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  1. #1
    Hey guys.

    So a while back i did ask about off the shelf kits, however a lot of people seem to be converting these machines themselves.

    I mostly cut aluminum and would like to do light steel and my CNC 3040 just ain't/cannot cut it (pun intended)

    Right now funds are VERY limited due to the MRS losing her job, but I want this to work for me to help balance out funds.

    So does anyone know what the cheapest way of going about this would be?

    Thanks

    Craig

  2. #2
    The cheapest (and therefore probably the worst) way to convert it would be to simply put a pulley on each axis and use that to connect stepper motors via timing belts, without changing the original leadscrews. There will be a lot of backlash and the maximum feedrate will be fairly slow, however it would still be use-able and enable you to CNC mill the parts for a better conversion using ballscrews. I put stepper motors on my mill this way, but never got round to changing to ballscrews since the router does most things the mill can do:

    CNC Mill, Motor / Driver testing - YouTube
    Old router build log here. New router build log here. Lathe build log here.
    Electric motorbike project here.

  3. #3
    Quote Originally Posted by Jonathan View Post
    The cheapest (and therefore probably the worst) way to convert it would be to simply put a pulley on each axis and use that to connect stepper motors via timing belts, without changing the original leadscrews. There will be a lot of backlash and the maximum feedrate will be fairly slow, however it would still be use-able and enable you to CNC mill the parts for a better conversion using ballscrews. I put stepper motors on my mill this way, but never got round to changing to ballscrews since the router does most things the mill can do:

    CNC Mill, Motor / Driver testing - YouTube
    I would really like to do it with ball screws but if costs rocket then some sort of anti-backlash for my current setup would be great.

    My mill has quite ALOT of bacl lash i would say at least a full turn of the handle so its quite dire!

  4. #4
    Hi craig

    limited funds...
    i know the feeling, i would have to admit that im in the same sort of situation. although those x2 mills have been converted by countless people and there is a hell of alot of information available regarding cnc conversions

    first of all i think some more info would be useful

    1) is it a standard x2 or another variant (eg sx2p etc)?
    2) how confining is your budget?
    3) do you have access to a lathe?
    Last edited by jonnydeen; 22-10-2012 at 05:25 PM. Reason: just saw jonathans post, i have to agree with him

  5. #5
    Quote Originally Posted by jonnydeen View Post
    Hi craig

    limited funds...
    i know the feeling, i would have to admit that im in the same sort of situation. although those x2 mills have been converted by countless people and there is a hell of alot of information available regarding cnc conversions

    first of all i think some more info would be useful

    1) is it a standard x2 or another variant (eg sx2p etc)?
    2) how confining is your budget?
    3) do you have access to a lathe?
    Hi there.

    Its actually the Clarke variant but is identical to the base.model x2. Just colour.

    Budget is actually non assistant so I'm scraping the penny jar as I go
    I do own a small lathe, a hobbymat md65

    Preferably either ball screw or some kind of anti backlash for the current screws is ideal

    Thanks in advance

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