Hello, All,

I see from the lack of posts that we've all been busy with getting back to our lives as the COVID pandemic seems to gradually be coming under control. I must admit that it feels good to eat in an actual restaurant and meet friends face to face after such a long hiatus!

I have been considering doing an CNC conversion to my mini-mill for a while. Though I am fairly happy with my current mill, there are some weaknesses: rack and pinion drive for the Z-axis, a poor gib arrangement that requires frequent adjusting, and no quill, to name a few. So, after some research, I purchased the Grizzly M1116 mini-mill. I am a bit excited, as evidenced by the fact that I changed the cover photo to an image of this mill! It has a Z-axis lead screw drive, tapered gibs, a quill, and built in DROs. You can review the full spec . I purchased the Grizzly stand with it, as well. Unfortunately, a knee injury has me sidelined at the present so it is sitting in my garage, waiting for me to arrange transport to my basement. All I can do is look inside the crate!

I know that a number of you have done CNC conversions, and would like to ask what CNC hardware/controller you use and what you consider its advantages and disadvantages?

As usual with me, I am sure that the conversion will take a while. I am not known for my rapid completion of projects! So I will keep the project status updated here.
--
Regards,

Charlie
New Jersey, USA

SATTINGER’S LAW: It works better if you plug it in.
EDWARD'S LAW: It works even better if you turn it on.

Hello, All,

I see from the lack of posts that we've all been busy with getting back to our lives as the COVID pandemic seems to gradually be coming under control. I must admit that it feels good to eat in an actual restaurant and meet friends face to face after such a long hiatus!

I have been considering doing an CNC conversion to my mini-mill for a while. Though I am fairly happy with my current mill, there are some weaknesses: rack and pinion drive for the Z-axis, a poor gib arrangement that requires frequent adjusting, and no quill, to name a few. So, after some research, I purchased the Grizzly M1116 mini-mill. I am a bit excited, as evidenced by the fact that I changed the cover photo to an image of this mill! It has a Z-axis lead screw drive, tapered gibs, a quill, and built in DROs. You can review the full spec . I purchased the Grizzly stand with it, as well. Unfortunately, a knee injury has me sidelined at the present so it is sitting in my garage, waiting for me to arrange transport to my basement. All I can do is look inside the crate!

I know that a number of you have done CNC conversions, and would like to ask what CNC hardware/controller you use and what you consider its advantages and disadvantages?

As usual with me, I am sure that the conversion will take a while. I am not known for my rapid completion of projects! So I will keep the project status updated here.
--
Regards,

Charlie
New Jersey, USA

SATTINGER’S LAW: It works better if you plug it in.
EDWARD'S LAW: It works even better if you turn it on.

I played around with lots of control systems and have settled on running linuxCNC on a PC with ethernet Mesa cards. Parallel ports are slightly cheaper but run out of bandwidth for encoders. I have a Mesa 7i92 and a 7i96 and I think the 7i96 might be a better fit for you. (you shouldn't need the chinesium break out board)

If you go the linuxCNC/Mesa route it's really convenient to have one network connection for the Mesa card and another network connection for internet and other networking tasks. (like sharing your CAM files) I used a raspberry pi 4 with the?mesa card for a little while, then a dumpster diving friend delivered 18 used medical computers and I switched all my machines to touch screen PCs with dual network connections. (if you are interested, I still have four computer systems available?on ebay. search "linuxcnc touchscreen")

I have been very happy with some cheap closed loop steppers on my Rockwell vertical mill. My 9x20 uses a Gecko 540?and I just added linear scales. Going forward, I think I will go with closed loop steppers or try servos.

I have settled on the Meanwell RSP-1000-48 as my goto 1000W power supply. I have purchased several from ebay?for ~$100. They are quiet rock solid power supplies.

WIth LinuxCNC you could use either open or closed loop steppers AND use the build in DRO scales for position feedback. (This would require adding a Mesa 7i85s for the extra encoder channels.) There is good support in LinuxCNC for this.

I think you will save a lot of projects by integrating your existing DROs into the control system. Basically, it will stop if the DRO doesn't match what the gcode?says. With my mill, I started using linuxCNC as a simple DRO.display without any motor control for?a?couple?months. Then added motors. Next up is adding a spindle encoder for rigid tapping.

I like the fact that closed loop steppers provide an alarm signal if they can't achieve the desired position.

My lathe and router started out with motors couplers. My mill uses a timing belt for the z and recently I changed my lathe x to a timing belt. 3D printed timing gears work fantastic if you have access to a printer. Belts give you a lot of options for motor placement and you can gear up/down.

On the CAD side, Fusion360 has a learning curve but there are a lot of youtube how to videos.

Rockwell vertical mill - LinuxCNC touchscreen PC,?closed loop steppers, linear encoders XYZ, VFD for spindle. Logitech jog.

Jet 920 9x20 lathe - LinuxCNC touchscreen PC, open loop steppers with Gecko 540, linear encoders XZ and 260 pulses per rev spindle encoder, VFD for spindle. z touch off, Logitech jog.

Homebuilt Aluminum extrusion router - LinuxCNC touchscreen PC, open? loop steppers with Gecko 540, z touchoff?Logitech jog.

Homebuilt Aluminum extrusion 3D printer running Marlin.

On Sat, Jul 17, 2021 at 4:11 PM CLevinski <clevinski@...> wrote:

Hello, All,

I see from the lack of posts that we've all been busy with getting back to our lives as the COVID pandemic seems to gradually be coming under control. I must admit that it feels good to eat in an actual restaurant and meet friends face to face after such a long hiatus!

I have been considering doing an CNC conversion to my mini-mill for a while. Though I am fairly happy with my current mill, there are some weaknesses: rack and pinion drive for the Z-axis, a poor gib arrangement that requires frequent adjusting, and no quill, to name a few. So, after some research, I purchased the Grizzly M1116 mini-mill. I am a bit excited, as evidenced by the fact that I changed the cover photo to an image of this mill! It has a Z-axis lead screw drive, tapered gibs, a quill, and built in DROs. You can review the full spec . I purchased the Grizzly stand with it, as well. Unfortunately, a knee injury has me sidelined at the present so it is sitting in my garage, waiting for me to arrange transport to my basement. All I can do is look inside the crate!

I know that a number of you have done CNC conversions, and would like to ask what CNC hardware/controller you use and what you consider its advantages and disadvantages?

As usual with me, I am sure that the conversion will take a while. I am not known for my rapid completion of projects! So I will keep the project status updated here.
--
Regards,

Charlie
New Jersey, USA

SATTINGER’S LAW: It works better if you plug it in.
EDWARD'S LAW: It works even better if you turn it on.

Thank you all for your complete and thorough replies! I see that I have a lot of research to do before settling on what I will ultimately use.
--
Regards,

Charlie
New Jersey, USA

SATTINGER’S LAW: It works better if you plug it in.
EDWARD'S LAW: It works even better if you turn it on.

Hi Jerry

Thanks for the post, all very interesting.

I use Mastercam V8.01 and is about 25 years old. it can only run on Windows 7 32 bit.

If you want to purchase Mastercam Ver 13 ??? The latest, try $4000 plus a yearly?seat license of?$1500?

but my oldie? produces all? of the CAD I require for CAM, ( producing toolpaths) in 3D if needed for my

CNC mill and also serves as my design for STL file conversion for my 3D printer.

I use Win 7 exclusively for all my gcode generation, and I use Win 10 for the "Hello?dolly'' stuff.

Never let me down yet, but who knows.

Linux is OK, but I was never introduced to it when making a?living cutting metal on CNC lathes and mills, so why change something?that works for me at my age.

All good for future discussion.

Thanks again for the post.

John

On Sun, 18 Jul 2021 at 06:41, Jerry Trantow <jerry.trantow@...> wrote:

I played around with lots of control systems and have settled on running linuxCNC on a PC with ethernet Mesa cards. Parallel ports are slightly cheaper but run out of bandwidth for encoders. I have a Mesa 7i92 and a 7i96 and I think the 7i96 might be a better fit for you. (you shouldn't need the chinesium break out board)

If you go the linuxCNC/Mesa route it's really convenient to have one network connection for the Mesa card and another network connection for internet and other networking tasks. (like sharing your CAM files) I used a raspberry pi 4 with the?mesa card for a little while, then a dumpster diving friend delivered 18 used medical computers and I switched all my machines to touch screen PCs with dual network connections. (if you are interested, I still have four computer systems available?on ebay. search "linuxcnc touchscreen")

I have been very happy with some cheap closed loop steppers on my Rockwell vertical mill. My 9x20 uses a Gecko 540?and I just added linear scales. Going forward, I think I will go with closed loop steppers or try servos.

I have settled on the Meanwell RSP-1000-48 as my goto 1000W power supply. I have purchased several from ebay?for ~$100. They are quiet rock solid power supplies.

WIth LinuxCNC you could use either open or closed loop steppers AND use the build in DRO scales for position feedback. (This would require adding a Mesa 7i85s for the extra encoder channels.) There is good support in LinuxCNC for this.

I think you will save a lot of projects by integrating your existing DROs into the control system. Basically, it will stop if the DRO doesn't match what the gcode?says. With my mill, I started using linuxCNC as a simple DRO.display without any motor control for?a?couple?months. Then added motors. Next up is adding a spindle encoder for rigid tapping.

I like the fact that closed loop steppers provide an alarm signal if they can't achieve the desired position.

My lathe and router started out with motors couplers. My mill uses a timing belt for the z and recently I changed my lathe x to a timing belt. 3D printed timing gears work fantastic if you have access to a printer. Belts give you a lot of options for motor placement and you can gear up/down.

On the CAD side, Fusion360 has a learning curve but there are a lot of youtube how to videos.

Rockwell vertical mill - LinuxCNC touchscreen PC,?closed loop steppers, linear encoders XYZ, VFD for spindle. Logitech jog.

Jet 920 9x20 lathe - LinuxCNC touchscreen PC, open loop steppers with Gecko 540, linear encoders XZ and 260 pulses per rev spindle encoder, VFD for spindle. z touch off, Logitech jog.

Homebuilt Aluminum extrusion router - LinuxCNC touchscreen PC, open? loop steppers with Gecko 540, z touchoff?Logitech jog.

Homebuilt Aluminum extrusion 3D printer running Marlin.

On Sat, Jul 17, 2021 at 4:11 PM CLevinski <clevinski@...> wrote:

Hello, All,

I see from the lack of posts that we've all been busy with getting back to our lives as the COVID pandemic seems to gradually be coming under control. I must admit that it feels good to eat in an actual restaurant and meet friends face to face after such a long hiatus!

I have been considering doing an CNC conversion to my mini-mill for a while. Though I am fairly happy with my current mill, there are some weaknesses: rack and pinion drive for the Z-axis, a poor gib arrangement that requires frequent adjusting, and no quill, to name a few. So, after some research, I purchased the Grizzly M1116 mini-mill. I am a bit excited, as evidenced by the fact that I changed the cover photo to an image of this mill! It has a Z-axis lead screw drive, tapered gibs, a quill, and built in DROs. You can review the full spec . I purchased the Grizzly stand with it, as well. Unfortunately, a knee injury has me sidelined at the present so it is sitting in my garage, waiting for me to arrange transport to my basement. All I can do is look inside the crate!

I know that a number of you have done CNC conversions, and would like to ask what CNC hardware/controller you use and what you consider its advantages and disadvantages?

As usual with me, I am sure that the conversion will take a while. I am not known for my rapid completion of projects! So I will keep the project status updated here.
--
Regards,

Charlie
New Jersey, USA

SATTINGER’S LAW: It works better if you plug it in.
EDWARD'S LAW: It works even better if you turn it on.

--
John

Sorry to disagree with? the last various past posts, and may I be pertinent to say they are excuses not to start a project and finish with it.
Call it perfection, or call it 's all your call. Just excuses to me,?
I am sure a lot of? hobbyists read HSM or DM which are under the very excellent control of G Bullis,? but it is a always a question of
when to get out of the old rockin chair as the great Louis Armstring sang and do something constructive,or heaven forbid even be creative,
Then move?on and start on to another project. it could be a simple fix such as grandads repair to a grass cutter (beware of any dangers)?
or get into a serious construction of a model for example a 5 year build of a steam engine, or simply tinkering (Tamara) l just love it.
Tamara you are a breath of feminie fresh air. Thaniks.
It really does not matter what you do? providing you are having fun with your hobbies. But enjoy.what you do, or else it can become a chore,?
Maybe you have not set the correct goals to achieve, either by inability or self confidence, or you are under a certain amont of peer pressure?
or family commitments etc.Who cares but just enjoy what you do, but after a a few hours amongst your tools, walk away and say YES YES, done it.move on,
I started this forum 3 years ago,and it has been succesful with many members supporting the digital technology, and of course we will always get the
?percentage of armchair (the US call them aptly named LazyBoy) engineers.but this forum will not accept BS? and I always? learn more each day.
Any current members who feel this is not for them, please just drop out. It saves me the drudgery of going through 260
members and deleting. 30 days of no posts even hello will drop you out.
Comments, of course appreciated,

John Lindo
Owner.


.




?

--
John

I joined the group to see if it could generate some interest in me doing CNC and CAD. I am a retired ET with more than 36 years of electronics background. I put together an all manual machine shop when I retired 15 years ago. I purposely avoided anything to do with electronics as I am burned out on it. I even built the shumatech DRO350...what a shitshow that turned out to be. Poor design with lots of noise issues. Even down to getting the polarity wrong so you have to use batteries with the scales...Frustrations I don't need. So, I bought the DRO 550 as it was supposed to be excellent and a huge improvement...then people started using them and all the glitches started falling out. Fortunately I hadn't bought glass scales yet and all the parts are still in the box.
So I will quit lurking and go elsewhere.
Glenn

agreed Ralph,

I think that was just to see who was awake out there. Me ….. I do a lot of thinking before getting to the stage of making. It’s my time when I have to wait a few minutes or more or listen to the grand kids doing their first school orchestra piece ! Then planning, then scrounging material and finally doing stuff.

Regards Bob

On 22 Jul 2021, at 06:45, Ralph Hulslander <rhulslander@...> wrote:

?

re:? ?30 days of no posts even hello will drop you out.

John, are you sure about that? I have had a long stretch of no post in all of the forums I subscribe to

and have not been dropped out of any of them.

Of course in thinking about it I was dropped out of a Facebook group, without any warning or mention.

But none of the GroupIO groups.

So just to make sure I do not get dropped I am posting this :-)

Ralph

On Wed, Jul 21, 2021 at 3:44 PM John Lindo <bechetboat@...> wrote:

Sorry to disagree with? the last various past posts, and may I be pertinent to say they are excuses not to start a project and finish with it.
Call it perfection, or call it 's all your call. Just excuses to me,?
I am sure a lot of? hobbyists read HSM or DM which are under the very excellent control of G Bullis,? but it is a always a question of
when to get out of the old rockin chair as the great Louis Armstring sang and do something constructive,or heaven forbid even be creative,
Then move?on and start on to another project. it could be a simple fix such as grandads repair to a grass cutter (beware of any dangers)?
or get into a serious construction of a model for example a 5 year build of a steam engine, or simply tinkering (Tamara) l just love it.
Tamara you are a breath of feminie fresh air. Thaniks.
It really does not matter what you do? providing you are having fun with your hobbies. But enjoy.what you do, or else it can become a chore,?
Maybe you have not set the correct goals to achieve, either by inability or self confidence, or you are under a certain amont of peer pressure?
or family commitments etc.Who cares but just enjoy what you do, but after a a few hours amongst your tools, walk away and say YES YES, done it.move on,
I started this forum 3 years ago,and it has been succesful with many members supporting the digital technology, and of course we will always get the
?percentage of armchair (the US call them aptly named LazyBoy) engineers.but this forum will not accept BS? and I always? learn more each day.
Any current members who feel this is not for them, please just drop out. It saves me the drudgery of going through 260
members and deleting. 30 days of no posts even hello will drop you out.
Comments, of course appreciated,

John Lindo
Owner.


.




?

--
John

--
Clausing 8520, Craftsman 12x36 Lathe, 4x12 mini lathe, 14" Delta drill press, 40 watt laser, Consew brushless DC motors and a non working 3D printer

Sorry to disagree with? the last various past posts, and may I be pertinent to say they are excuses not to start a project and finish with it.
Call it perfection, or call it 's all your call. Just excuses to me,?
I am sure a lot of? hobbyists read HSM or DM which are under the very excellent control of G Bullis,? but it is a always a question of
when to get out of the old rockin chair as the great Louis Armstring sang and do something constructive,or heaven forbid even be creative,
Then move?on and start on to another project. it could be a simple fix such as grandads repair to a grass cutter (beware of any dangers)?
or get into a serious construction of a model for example a 5 year build of a steam engine, or simply tinkering (Tamara) l just love it.
Tamara you are a breath of feminie fresh air. Thaniks.
It really does not matter what you do? providing you are having fun with your hobbies. But enjoy.what you do, or else it can become a chore,?
Maybe you have not set the correct goals to achieve, either by inability or self confidence, or you are under a certain amont of peer pressure?
or family commitments etc.Who cares but just enjoy what you do, but after a a few hours amongst your tools, walk away and say YES YES, done it.move on,
I started this forum 3 years ago,and it has been succesful with many members supporting the digital technology, and of course we will always get the
?percentage of armchair (the US call them aptly named LazyBoy) engineers.but this forum will not accept BS? and I always? learn more each day.
Any current members who feel this is not for them, please just drop out. It saves me the drudgery of going through 260
members and deleting. 30 days of no posts even hello will drop you out.
Comments, of course appreciated,

John Lindo
Owner.


.




?

--
John