Cncing a mini mill.

[jaustin]

Always been wanting to learn cnc.
I order the mill and components to build one. I have been working on this for almost month and half.

I order the mini mill from
http://littlemachineshop.com/products/product_view.php?ProductID=4722&category=1387807683



Motors and drive from
http://www.automationtechnologiesinc.com/products-page/g540-stepper-motor-kits/g540-381ozin-48v7-3a



Ballscrews and mounts from http://www.cncfusion.com/minimill1.html


I also order some other odd and ends from other places mainly consumables.

 

[jaustin]

Took the image from Google.
Used Inkscape to create a .dxf file
loaded it in CamBam to generate the g code.
Open gcode in Mach 3 to create the carve.


Only 2 days to figure out how to do a simple 4x4, 2 min carve.

But learned lot doing it.

 

[jaustin]

got it down to about 30 mins to make one from getting image from google to having it cut out.


short video of it running,
took image from google
converted into .dxf file,
used Cambam to produce gcode
mach 3 to run.

[video=youtube_share;NQGbipoOyJc]http://youtu.be/NQGbipoOyJc[/video]

 

[Michael Mathews]

John, The link is broken!

I'm really looking forward to seeing this work.
Thanks,
Michael

 

[jaustin]

John, The link is broken!

I'm really looking forward to seeing this work.
Thanks,
Michael

Michael
It should work now.

 

[patlaw]

I love it! In fact, I can't wait for vtxmanmike to get one, since he's close by!

 

[Michael Mathews]

Mike,
I'm not planning on building one at this time. I work with controls everyday and they intrigue me. I'd love to have one, but don't have the justification at this time. If you'd like to acquire the components for me, I'd gladly assemble and get it working!

Michael

 

[patlaw]

No, I can't justify it either. While I'm bad about buying expensive tools for one-time use, I can resist this one for a while. One thing I'd like to have is a small, overhead router, but this setup would be so much better. Back in the old days, I wrote programs for PLC controllers for plastic injection molding machines. It is definitely intriguing.

Let me know when you get yours!

 

[Michael Mathews]

Mike, that's one of the many tasks I do on a daily basis. I write PLC code for GE and Siemens PLCs.

 

[patlaw]

It was great fun when the code worked. I do hate ladder diagrams, though.

 

[jimwill48]

Very cool. Have a mini-mill for years. This is a great conversion. You also need to add a belt drive to get rid of the break prone gears. Best upgrade I did to mine.

 

[jaustin]

LMS mill comes with a belt instead of gears.
I asked when I purchased it, that is one of the reason i pick this mill.

 

[tarheelz]

Roy Underhill should do a show on this.

 

[merrill77]

Roy Underhill should do a show on this.

:rotflm:

 

[Hmerkle]

Credidi me felem vidisse!

Seriously? (I had to look it up!)