I recently built a CNC Router Parts CRP-4848 CNC router table. Having done so, it has whet my appetite for building more tools for working with aluminum, plastic, and steel. To that end, I want a benchtop CNC mill and lathe. Converting a new or used commercial unit (RF-45, G0704, or a Grizzly lathe) would be nice, but in this economy I don't think I can swing the $5K to $7.5K I need to purchase and build what I want, the way I want. I need to be able to tackle this at the $10 to $200/purchase/month range. So, I'm exploring alternatives - notably building it myself. My CNC table can handle aluminum (and probably light steel), but I don't have any tools for turning and so I think the lathe would be first on my list to build.
To be truthful, I know nothing - I am a complete and absolute newbie. Up until this summer, the only tools I owned were a Delta drill press, and enough hand tools to work on the car, computers, electronics, and my ham radio equipment. Other than a new 10" table saw, 15" radial arm saw, and the CNC table not much has changed.
I was watching a video from a well respected custom CNC mill machine maker here on CNCZone. I only know his first name as Dave or David. I was surprised to hear him say his beautiful new, seriously cool, CNC mill was built on top of 6" x 1/4" steel square tubing. It got me thinking about building a RF-45 class vertical mill or a 10" x 22" lathe using steel tubing and using 25 mm or 35 mm linear rails for each axis. I have a box of dozen SBG 35 SLL-C linear bearings but need the rails for them.
Since I expect the lathe would be a good second tool to supplement my CNC table I started thinking about how to do that. I expect this to be an incremental project. First relying on recycling pieces from eBay, like spindles, tail stocks, ways, etc. until I can fabricate what I need to improve the design. Looking at eBay there are plenty of Atlas, Logan, and South Bend spindles, pulleys, carriages, and even complete heads in the price range that I can do this step wise.
I'm sure I'm not the only person to consider this - dumpstercnc has two lathe designs he did. Does anyone know of any others?
I would like to hear from you folks on your opinions for this approach. If it is a good one - which surrogate parts (manufacturer/model) would be the best to pick from the standpoint of availability, usability, and ease of conversion?
The target range for the lathe would be something like the Grizzly G0602 (10" x 22"), an 8" to 10" chuck with a 20" to 30" bed - it needs to sit on top of a 60" x 40" bench. I don't necessarily want to duplicate manual controls then have to convert them to CNC later - I would like to include the CNC conversion or the foundation for the conversion from the beginning and take advantage of ballscrews/steppers for power feeds. For manual use, I would like to integrate manual pulse controllers and switches into the design to mimic traditional manual controls. A servo for spindle control is tempting option.
The same incremental design approach could be used for building the mill, although I will have to rely on myself for manufacturing more of the parts since there are fewer parts to draw from on eBay for surrogate parts. It's even hard finding R8 spindles to use, but I will have the lathe to turn one.
I look forward to your comments. If I'm crazy, I've been told that before, go a head and tell me again.
-Freeman (analias)
To be truthful, I know nothing - I am a complete and absolute newbie. Up until this summer, the only tools I owned were a Delta drill press, and enough hand tools to work on the car, computers, electronics, and my ham radio equipment. Other than a new 10" table saw, 15" radial arm saw, and the CNC table not much has changed.
I was watching a video from a well respected custom CNC mill machine maker here on CNCZone. I only know his first name as Dave or David. I was surprised to hear him say his beautiful new, seriously cool, CNC mill was built on top of 6" x 1/4" steel square tubing. It got me thinking about building a RF-45 class vertical mill or a 10" x 22" lathe using steel tubing and using 25 mm or 35 mm linear rails for each axis. I have a box of dozen SBG 35 SLL-C linear bearings but need the rails for them.
Since I expect the lathe would be a good second tool to supplement my CNC table I started thinking about how to do that. I expect this to be an incremental project. First relying on recycling pieces from eBay, like spindles, tail stocks, ways, etc. until I can fabricate what I need to improve the design. Looking at eBay there are plenty of Atlas, Logan, and South Bend spindles, pulleys, carriages, and even complete heads in the price range that I can do this step wise.
I'm sure I'm not the only person to consider this - dumpstercnc has two lathe designs he did. Does anyone know of any others?
I would like to hear from you folks on your opinions for this approach. If it is a good one - which surrogate parts (manufacturer/model) would be the best to pick from the standpoint of availability, usability, and ease of conversion?
The target range for the lathe would be something like the Grizzly G0602 (10" x 22"), an 8" to 10" chuck with a 20" to 30" bed - it needs to sit on top of a 60" x 40" bench. I don't necessarily want to duplicate manual controls then have to convert them to CNC later - I would like to include the CNC conversion or the foundation for the conversion from the beginning and take advantage of ballscrews/steppers for power feeds. For manual use, I would like to integrate manual pulse controllers and switches into the design to mimic traditional manual controls. A servo for spindle control is tempting option.
The same incremental design approach could be used for building the mill, although I will have to rely on myself for manufacturing more of the parts since there are fewer parts to draw from on eBay for surrogate parts. It's even hard finding R8 spindles to use, but I will have the lathe to turn one.
I look forward to your comments. If I'm crazy, I've been told that before, go a head and tell me again.
-Freeman (analias)