What 'decent' Milling machine?

**Chaz** · 03-06-2015

Thanks both. Good info to consider.

**Boyan Silyavski** · 03-06-2015

Or you could use:
-3 x Leadshine closed loop steppers 3nm around 200euro each kit shipped
-1 x PoKeys57CNC /still have not tested it but price and what offers seems unbeatable by any board/~150euro shipped

and for affordable price have a closed loop machine ethernet driven. thats what my calculator says , i spend all last night in similar doubts and researching options for quality versus price

PS. I found some new similar drives for around 160 so shipping could be combined like 3x160+50, which is even better. Not to speak of that understate the value is a must nowadays

**Chaz** · 03-06-2015

Originally Posted by silyavski

Or you could use:
-3 x Leadshine closed loop steppers 3nm around 200euro each kit shipped
-1 x PoKeys57CNC /still have not tested it but price and what offers seems unbeatable by any board/~150euro shipped

and for affordable price have a closed loop machine ethernet driven. thats what my calculator says , i spend all last night in similar doubts and researching options for quality versus price

PS. I found some new similar drives for around 160 so shipping could be combined like 3x160+50, which is even better. Not to speak of that understate the value is a must nowadays

Thanks. For closed loop, you need some form of encoder? How is this fit to the standard motors?

**Boyan Silyavski** · 03-06-2015

The motors come with encoders already. Its all in one, they call it Easy Servo. It seems on paper better than steppers, cause due to the precise control the steppers loose power at higher than normally RPM.

I would say with hand on my heart that IMO for metal working closed loop is a must. Not that steppers will not do it, but my mind feels easier that the machine is where i tell it to be :-)

**Jess** · 03-06-2015

Originally Posted by JohnHaine

Look for denfordata on google to get the mill details as well as lots of info from people who have probably converted them to Mach 3 and / or modern drivers etc.

Yes, everything should posted somewhere on Denford's forums; might need some digging though!

Originally Posted by JohnHaine

Caution however, if it's a dc motor thyristor drive it is NOT isolated from the mains and you will need an isolating circuit to link the drive to your BoB.

Given the simplicity of the circuit needed for this (in the common PWM output case, it's one opto-isolator, two resistors and a capacitor), I'd probably avoid a breakout board that has a non-isolated 0-10V spindle output on the basis that it's been overly cost-reduced.

**Chaz** · 11-06-2015

So, Ive bought a Denford Triac VNC. Ive not seen the machine yet (via ebay), hoping that it should be collected tomorrow and delivered to me early Saturday.

Will post up a new thread once I have it and I can start looking at retrofitting the older system with something newer.

**JohnHaine** · 12-06-2015

Let us know how you get on, happy to help if I can.

**Chaz** · 12-06-2015

Originally Posted by JohnHaine

Let us know how you get on, happy to help if I can.

Thanks. First issue, no delivery tomorrow. The courier could not collect today. Will try tomorrow but not optimistic, so a bit delayed :-(

Cant really start till I see what electronics are on the mill, so dont know what to look at yet.