Axminster RF40 - CNC and other modifications

[BASMOTRONIC]

Here's an update on the completed project:

Machining the Z Axis Carriage - This is the part where the milling head mounts onto.

The completed carriage.

Trial assembly of the carriage onto the column with the stepper motor on top


Lifting the column onto the mill.

The completed column mounted on the mill - with the milling head installed.

I found that this installation is much more rigid than the round column. The stepper motor moves the milling head up and down smoothly using the ballscrew concealed inside the column (I was slightly worried that the motor would not be strong enough - but this works fine). I can now take bigger cuts at higher speed and with less vibration. It is so much easier to step drill a hole - because you can just keep raising the head as the drills get longer, with no fear of losing your position.

I will send some more photos later of the machine working in full 3 axis CNC mode.