Bridgeport Manual to CNC conversion...

[Davek0974]

What about backlash in the rack and pinion ? ?

That is my main issue, its fairly tight but will have some BL in it. I was possibly thinking of some method of applying constant up force to the quill from where the existing drive is now, not sure how or what though.

Its a pain really - so close but not there yet, i know for a fact that the existing drive will fail and probably quite soon so doing nothing is not an option.

I have been looking at powering the knee and locking the quill but i still have my doubts about the knee ways and short life etc, plus the cost - ball-screw, bigger servo and drive, hardware, probably going to run about £600 just to do the knee, more if it needs a brake to stop it falling when turned off.

Then there is the speed issue - from what i have read, the knee is slow, peck drilling is going to suck as well as a few other jobs too - V-engraving would take ages due to the thousands of up/down moves used.

Just a bit baffled as to what to do really