the spindle speed over ~4K and the bearings start to barf at that point?

I'm thinking I may do a modified steel gear swap instead. Hoss's method ups the RPM to 4700, which is in the bearing danger zone so I was thinking of using a 32/40 set.... which should net 80%(ish) of that 4700.... around 3760. A nice bump from stock, gets rid of the exploding nylon gear and with up-trimming the speed control should be right at the 4K threshold.

Worth the while or am I wasting my time? It seems you get the most possible out of the stock bearings, have a sturdier drivetrain and it's no more expensive than getting 2 replacements for the Grizzly Grenade Gearset (TM)

[TroyO]

The following merchandise shipped Wednesday, March 12, 2014 via SAIA Motorfreight from our Springfield, MO warehouse:

(1) LIFTGATE Liftgate Service
(1) G0704 DRILL/MILL WITH STAND (MULTI BOX)
(1) BXG070402 G0704 BX 2 OF 2 STAND

Whoooohooooooooo!

[TroyO]

I ended up getting a 42/30 set. That was the closest they had in stock..... I was kind of surprised how much was out at QTC Gears (Considering its what they specialise in and "Have the worlds largest stock of gears" LOL)

Anyway, that nets a 71.4% ratio (or 140%... depending on which goes where.)

that nets 3355 RPM or 6580 if you wanted to be adventurous, LOL.

[hoss2006]

Sounds like you have a good plan.
Keep in mind the intermediate gears inside are plastic too and I've seen a few of those go south before even without any increase in speed.
They wouldn't hold up at 6580 LOL.
Hoss

[TroyO]

Well they are really just there to bide time until I can get everything else done without breaking the gears. Maybe I will build the belt drive and get the bearings ready to go and then swap to the %140 mode and have one last "Fun run" to see what kind of smoke I can get out of it!

The scheduled delivery for Tues afternoon.... so I have one weekend to clean out a hole in the garage, LOL.

[TroyO]

I found a place that sells Timesaver lapping compound in 3 Oz jars... Lapping Compounds, Timesaver Lapping Compound by Micro Surface Corporation

I got (2) 3Oz jars of it for $30.

[Fastest1]

Dont be in a rush to use it.

[TroyO]

I'm not planning to lap by default.

I actually have scraping tools, a plate and a couple of references when/if I feel the need to perfect the fit at some point. BUT..... to get the machine "Up and running: at an acceptable level" I'll use whatever methods best fit the need. I'm not a purist, LOL.

[Fastest1]

If we were purists I wouldn't think we would mod anything.

[TroyO]

//Rant on
Graaaaghhhhhhh*^&%^$%$^&%!

I realized, after the fact that I had a Grizzly 10% code in my email inbox. Grizzly can't retroactively apply the code.... I could have saved $120. I looked for a freaking week for discount codes and came up empty, I had even emailed Grizzly at the start of the week asking if they had any active codes and discounts was informed they didn't so by the time I ordered I had given up. It's certainly not Grizzly's fault but it definitely sucks!

I hate paying more than I have to, LOL. Dangit all to heck!

In case anyone else is looking to order and can make use of it, the code is 14MACHJKD until March 21st 2014 since it's no good to me now. 10% off entire order.

//rantoff

[mmprestine]

Based on their response, if the order hasn't shipped just cancel it and reorder.

[TroyO]

The mill arrives tomorrow, if It hadn't shipped yet I would have.

Ahh well, such is life... still a good mill, it's just that $120 would have covered the belt upgrade at least, LOL.

[TroyO]

Anyone care to chime in on stepper motor sizing for the G0704?

I have a 48v/4A controller, and currently I have (2) 282 Oz steppers I was planning to use for X and Y. I have a 570 Oz for the Z. I am debating whether to offload the 282's on Ebay and buy some 570's, or just go with what I have?

The 282's I have already put the back covers on and have them wired up for connectors and ready to go so there is some "bonus" to keeping them. The downside if the shafts are the wrong size for the CNC kit so I would have to adapt either the shafts or the couplers.

I *suspect* the 282's will work well enough on the X and Y but I figured I ask and see if anyone has a take on it.

"282's" are :KL23H276-30-8A
"570's" are: KL23H2100-5O-4B

Edit: Added model numbers

[TroyO]

2 Years in the making, LOL

I tested at 180 IPM without issue (150 on Z) and I'm running it at 150 X/Y and 90 on Z. Is that enough headroom or should I maybe drop back a little more?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeURJxPkzCc

Massmind.org 6064 stepper motor kits.
A cheapie Ebay breakout board. (I started with the Massmind.org breakout board, which was fine but in the end I wanted more relays. so I got a 4 relay board.)
Spindle control is a C41 from CNC4PC, using the stock G0704 controller.
ArizonaVideo's conversion kit.
X,Y Axis KL23H276-30-8A
Z Axis KL23H2100-50-4B
All in one full size ATX case.
Edit: I also did the gear mod mentioned earlier in the post... got a max speed of 3700 between POT adjustments on the controller and the gear mod but it's whiney. I will probably belt it soon, if only for the sound level benefits LOL.