Finally bought a CNC router!

[boldford]

I'm about to buy one to integrate to EMC2. Thanks for the tip on ensuring you drive it with a full 5v. Any other tips please keep them coming.

[black5f]

I'm about to buy one to integrate to EMC2. Thanks for the tip on ensuring you drive it with a full 5v. Any other tips please keep them coming.

Quick tip, most modern motherboards only output typicaly 3.3v, very naughty, well below the spec. But these are home pcs trying to drive industrial electronics (they just don't make em like they used to unless you get an industrial pc (££££ss)!). So a lead length over a meter and your in trouble. RS232 looks for a threshold of 3v,, so they are is much more prone 2 the problem. True RS232 will work over 50 feet. With machine tools, router heads etc there is always noise so a good 5v is very important. In my experience 90% of problems are eventually traced to the power supply so best to look there first.
They look nice, like the ball screws! And very good value. I have a very old Isel, 20 years at least but significantly more cash and these look just as stiff. The bearings say chromed so I'd keep them clean if you intend to use any water based coolants at any time. Good luck with your nice toys, should give years of abuse!
Tom

[tumutbound]

Well the 5V supply for the parallel interface didn't fix all the problems. After a bit of cable swapping it turns out that one of the motor driver boards is faulty.
I can get a spare from Hong Kong for about $12 but it's $45 for postage I've got a few gecko G250 boards that are currently unused so I'm going to substitute one of those instead, I just need to make up a PCB to mount it on. [I do have a Gecko G540 and I'm tempted to give it a try if it will get me cutting sooner!]
Mechanically, all axis move smoothly enough but I've know way of telling if the ball-nuts have any/enough grease in them. There's no grease nipples supplied and the construction will mean I'll have to almost completely disassemble each axis to grease it. At least the rails are easy to lubricate.
I still need to source a suitable aquarium pump for the spindle as the supplied non-submersible pump doesn't look as if it will last long.

[Swarfing]

If you bought it, use it as it is worth nothing sat there doing nothing?????????????????