Somehow I've ended up buying a VMC 190.

I've been through this loop once before with a Denford Micromill. I bought the Micromill as a learning excercise, as a step towards converting my RF-45 clone manual mill, I thought it might be useful to make parts for the big mill. I learnt plenty... I learnt how to connect a parallel BOB to LinuxCNC, I learnt about CNC workflow, I learnt that the micromill was a bit 'floppy' for what I wanted to do, and I learnt that I couldn't be bothered to convert the manual mill.

Time passed...

I found myself looking at parts to build a mill that could cut aluminium, not particularly big things, as you'll know,that stuff starts adding up.

So I bought a VMC 190, I'd have loved a 300, or a Triac, but there is no way I'd get something that size in, so here's hoping the 190 is rugged enough.

After the Denford the lack of info on the Boxford came as a shock, I'm hoping to add some of the specs that I'd have liked to have known, and probably plenty that I wouldn't :D

Before getting on the the VMC 190, I'll say that I plan to use a DDCSV1 this time, I didn't want to use parallel again, I have played with a BBB running LinuxCNC, and I will use that for something, but not this mill. I started thinking that a CSMIO/IP-M was in my future, but having to buy Mach3 was putting me off. Anyway, the DDCSV1, I read the long thread about it, and it seems to fit this simple build well, time will tell, I can always rip it out if we don't get on :)

I realise that the 190 isn't going to be able to attack aluminium with big cutters, but I'd like to be able to use cutters in the 6-8mm. This is where I hope I can get some advice, namely how much load I can sensibly put into the machine, and how to achieve it, I suspect the spindle will need more power and speed, but that's for later.

Anyway, stuff I now know after a few hours of ownership:

Z axis stepper is an HY 200-2240-2.9, data exists on this, in short it's NEMA23 sized, cylindrical motor 4" long, 2.9A 1.48Nm holding torque. 1/$" spindle.
The stepper has a 12 tooth pulley using a HTD 3M 9mm wide belt (HTD 186 3M) the ballscrew has a 20(?) tooth pulley.

I can't read the number on the X axis stepper, it's similar but shorter, maybe an HY 200-2231? It has the same pulleys with a shorter HTD 105 3M belt.

No idea what the ballscrews are yet, or what voltage the steppers run at.

The tool holders are of the EasyChange type and I have 6/10/12/16mm versions.

The drivers are mounted on a single PCB and are 2/2.5A single/half step devices.

I think the machine warrants a change of steppers and drivers, I get the feeling that it was built rugged and low power to limit the damage the kids could do, I hope so anyway.

Crikey, I have waffled on a bit, hope you're still awake.

Andy