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  1. #1
    That's the thing - I know mass rocks when it comes to machines, and also see the point of having a pre-ballscrewed donor but as you say - I need to be practical if I bother to do this.

    It would have to be viewed as what it is - a computer controlled Bridgeport Knee Mill NOT a VMC wannabe. I really can't squeeze anything much bigger than a BP in and have no expansion options as we are residential so have to be careful a bit ;) There is no garden left to build a bigger shop.

    In the past I have had bigger stuff - a Colchester Student lathe, a large horizontal mill and a vertical slotting machine - all the stuff i used when building traction engines for fun. Back then I would have killed for a CNC bridgeport but had neither the cash or the knowledge. Using a boring head to machine a 25mm hole out to 100mm and only being able to take small cuts gets old real fast - that job would be seconds with CNC ability.

    I'm still not convinced and a bit pissed that the machine I linked to above costs less than the ballscrew kit alone :(

  2. #2
    Why don't you trade your Bridgeport in for a Bridgeport interact and convert that to Mach3?

  3. #3
    Quote Originally Posted by jamesgates1000 View Post
    Why don't you trade your Bridgeport in for a Bridgeport interact and convert that to Mach3?
    Something like this???

    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bridgeport...sAAOSwYmZXD2Iq

  4. #4
    Looks like a pretty good deal, I have used them before with the heidenhain control and they are good machines. Best wait for some advice from the others regarding suitability for Mach3 conversion.

  5. #5
    Luckily, I got the tape measure out last night.

    I can't fit anything bigger than the standard Bridgeport in! That only fits because the head is between the roof trusses, so that rules out practically all others I think as even an Interact is 90" tall which i think is 12" more than a standard machine.

    So my options now seem limited to converting my own BP, buying another BP and converting that then selling my on on or not bothering.

  6. #6
    Just had a lengthy chat with my supplier of bits and they seem to favour heavily towards 8NM stepper-servo's for this task. The specs read well, basically a closed loop stepper and DSP drive with variable current etc. Price was about £250 per axis for motor and drive with cables.

    Being stepper also means i can use my existing knowledge of BOB's and USB motion controller etc.


    More options to throw in the pot.

  7. #7
    Knowledge gap...

    Stepper-servo motors, I know I need the drive plus a BOB plus a motion control - done that before and it works.

    AC servo motors, I know I need the drive amp plus ? - what goes between the drive unit and the PC?

    Just trying to price up, the price is identical between 8Nm stepper-servo motors and drives OR 750W servo motors and drives - I have no idea how to choose between one or the other, one I know the other I do not.

    I am advised that 750W is ideal for the job so thats one decision, also the 8Nm step-servo is ideal it seems.

    Anyone want to fill the gap?

    I know the servo is rated to 3000rpm and the stepper to maybe 1000rpm?

    The stepper torque is way down where it's needed but the servo is where, linear spread?

    Looks like a ballscrew kit is going to be around £1300 so thats a fair chunk of cash in one hit, the rest I need to get right first time.

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