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Very nice. I've been to the Datron factory and was impressed by the machines, the Youtube videos aren't lying. Yours is a good imitation.

Mostly the gear reductions are done for torque multiplication rather than resolution.
My mill runs direct drive steppers to 5mm pitch ballscrews, with 10x microstepping. That gives me 2.5µm (1...

I actually bought an F1410HS about 10 years ago. It was the CNC ready version, with linear rails and ball screws. I went with the SK30 spindle option because I didn't want MT2. This was at the...

Greggan - I have a zip of all the DXFs I used to make a load of the parts for this machine, which has been shared out many times. Happy to send you it if you PM me your email address. It's all 2D...

Nice, that's a really good find.
I like the Robodrills, very versatile. Interesting how small that Z ball screw looks compared to the size of the head.

I use cheap microswitches but rarely home my machine. Mainly they are a catch for when I get too close to the limits, I do not use soft limits. I sometimes home if I want to switch off mid-job and...

For that many I would make an expanding mandrel. Turn an aluminium cylinder to a slip fit to the pipe bore, then split it longitudinally with a number of saw cuts (3 usually works for me to give 6...

Sounds like you have narrowed down the source of the problem, X axis bearings/mount or coupler. One change I can wholeheartedly recommend would be using clamp-type couplers rather than the set screw...

This is a good suggestion. Also, look at the head on the machine. Just grab the spindle nose and try to rock it in X, and then Y. If there is any free play in the head mounting, gibs, or (less...

404672

Home made Oldham couplers, done on the mill before conversion.
I think I bought the plastic sliders as a pack of spares from RS, they were extremely cheap. 10 years later they are still...

Expanding drive screws on machines like this is very unlikely to be of concern. I wouldn't worry about it. I have measured noticeable changes when warmed up, in the 30LV class machine I have. It's...

Cheers. I haven't sold any of these wheels, just made for my own cars. Probably go for around £100/pair if anyone wanted a set.
I have a 4th axis setup, it's a converted Vertex 4" table running a...

Not convinced on that, for a given travel speed the motor will be spinning twice as fast. In many setups that will place the motor well down on the torque curve which will not be compensated for by...

Mostly RC car parts. I build custom cars and make upgrades to kit cars.
Couple of examples below.

Alloy wheel for Kyosho Scorpion:...

I think every option you've outlined will work, guess it depends on exactly the performance you want. I've been running my BF30 for many years now, direct drive open loop steppers with 3 Nm on all...

LONG TERM UPDATE!
I have been running this mill at the 4000 RPM ceiling for 7 years, it seems.
It still has the same 3 phase motor and VFD and has had next to no maintenance really. Survived a...

I think you are asking a lot for a 200lb machine. The flex in a machine that light will more than offset the tiny accuracy benefit of closed loop servos over anything else. You don't need any...

Hm, that doesn't sound like I was expecting. Most likely something else then. Just check it does the same thing with the quill lowered. If the sound goes away then it isn't a bearing problem I...

I can't view the video for some reason, but if it is a clattering sort of sound it is likely to be the quill splines rather than the gearbox. If you pull the quill down a bit and then check the...

I don't think you will have any issues with helical interpolation thread milling with these spindle controls. The RPM may fluctuate slightly but not enough to matter. As long as you have decent XY...

Not sure why you would need spindle control to threadmill. If you are talking about the process where the tool is driven in a helical path out of the hole to create the thread, I've done it many...

You will notice a deterioration in surface finish and an increase in part wall taper before the bearings start to clatter and skid if you are running insufficient preload. So the chances of damaging...

Luke,
When I got my BF30 clone machine, I had similar issues with spindle heat. Not the sticking tool holders though but I use MT3 tooling. On ISO 40 taper tooling the location is done only on the...

That's what I have done. I think it would be better if the housing was rotated under spring tension. As standard, you may get zero backlash but only truly at one location in the table's revolution....

I mounted a stepper directly to a Vertex HV4 4" rotary table and it has served me well for many years. Unless the zero backlash of the harmonic is an absolute requirement I would just use an RT. ...

That's a well articulated comment. Interesting discussion going on here.

Lcvette, those surfaces are sensational. They would be top shelf off any machine, but from one of these I must say I am really impressed.

I would contact MDA, especially as your machines came from them originally.

That Stoney CNC machine is impressive, and decently priced for what you get especially as it is in the UK. Good to see something nicely engineered with great specs and not based off Chinese cast...

Ha ha ahaaa, I still have my original screws too. My problem is I don't need a sausage press!