Just joined the forum (after a slight technical hitch that Lee sorted - thanks).

I don't have any CNC experience but I'm giving serious consideration to retrofitting my Amadeal AMA30V mill.

Doing lots of reading and trying to decide if I just go with the standard lead screws to start with or jump right into the deep end and go down the ball screw route from the off. As for everyone; retrofitting ball screws would be much easier with second CNC mill but I don't have that luxury.

I use my mill for making a) bits for my mill & lathe; doesn't everyone? :-) and b) parts for my motorcycles. I'm not in the atto-millimeter precision game; hence my thoughts that I could live with the inherent backlash in the ACME lead screws. A footrest of brake caliper mounting bracket is fine at a couple of thou tolerance. I did briefly consider anti-backlash nuts but that's almost as painful as ball screws.

I'm also flailing around trying to decide what size steppers I need. Lots of useful calcs on the net but I they assume you know things like the torque required to move a loaded bed... and I don't know that. Hmmm... my DIY 18V drill motor X-axis power feed moves the loaded bed quiet happily so maybe that might give me a starting point.

Any pointers gratefully received.