Converting a benchtop mill to CNC

[TygerAR]

tag

[Whiterabbit]

OK I give up. What is that? 4x strain gauges?

[xfer42]

Yes, strain gauges. Part of a home made touch probe project.
Its my version of a scaled up pointing stick (trackpoint). Like those little nubs on the laptop keyboard. I was looking into making a strain gauge touch probe module because I didn't like any of the DIY solutions out there that worked off mechanical contacts. At the time, no one sold those trackpoint components, and I would have to buy a keyboard with one on it and rip it apart. It was cheaper to just buy the arduino stuff and the strain gauges. It works, and its super sensitive (changes with the wind and temperature). The next step is to create a housing that can accommodate the arduino, components and have the mechanics to center it. Basically, all I have left to do are the hard parts . Its been a desk ornament for a few years now, so I may never finish it. It was a nice intro into strain gauges though.

cg1.jpg
cg2.jpg

[pensiveape]

Since making this post I put this project to the side since I’ve been fairly busy with the rest of life.

But to update: I bought a pm25mv mill.

It’s kind of ridiculous how much the electronics set up for the conversion is over my head (setting up control board with limit switches and spindle control etc)...I even bought an Arduino kit to learn the basics of electronics in the meantime before the mill gets here (should be 2/3 weeks). Perhaps when I have all the component parts sitting in front of me it will be less daunting of a project. I definitely have sites linked to do more research, which I intend to look over.

I’m very open to tips and suggestions if anyone has any, for how to do the setup. There aren’t any step by step instructions for this type of thing is there?

I was told that centroid acorn, while not being the most capable (in terms of inputs and outputs), may be the simplest controller to set up with stepper motors for the mill conversion. And you can buy it as a kit with all its component parts....im thinking that may be the best option as of now.
Next in line would be mach4, which I understand is very popular and has tech support. And then after that is Linuxcnc, which although is very capable, free and tempting, I don’t have a computer background or experience with Linux, so I’m afraid that may add an additional layer of complexity to this project.

[Whiterabbit]

Sure!

I suggest you learn how to use a mill first. You might end up like me, realizing that for your purposes and needs, no CNC is needed, and do all of your milling with the dials.

That saves you time and focuses your energy on learning how to be a weekend warrior machinist, rather than a tool mechanic.

[Dirtlaw]

John
"ELS! The Solution"
Automation Artisans Inc.

http://www.autoartisans.com/ELS/

Ph. 1 250 544 4950


This guy has an electronic lead screw for a lathe. I know that's not what you're doing, but he may be a useful resource nonetheless. He used to have a yahoo group. I don't know if it's still up.

[pensiveape]

I suggest you learn how to use a mill first.
.

I feel pretty comfortable using a conventional mill and I’ve already dipped into CNC machining and coding. The issue is simply setting up the CNC conversion electronics.

You might end up like me, realizing that for your purposes and needs, no CNC is needed, and do all of your milling with the dials.

Quite honestly I don’t at all have a need for a CNC machine (or a conventional mill for that matter), but this is a hobby project for me. It’s been fun playing with the Haas CNC machine, and I figured I’d like to make my own. If I have one in my garage I’d have all the opportunity in the world to continue to learn CNC machining. I couldn’t afford a production Haas mini mill or even a ready made Tormach, so here I am attempting to convert a benchtop mill.

I have no illusions about my abilities. This is all about learning for me. I’m sure I will make many mistakes, but hopefully learn along the way. I’m not trying to avoid it. The plan is that at the end I will have a better idea of how CNC and automation/robotics works.