New member, Lagun Mill

**Smokie555** · 29-09-2016

Thanks guys, I'll check out CNC4YOU and stop being temped by the cheap kits on ebay. Neil, I'd be happy to spend around £700-800 if I was going to end up with something that works well but if not I'd maybe do better selling my current machine and putting it all towards a different more suitable Mill.

**Neale** · 29-09-2016

There are quite few Bridgeport conversions around. Might be worth having a search for some of those to look at what other people have done with a similar size machine?

**njhussey** · 29-09-2016

Originally Posted by Smokie555

Thanks guys, I'll check out CNC4YOU and stop being temped by the cheap kits on ebay. Neil, I'd be happy to spend around £700-800 if I was going to end up with something that works well but if not I'd maybe do better selling my current machine and putting it all towards a different more suitable Mill.

What size items are you looking to machine? This will help make your mind up regarding converting your mill or buying another. Your mill wont be the easiest to convert as you have to motorise the knee rather than the quill. I'd say that £700 - £800 will get you decent steppers and drives and a motion control card, you'll need to spend nearly the same again on cable, relays, control cabinet and general bits and bobs, its amazing how it all adds up!

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**Smokie555** · 29-09-2016

Despite it being a good sized machine I normally only cut alloy and even then its mostly light plate etc but its always nice to have the extra capacity for when its needed. I'm not so worried about the extra's as we never include them in good projects in case the wife see's the bills but I agree that these can easily double the outlay. I was considering grafting one of those alloy Z axis from CNC4YOU and using a high speed cutter to avoid my knee moving problem but it’s hard to give up the rock solid ridgity of the current machine plus the use of all my 30 INT tooling. I'm going to drop into my local used machinery dealer and see what he's got anything more suitable for a swop deal. Thanks again for the replies.

**njhussey** · 29-09-2016

Or make your own Z axis from Ali tooling plate to bolt on where the current head goes and use a 2.2kW spindle for cutting Ali, then you've got the original for steel. Would be a bit of a pain having to set up every time but I guess depends on how much you'd use the 2.2kW compared with the original?

**Smokie555** · 29-09-2016

That might be the best route Neil, I must search he forum and see if anyone else has made one to copy. You said about using 230v drivers for the steppers, I assumed they were all 230v input? with lower voltage outputs in the 24-80 v range, is that correct?

**njhussey** · 29-09-2016

Originally Posted by Smokie555

That might be the best route Neil, I must search he forum and see if anyone else has made one to copy. You said about using 230v drivers for the steppers, I assumed they were all 230v input? with lower voltage outputs in the 24-80 v range, is that correct?

It depends on the voltage of the drivers you're using. Most drivers that come in the eBay kits are up to 48V, drivers like Leadshine AM882 (now superseded buy AM806 drives I believe) will handle up to 80V but you have to take back EMF into account so dont run at more than 72V, mist on here will power these with a DIY PSU that gives out 72V....

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**Smokie555** · 05-10-2016

I've taken on board everything above and looked around for something more suitable than my Lagun. I've been offered a Bridgeport Interact Series1 Mk2 that in in good nick but has faulty electric's. I might be able to do a deal to trade my Lagun against it and wondered had anyone converted one of these to Mach 3 and modern electric's?