King Midas mill conversion

[diy-john]

Subject of conversion in this thread is a mill from 1980's.



There are some underlying issues that I would hope to address during the conversion:
- huge slack on Z-axis (covered here in detail: http://www.mycncuk.com/forums/showth...g-a-conversion )
- large slack on both X and Y -axis

Have read as much as possible, trying to learn from other machinists build-logs. As a result, here is a draft shopping list
- items in blue relate to axis/ballscrews.

ITEM NO.	PART NAME	Length	QTY
1	Nema 23 stepper motor, 3Nm (425 Oz-in)	-	3
2	PM752 Microstepping Driver		3
3	Power supply 400W	-	1
4	Coupling	-	3
5	MBA motor mount	-	3
6	X, Y, Z-Axis Ballscrew Fixed Support Block, FK-type		3
7	X-Axis 1605 / C7 ballscrew 581mm + ballnut	581mm (520mm usable thread)	1
8	Y-Axis 1605 / C7 ballscrew 346mm + ballnut	346 mm (285mm usable thread)	1
9	Z-Axis 1605 / C7 ballscrew 386mm + ballnut	386mm (325mm usable thread)	1
10	Ball nut housing (X,Y,Z-axis)		3
11	X and Y-Axis Ballscrew Floating Support Block, FF-type		2
12	Z-Axis Ballscrew Floating Support Block, BF-type		1

In view of the mill, please can anyone spot here
1) Something clearly wrong ? (something one would regret later?)
- eg. size of motors

2) USB vs. parallel port
- that is something I keep on thinking. Have read about arguments for / against.
- Kind of would like to go USB, but I have read parallel port is the right thing to do.

3) Cables and sundries
- worried about little bits missing from the list. (trying to buy all in one go, to save on shipping fees)


For now I have left out from shopping list "pulleys" and "belts". Hope could have this machine running some day, then later add belts/pulleys. Not sure how this conversion is going to turn out, will it run or not.