CNC Mill Conversion Part 9 - Machining the X-Axis, Assembling and Testing

[@fredfarnackle5455]

Thanks Neil, good stuff - as always. It's amazing what you do with a small machine. I have an old X2 mill that I CNC'd with stepper motors on all three axes - did it a long time ago, it has served me well and definitely makes things easier. Seeing your O-Drive stuff makes me wonder if I can change out my spindle motor for such a combo as I want to do rigid tapping but ran into trouble with reversing the motor and blew my controller board 🤯. Currently waiting for a new board to be delivered. Will definitely look into the O-Drive possibility, you have inspired me - thanks. 👍

[@TheSolarPoweredEngineer]

Hi Fred, thank you, that is one of my next tasks, changing the spindle to a brush-less one, then control revolutions with a rotary encoder when machine tapping, so should be able to accurately tap holes and reverse the spindle. These motors are incredibly strong and the ODrive makes them very accurate. I'll have to have a setting for each tap so that the pitch is adjusted for the Z-Axis. I'm glad it has inspired you, I like the Axminster Mill, they are a good little workhorse when set up accurately. You may wish to take a look at my ODrive forum post, it may give you some more info. Here: discourse.odriverobotics.com/t/turning-a-mill-into-cnc-to-help-with-an-electric-car-conversion/3355/83 Good luck with yours, kind regards, Neil.

[@mike111smith7]

Hi Neil, very impressive project, i myself have a old Sieg X1 mill that i want to convert into CNC, i bought 3 NEMA 23 stepper motors, pretty heavy ones, and my plan is to connect them directly to the X and Y lead screw. I have two concerns, the first is backlash, in the software i am going to use there are no backlash compensation, do you think it is possible to adjust the mechanical backlash on the excising lead screws low enough, so compensation is not necessary? Also, what about the Z axis, did you also control that, i am a bit concerned that the stepper motor will have to lift the heavy milling head up and down, also without backlash? Maby you have some thoughts, and many thanks. Martin Copenhagen

[@rapppaa]

good work!

[@TheSolarPoweredEngineer]

Thank you, 10hrs of footage squashed into 23mins 🤔

[@FilterYT]

Thanks for sharing!

[@TheSolarPoweredEngineer]

Your welcome, the machine is coming along nicely