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Well, speed isn't the overwhelming goal here - Being able to push the button, and then come back later is preferred - so if I have to run rapids slower, that's fine.

I'm not really looking to "high speed machine" with the thing - just worried that if I run a little fast by accident that I'll destroy it. Looking like the harmonic will be in the budget - Eldon,...

I mean, everything looks great about them. Darn near zero backlash, etc., etc. I'm not worried about speed.

But if I throw a little too much torque at one while cutting some steel, am I going to...

Well, right now, it is looking like I'll just go for the 2x23, 1x34 kit with the 570 motors from Automation Technologies. I'd like to do 34s all the way around, but frankly, it is probably right to...

Well, I make fairly small parts, and a few per day would be nice.

And I'm a bachelor from hell, and am figuring that I can move the 704 into my dining room or laundry room, semi-enclosed, and...

Okay - since I'm going to want to "grow" the system with the least weirdness - Can I start off using one of the linear power supplies, run a pair of 570s, and a big Nema34 for the Z? And then as time...

I swear I'm finally going to do it - tired of turning handles. Going to leave my Bridgeport as it is, but I'm going to bolt some motors on my G0704. Thinking of a standardish stepper setup to start,...

Hey, are the automation tech folks out of business? I'm (sigh) almost to where I'm thinking about actually buying the motors and stuff, and their site looks 404'd...

It basically cracked (in several places) the compound and carriage... Along with a few other parts, all the handles, etc., etc... Have not checked squareness of spindle to bed, etc...

If... IF......

Well, the bad news is that I've inherited a 54" Bridgeport with a DRO and XY power feeds...

And the ends of the scale for the DRO covers both coolant holes in the table.

I _like_ coolant....

So, a friend gave me a little wire welder...

So my projects for the summer are going to be a taller stand for 704, and a taller stand for my HF bandsaw.

And I'm not designing them around the...

Uh... Didn't you just describe a thing called a "lathe?" (grin - I know you did in the first line, but... seems to me you're trying to adapt something rather than do it right the first time)

You...

Yeah, I'm going to put a drill press on that sheet metal stand, and cage the mill. Thinking I'm going to run something up the back, and weld that to side and front supports, maybe a couple of angles.

I've done some small stuff, some milling, but mostly used it for drilling... Worked just fine, especially for repetitive "it has to be here" sort of holes.

Now I'm in a production run of some...

Thanks - I'm probably going to rock on through this weekend, doing a part, and then doing something on the lathe, doing a part, and so on...

I'm basically trying to get the job done that is paying for the first part of the CNC upgrade... Mill is stock at the moment, except that some stuff has already "fallen off" (like the plastic safety...

I'm also thinking that I'd like to spin it as a lathe (for doing some repetitive simple operation stuff, like facing part blanks) - Which will likely mean two motors, and a way to swap belts between...

You _will_ need tooling. Figure probably at least a grand's worth.

So, your budget just went to $4k tops.

If you have more time than money, I'd go with the G0704 machine with a conversion....

Yeah, I'm a little leery of the little "engraving" 4th axis dealies...

I figure I can buy a HF minilathe for about $425 or so (coupon...), and then rig a belt drive. I am thinking that if I set...

I'm FINALLY making the bulk of the parts for the darn thing... (took a job driving a truck for a while)

And I'm basically just going to set it up to make stuff I've been making, only a little...

Meh, overall, I do have to say "not that bad." And it'll be better once I get a VFD installed, and do something with the tailstock...

Now, I'm not a "machinist." I make stuff. So this is...

Just an update...

Bought a $300 handwheel collet closer. Runout on a .750 piece of turned, ground and polished is approximately 0.0001 to 0.0002".

Bought a four-jaw, haven't done a backplate...

Getting a Fuerda ES series from Tools 4 Cheap... The guy who's running the outfit seems pretty cool, and answers stupid questions.

Tools4cheap LLC Online Machine Shop Tooling Store Fuerda Lathe...

Table by itself, or what you've bolted to the table?

Have learned a lot about chucks recently... Getting ready to order a set-tru clone, should give me about 0.0005ish with a little effort.

Have considered picking up a mini lathe with a four jaw, just so that I can slowly crank out some of the stuff I owe people while I wait for parts.

Interesting now is that one of the guys who...

Well, today, in between trying to get a dishwasher installed in a house that was never meant to have one, I was messing with the chuck. Which, as installed, had about 0.006 runout. Not acceptable.
...

Well, got chuck runout down to about 0.0023ish...

Can't call MSC and tell 'em I want a rubber belt for a Heavy 10 and here's the part number... Sigh...

A friend in a garage is keeping an eye out for a serpentine belt or two for me to try... But...

Are you buying a tool, or a hobby?

I basically let some folks talk me into buying a 1965 South Bend Heavy 10 instead of a newer 10-12" Griz...

Well, I'm still working on it, getting stuff...

Well, I think it's funny...

(but I'm weird)

I got to call a tool supplier the other day... "Hey, you guys are great, but you sent me more than I asked for!"

"Uh... What?"

"You sent me...