[hoss2006]

The Kluber came this morning, good thing I don't need much.
My 3 axis driver for the mill showed up from China too.
Actually it's for the lathe attachment.
The various input possibilities look cool.
Hoss

[BobWarfield]

Cute little combo board. Kind of like a way cheaper Xylotex with a little more functionality too.

It's not exactly true, but its almost like your stepper board and grease are nearly the same price, or at least the same ballpark, LOL!

Cheers,

BW

[beersandgears]

Cool board. I can't believe how inexpensive they are. Enjoy.

On the grease note: I'm getting ready to reassemble my 7X12 lathe (tonight) using tapered roller bearings ... and I picked up some Mobile 1 Synthetic Grease. Am I making a big mistake by not using a Kluber product? I looked at the price per tube, factored in shipping, and found myself down at the local auto supply store spending $6. Penny wise pound foolish?

[jalessi]

Hoss,

Is the driver board a TB6560, which vendor did you purchase it from?

Jeff...

[serriadh]

Cool board. I can't believe how inexpensive they are. Enjoy.

On the grease note: I'm getting ready to reassemble my 7X12 lathe (tonight) using tapered roller bearings ... and I picked up some Mobile 1 Synthetic Grease. Am I making a big mistake by not using a Kluber product? I looked at the price per tube, factored in shipping, and found myself down at the local auto supply store spending $6. Penny wise pound foolish?

I assume you're not running it at 6000rpm, so I wouldn't worry a whole lot ;-)

[hoss2006]

I'll second that, the lathe prolly only goes 3000 so you should be fine.

Bob, hopefully I have better luck with this little board than I did with Xylotex,
at least it won't hurt as bad it it goes poof, knock on wood.

Jeff, it's from Quality Gadgets that I linked to, that's just their main page
with prices for various countries, it still comes from china.
Took 15 days to get here.
I suggest it as a super cheap 3rd choice for X2 electronics, want to see if it's as good as I've read.
Hoss

[jalessi]

Hoss,

I did not notice you had a link for the driver board, sorry for being a pain in the a$$.

Please keep us posted on the performance of the board.

Jeff...

[beersandgears]

Thanks to everyone for giving the all clear on my (off topic) grease selection question. I really don't wish to take my lathe apart again any time soon and your input helped put my mind at ease.

Now I'm going to have to order one of those combo boards....

[duzallcnc]

Hi All,

I read a post on the CandCNC forum where Tom bought 3 of those boards and smoked 2 of them. He said the performance was poor when they did run. He also commented that they may not smoke if the voltage was held to 24V max but that was speculation. So try them before you commit to a bunch.

[mmprestine]

This is just a hunch but if I were to use the combo drive I would make sure that I have a very large capacitor accross the power supply so the regenerative current of the motor does not blow the drivers.

Here is a cheap one at digikey

[hoss2006]

I read on another forum that they run great at 24V on some routers using Nema 23's.
That's why I got one, want to find out for myself.
Got a 24V 6.5A power supply for $19.
http://www.circuitspecialists.com/prod.itml/icOid/9590
I'll hook it up to my ZX45 and see what happens.
Hoss

[Randolph]

Hi Hoss,
I just read the whole thread and I always enjoy the progression of what you do with your machines.
I bought a used Micromark X2 recently and after working for a few weeks cleaning, truing and modifying (I won't go into detail here) I have been disappointed how much work I am putting into trying to get decent milling on a workpiece.
I just found out about the G0704 today.
My question:
Do you think the G0704 is a good enough, accurate out of the box machine (without any mods) to improve my attitude toward milling?
I had thought $1100 was more than I wanted to spend, but I am rapidly approaching that with my X2 (not to mention the hours of fiddling). Oh. I just mentioned that, didn't I?
If spending the money now for a G0704 will get me up and going with manual milling, I'm game.
I just don't want to have to learn to hand scrape a table to get parallel cuts.

[hoss2006]

Hi Hoss,
I just read the whole thread and I always enjoy the progression of what you do with your machines.
I bought a used Micromark X2 recently and after working for a few weeks cleaning, truing and modifying (I won't go into detail here) I have been disappointed how much work I am putting into trying to get decent milling on a workpiece.
I just found out about the G0704 today.
My question:
Do you think the G0704 is a good enough, accurate out of the box machine (without any mods) to improve my attitude toward milling?
I had thought $1100 was more than I wanted to spend, but I am rapidly approaching that with my X2 (not to mention the hours of fiddling). Oh. I just mentioned that, didn't I?
If spending the money now for a G0704 will get me up and going with manual milling, I'm game.
I just don't want to have to learn to hand scrape a table to get parallel cuts.

All machines require periodic maintenance for gib, tram and backlash adjustments.
When you spend more money, you usually get better designs that go out of adjustment less often and are easier to adjust.
The PITA factor is one way to look at it.
It's high with the cheaper machines like the X2 that require more fiddling and more often.
Every 2-4 months sounds about right for the X2.
Machines like the G0704 with tapered gibs, rigid column and articulating head
have a pretty low PITA factor.
Adjusting is much easier and less prone to go out.
Out of the box, any machine needs an initial setup for the above especially
if it's disassembled for moving.
Extraordinary fiddling like lapping, scraping, modding are only needed on the cheapest machines.
You didn't pay them to do it so that leaves it for you.
A higher PITA but you'll have more beer money.
The G0704 doesn't need extraordinary fiddling and the PITA is very low, well worth the money.
Chef recommends.
Hoss

[Randolph]

Machines like the G0704 with tapered gibs, rigid column and articulating head
have a pretty low PITA factor.
Adjusting is much easier and less prone to go out.

Extraordinary fiddling like lapping, scraping, modding are only needed on the cheapest machines.
The G0704 doesn't need extraordinary fiddling and the PITA is very low, well worth the money.
Chef recommends.
Hoss

Thanks Hoss.
I'm learning as I go. I've watched a lot of training videos (some you recommended) and read a lot (something else you recommebnded).
I was enjoying actually cutting some metal and then I discovered how horribly inaccurate my surfacing was going.
I've learned a lot in a short time by working on the X2, so I won't regret buying it, but I think the G0704 will be easier on my learning curve.
I love machines and I don't mind "normal" maintenance at all. It's just that lapping, scraping, etc. to get a table accurate is a little too steep for me right now. I'll save that for a rainy day project when I really need to meditate. :-)

[hoss2006]

Yeah, get the G0704 and then you can use it to go crazy on the X2.
Working on the mods is a lot easier when you have a bigger mill.
Carving up a decent mill is painful but the X2 just begs for it.

Here's a peek at a belt drive bracket. Should finish it tonight. ish
Hoss

[Randolph]

Yeah, get the G0704 and then you can use it to go crazy on the X2.
Working on the mods is a lot easier when you have a bigger mill.
Carving up a decent mill is painful but the X2 just begs for it.

Here's a peek at a belt drive bracket. Should finish it tonight. ish
Hoss

YIKES!
I must have thought that sounded like a good idea.
I just ordered one. :-)
Funny. I don't feel bad or nothing; just feel like laughing.

[photomankc]

Yeah, I was planning to sell off the little X2 but now I'm wondering what else I could turn it into since it's hard to find another lathe, drill press, ect, worth having that was under the $380 price of the X2. Might set it up to do the rotary table work.

[BobWarfield]

Nice bracket, Hoss!

Engraving has been addictive for me. It's so easy to add a little engraving to a part, and it comes out looking very cool.

What sort of cutter did you use for it?

Photoman, bound to be some cool things to do with the X2 if you wanted a little dedicated machine for something. I have been thinking about turning one into a tool grinder, though I'm about convinced that these BF20's would be a nicer place to start from.

Another thought would be to yank the head and put one of those relatively inexpensive Chinese 24K rpm spindles on it. Man that would make a sweet little engraver, high speed drill press, and PC Board router.

Dat lil sucker would rip!

Cheers,

BW

[Starleper1]

Here's a peek at a belt drive bracket. Should finish it tonight. ish
Hoss

From the looks of the warning label, I would guess you plan to market this?

Looks good BTW.

Engraving is a great way to add the professional looking touch.

[hoss2006]

Marketing is a possibility, more to test first.

Here's another peek, mounted it and gave it a quick test.
Have a few minor tweaks to take care of.
Like the length of the base that's a little too long, the motor cover won't quite go on all the way just yet, no biggy.
Still have to change to the Kluber grease.
The tach needs mounted up as well.
RPMs as of now, 1570 low and 5315 high.
It's definitely quieter than the gears but not as quiet as V-belts would be, but the timing pulleys will be necessary later.
Hoss

[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyAFo0cdrO0"]YouTube- G0704 Belt Drive Sneak Peek[/nomedia]