Russ I've watched you Lathe conversion vids and now these for the mill. NICE job! man! I am going to do BOTH myself. My biggest hesitation is the electronics side of things mechanical stuff is NO prob for me. THANKS so much for sharing your builds. Very well put together and doucmented vids on both builds.
That's CPVC, it has higher heat tolerance than PVC. It's sized differently so that it won't be inadvertently used with PVC fittings. Thanks for these vids!
Right at about $2700 for the conversion itself. If you want more specifics, check out my "G0704 CNC Conversion 02 - What it Costs to Convert" video. In that video you will also find a link to my web site where you can download my Excel spreadsheet where I tracked the entire conversion cost part by part.
Great video. I don't see a zerk fitting while you are grinding the X-axis ball nut, but then I see a zerk fitting while you are installing the ball screw. Did you add this zerk fitting yourself, or did it come installed with the ball screw?
The zerk came with the screw/nut combo, but you want to take it off and plug the hole before grinding/cuting the nut. Then put it back on before assembly.
I`m about to pull the trigger and buy the G0704. I`v noticed that some people are selling ball screw and step motor mount kits pre-made. In hindsight would you suggest building your own setup as you did or buying one of these kits ? Any help you could provide would be appreciated...
That's a tough one. I do see the appeal of buying a kit and being done with it, but making everything myself was a nice intro to machining class. All of that said, if I had more time than money I would convert myself. If I had more money than time, I would buy a kit. From what I've heard from other people, some of the kits come with minor problems and you are going to be on your own to fix/adjust it. If you build a kit you're on your own too...... tough call.
Not counting the machine, how much are you into this cnc conversion? I bought the same mill after watching You and Hoss and am now thinking about cnc. Thanks Angryyank from Sacramento
Hey Russ, do the shims go on both sides of the AC bearings? Or just the sides that point "out"? Also, according to your Excel sheet from your second conversion video you used keyed shims (McMaster 3088A773) instead of the ones called for by Hoss (3088A383) . Was there a reason you needed clearance for a key?
Man it's been a long time so I'm not super positive. I think the shims were on both sides of the AC bearing. Behind the bearing for spacing, and in front of the bearing as a small shield for the grease. As for the shims, they are the same size but mine have that notch in them. I'm guessing Hoss has updated his info at some point and he is suggesting the non-keyed shims. I would go with the 3088A383.
Do you miss being able to operate the mill manually? I hear you can kind of do it with a pendant or with some extra plastic handles.... how does it compare with the regular, as built mill under manual control?
Hey russ, I've just received the parts for my craftex cx601 cnc conversion, and was wondering what are the bearing numbers you use for the x and y axis? These are the small bearings by the jam nuts.
I'm not sure the size, but they were cheap. The outside diameter is almost exactly the same as the stock diameter bearings, then the inside of the bearing is to fit the screw shaft. You can probably get away with using your stock bearings if you wanted.
Hi, can u tell me what stepper motors u use? I already have nema 23 , 425 Oz-in,3A. Do u thing they are good enough to use them? I want to buy milling machine ZX50CF which i similar to G0704. What accuracy u get with this machine, are u able to work on steel?
+Riste Bozhinov You can find all of my components in this video: ua-cam.com/video/lJpjbyt4lRw/v-deo.html My X and Y are using Nema23 570oz (5amp) steppers, and the Z is a Nema34 906oz (6.1amp). I have no doubt the 425s will work for the X and Y, I'm not sure about the Z though. You may want to do some searching on the CNCzone or other forums to see if people are able to use a Nema23 motor for the head. I plan for accuracy of .002", but typically get better than that. I did a 4" circle once and it was out .004" across the diameter, which I am pretty happy with. A double-ballnut setup would probably work even better. Also, I haven't really spent a lot of time chasing away all possible backlash (I just don't most things require .001" or better accuracy, at least my stuff doesn't). It will work on steel but only with smaller cutters. If you're using 1/4" and taking shallow cuts you'll be fine. I struggle with anything bigger. 1/8" end mills are no problem at all in steel. The main thing to remember is these mills are light and not very rigid. That means if you go slow and take light cuts (TAKES A LOT OF TIME) you'll be fine.
+russtuff What do u mean with double ball nut setup? How to install it and what is in double ballnut which makes better accuracy? About milling steel with deeper cuts have u ever thing about changing the spindle motor to bigger one?
+Riste Bozhinov Search Google or the regular CNC forums. You can get a double-ballnut setup on Roton style screws or on C7's. linearmotionbearing2008 sells them on his ebay store too, which is where many people buy from. A bigger motor isn't the issue when cutting steel, it's rigidity. But yes, I do have a bigger motor and a belt drive conversion. You can find my playlist on the matter at: ua-cam.com/play/PLv4P26_5EBixBSwC5KtcrmawBFBAbtQnB.html
Hey Bill. I generally try to avoid taking on jobs for other people because I have no way of knowing when I will be able to get around to doing it, and I never know what to charge ($) for work to make it worth both our while. Right now my machines are still not up and running but I hope to get that part solved within the next few weeks.
XY are Nema 23, Z is Nema 34. Check one of the earlier videos in this series and you can find a spreadsheet with every part I used during the conversion.
+Jared R I've never measured one of the screws itself. I have two of this brand on my mill and it holds under .002" on both axis, so I'm sure only a portion of that is in the screw. My lathe Z-Axis is just as good, but I have about .005" backlash on my lathe X-Axis (needs more troubleshooting). I use backlash compensation in LinuxCNC to get both machines to under .001" per axis. Even though my lathe X-Axis has .005" backlash my parts are consistently coming out within three tenths of each other :)
+russtuff .002 is alot of backlash for a ball screw. You could have used acme threaded rod and a nut and achieve that. Try upsizing your balls slightly, I've heard of this as being a solution as some balls might not be the proper size from the manufacturer (overseas manufacturing) we're talking on the scale of ten-thousandths 1/10000
+Alan S Hey Alan. I've tried to increase ball size using a .0005 oversized ball but they won't fit. I've never found a supplier who can offer a ball .0001 over-sized for a price that is reasonable for this budget type screw. I know the guys using Roton screws have had good luck with finding balls that will fit but I'm not sure anyone has done it on C7 screws. My comment was that I have .002" backlash total and haven't measured the actual screw backlash. I'm sure only a portion of the backlash is in the screw itself.
Russ I've watched you Lathe conversion vids and now these for the mill. NICE job! man! I am going to do BOTH myself. My biggest hesitation is the electronics side of things mechanical stuff is NO prob for me. THANKS so much for sharing your builds. Very well put together and doucmented vids on both builds.
That's CPVC, it has higher heat tolerance than PVC. It's sized differently so that it won't be inadvertently used with PVC fittings.
Thanks for these vids!
Awesome! Thank you for watching!
Right at about $2700 for the conversion itself. If you want more specifics, check out my "G0704 CNC Conversion 02 - What it Costs to Convert" video. In that video you will also find a link to my web site where you can download my Excel spreadsheet where I tracked the entire conversion cost part by part.
CPVC is what you are using. CPVC is measured in outside diameter, where PVC is measured by inside diameter.
Thanks for watching1
Great video. I don't see a zerk fitting while you are grinding the X-axis ball nut, but then I see a zerk fitting while you are installing the ball screw. Did you add this zerk fitting yourself, or did it come installed with the ball screw?
The zerk came with the screw/nut combo, but you want to take it off and plug the hole before grinding/cuting the nut. Then put it back on before assembly.
Its a shame the hoss DVD is no longer available. Looks like his site is pretty much defunct.
Another great vid!
Thanks!
I`m about to pull the trigger and buy the G0704. I`v noticed that some people are selling ball screw and step motor mount kits pre-made. In hindsight would you suggest building your own setup as you did or buying one of these kits ? Any help you could provide would be appreciated...
That's a tough one. I do see the appeal of buying a kit and being done with it, but making everything myself was a nice intro to machining class. All of that said, if I had more time than money I would convert myself. If I had more money than time, I would buy a kit.
From what I've heard from other people, some of the kits come with minor problems and you are going to be on your own to fix/adjust it. If you build a kit you're on your own too...... tough call.
Not counting the machine, how much are you into this cnc conversion? I bought the same mill after watching You and Hoss and am now thinking about cnc.
Thanks
Angryyank from Sacramento
If I could find my chainsaw in my garage (it's wall to wall mess), I would fire it up tonight! Great idea!
Hey Russ, do the shims go on both sides of the AC bearings? Or just the sides that point "out"?
Also, according to your Excel sheet from your second conversion video you used keyed shims (McMaster 3088A773) instead of the ones called for by Hoss (3088A383) . Was there a reason you needed clearance for a key?
Man it's been a long time so I'm not super positive. I think the shims were on both sides of the AC bearing. Behind the bearing for spacing, and in front of the bearing as a small shield for the grease.
As for the shims, they are the same size but mine have that notch in them. I'm guessing Hoss has updated his info at some point and he is suggesting the non-keyed shims. I would go with the 3088A383.
Cool stuff.
Nice video man!!
Do you miss being able to operate the mill manually? I hear you can kind of do it with a pendant or with some extra plastic handles.... how does it compare with the regular, as built mill under manual control?
Not on mill so much, but yes on my lathe. Yes a rotary encoder or pendant would basic give manual mode back. I intend to get there eventually.
Hey russ, I've just received the parts for my craftex cx601 cnc conversion, and was wondering what are the bearing numbers you use for the x and y axis? These are the small bearings by the jam nuts.
I'm not sure the size, but they were cheap. The outside diameter is almost exactly the same as the stock diameter bearings, then the inside of the bearing is to fit the screw shaft. You can probably get away with using your stock bearings if you wanted.
Thanks I happen to stumble across the correct one from a local supplier.
Hi
Why we have to use new scrow ?
The original did not work will with the stepper motors?
I means what the benefit of changed it ?
Thanks 🙏
+Anwar Alfaqeeh Alhusseini It isn't required, but the new ball screws are much smooth and offer less backlash than the stock screws.
russtuff thank you
I get it
Thanks again for your support
Hi, can u tell me what stepper motors u use? I already have nema 23 , 425 Oz-in,3A. Do u thing they are good enough to use them? I want to buy milling machine ZX50CF which i similar to G0704. What accuracy u get with this machine, are u able to work on steel?
+Riste Bozhinov You can find all of my components in this video: ua-cam.com/video/lJpjbyt4lRw/v-deo.html
My X and Y are using Nema23 570oz (5amp) steppers, and the Z is a Nema34 906oz (6.1amp). I have no doubt the 425s will work for the X and Y, I'm not sure about the Z though. You may want to do some searching on the CNCzone or other forums to see if people are able to use a Nema23 motor for the head.
I plan for accuracy of .002", but typically get better than that. I did a 4" circle once and it was out .004" across the diameter, which I am pretty happy with. A double-ballnut setup would probably work even better. Also, I haven't really spent a lot of time chasing away all possible backlash (I just don't most things require .001" or better accuracy, at least my stuff doesn't).
It will work on steel but only with smaller cutters. If you're using 1/4" and taking shallow cuts you'll be fine. I struggle with anything bigger. 1/8" end mills are no problem at all in steel. The main thing to remember is these mills are light and not very rigid. That means if you go slow and take light cuts (TAKES A LOT OF TIME) you'll be fine.
+russtuff What do u mean with double ball nut setup? How to install it and what is in double ballnut which makes better accuracy? About milling steel with deeper cuts have u ever thing about changing the spindle motor to bigger one?
+Riste Bozhinov Search Google or the regular CNC forums. You can get a double-ballnut setup on Roton style screws or on C7's. linearmotionbearing2008 sells them on his ebay store too, which is where many people buy from.
A bigger motor isn't the issue when cutting steel, it's rigidity. But yes, I do have a bigger motor and a belt drive conversion. You can find my playlist on the matter at: ua-cam.com/play/PLv4P26_5EBixBSwC5KtcrmawBFBAbtQnB.html
Hi Russ, can you make me x,y,z stepper motor mounts. I am getting ready to start my CNC conversion. Thanks
Bill from Seattle
Hey Bill. I generally try to avoid taking on jobs for other people because I have no way of knowing when I will be able to get around to doing it, and I never know what to charge ($) for work to make it worth both our while. Right now my machines are still not up and running but I hope to get that part solved within the next few weeks.
Is it 1605 or 2005 ball screw please?
I believe I covered all parts in the second video of this playlist.
Instead of using tape, perhaps saran wrap or foil would work better.
Yes absolutely!
What is the pitch of this ball screw? turns per inch, or distance per inch?
This is a 1605 screw, meaning 16mm diameter and 5mm pitch.
Thanks!!!
Another question. Are your steppers nema 34?? Thanks again
XY are Nema 23, Z is Nema 34. Check one of the earlier videos in this series and you can find a spreadsheet with every part I used during the conversion.
How much backlash do you have with those chinese ballnuts?
+Jared R I've never measured one of the screws itself. I have two of this brand on my mill and it holds under .002" on both axis, so I'm sure only a portion of that is in the screw. My lathe Z-Axis is just as good, but I have about .005" backlash on my lathe X-Axis (needs more troubleshooting).
I use backlash compensation in LinuxCNC to get both machines to under .001" per axis. Even though my lathe X-Axis has .005" backlash my parts are consistently coming out within three tenths of each other :)
+russtuff .002 is alot of backlash for a ball screw. You could have used acme threaded rod and a nut and achieve that. Try upsizing your balls slightly, I've heard of this as being a solution as some balls might not be the proper size from the manufacturer (overseas manufacturing) we're talking on the scale of ten-thousandths 1/10000
+Alan S Hey Alan. I've tried to increase ball size using a .0005 oversized ball but they won't fit. I've never found a supplier who can offer a ball .0001 over-sized for a price that is reasonable for this budget type screw. I know the guys using Roton screws have had good luck with finding balls that will fit but I'm not sure anyone has done it on C7 screws.
My comment was that I have .002" backlash total and haven't measured the actual screw backlash. I'm sure only a portion of the backlash is in the screw itself.