[Degrom]

Hi there,

I am working on converting my Sieg X2 Mill in to a CNC Mill.
I have a CNC Fusion kit on its way to handle the machanical part.
(Ball screw conversion for the X2,with NIMA 23 mounts)(Will be using
400oz Nema 23 steppers.)

I am going to buy 3 Gecko 203V's shortly and I am just wondering what is the best breakout board for this setup.

( Power supply and steppers won't be a problem,do I need anything else except the breakout board? )

Any info would be appreciated.

Kind regards,
Bert.

[Crevice Reamer]

I like the mini IO from CandC N C.com

CR.

[CNCfun&games]

CR,

I agree the CandCNC stuff is great! Plug & Play...All the Way!!
Mini IO is easy on the Pocket book. I also like the plug in board for
Gecko 203V's.

Degrom,

Arturo Duncan also has a nice selection of BOB's (full 6 axis')
He has also introduced an MPG (Manual Pulse Generator)
CNC4PC.com

You can see by the Photo, I've purchased stuff from both Guys
and I have had excellent results.

W. Smith

[tauntdesigns]

I got the C11G multi-function BOB from cnc4pc

[Degrom]

I got the C11G multi-function BOB from cnc4pc

Nice... I have been looking at it for a while and it looks pretty good.

How do you find the C11G?

[Degrom]

CR,

I agree the cnczone stuff is great! Plug & Play...All the Way!!
Mini IO is easy on the Pocket book. I also like the plug in board for
Gecko 203V's.

Degrom,

Arturo Duncan also has a nice selection of BOB's (full 6 axis')
He has also introduced an MPG (Manual Pulse Generator)
CNC4PC.com

You can see by the Photo, I've purchased stuff from both Guys
and I have had excellent results.

W. Smith

Hi there... Thanks for the reply. In you picture,what are the boards connected to the Gecko's?

Regards,
Bert.

[tauntdesigns]

I've had good luck with mine.
As far as the multi-functions go, as of right now, I'm only using the charge pump, EN & pin 10 as e-stop, and jumper set for com pins to be ground. I'm planning to hook up the limits, coolant relay, and spindle control in the near future.

Jack

[Degrom]

I've had good luck with mine.
As far as the multi-functions go, as of right now, I'm only using the charge pump, EN & pin 10 as e-stop, and jumper set for com pins to be ground. I'm planning to hook up the limits, coolant relay, and spindle control in the near future.

Jack

Sounds good then. I noticed that you did a X3 conversion. I think you said you used 600oz steppers.

Are the motor's up to the task or would you recommend bigger size motor's?

I am thinking of using at least 400oz+ steppers on my conversion...

(What did you think about your CNC Fusion kit?)

Sorry for all the questions,thanks for the replies.

[Crevice Reamer]

Hi there... Thanks for the reply. In you picture,what are the boards connected to the Gecko's? Regards, Bert.

Hi Bert! Those are EZ Plug Stepper cards For Gecko drives. (Also available for Servos)

The CandC N C system is several easily connected modules and allows building a very professional workstation with independently survivable components. The all-in-one BO boards, If there is a problem, will lose everything.

The EZ Plug boards can also be installed onto an available aluminum heat-sink-mounting plate.

For some reason this forum converts the name of Tom Caudle's company (CandC N C.com) to CncZone unless you space out CNC as C N C, and that includes the link.

CR.

[acondit]

I like the mini IO from CandC N C.com

CR.

I'm with CR on this. The CandC_N_C mini-IO with on board logic supply is a really simple solution. I have one on my router and another on my lathe.

Unfortunately the cnczone editor keeps changing the URL from CandC_N_C to cnczone, so I can't seem to post a valid link to their website. It is CandC_N_C.com without the underscores.

Alan

[CNCfun&games]

CR & Alan,
Thanks for the explanation on the URL stuff!!
Was beginning to think my cerebral transmission was slipping bigtime!

DEGROM,

Tom's Gecko "EZ PLUG" dual stepper Interface card is $38.
It replaces 24 Hard wired connections ....But ....also includes
the Gecko current set function via DIP switches.

Can't wait till Tom works his magic on a G250,G251 plug & Play Box,
similar to the XYLOTEX System offered previously.

Cheers...W. Smith

[Degrom]

CR & Alan,
Thanks for the explanation on the URL stuff!!
Was beginning to think my cerebral transmission was slipping bigtime!

DEGROM,

Tom's Gecko "EZ PLUG" dual stepper Interface card is $38.
It replaces 24 Hard wired connections ....But ....also includes
the Gecko current set function via DIP switches.

Can't wait till Tom works his magic on a G250,G251 plug & Play Box,
similar to the XYLOTEX System offered previously.

Cheers...W. Smith

Hi there,

I had a look at the EZ Plug stepper interface.(Love the plug and play idea!!!)

But you still need a breakout board board,right?

Regards,
Bert.

[Crevice Reamer]

Yeah! Everything else But the PS wires connects together with (supplied) ribbon cables. You just run 2 AC wires to the BO board for its 5V onboard PS. That BO board also contains a charge pump.

CR.

[tauntdesigns]

Sounds good then. I noticed that you did a X3 conversion. I think you said you used 600oz steppers.

Are the motor's up to the task or would you recommend bigger size motor's?

I am thinking of using at least 400oz+ steppers on my conversion...

(What did you think about your CNC Fusion kit?)

Sorry for all the questions,thanks for the replies.

I used 425oz/in for X & Y-axis and used an 640oz/in for z-axis.

The kit bolted right up and backlash was under .0004-.0008" on X & Y.
Backlash on the Z-axis was at .0040" because of the locking collar design. They have changed that design to use a threaded locking nut, which should fix that.
I haven't put any strain on the mill yet to see what it will/can do(can take). I did a lathe conversion using the mill to produce the parts and was happy with the results. I took small, very small cuts.......

Don't worry about the questions,
Jack

[kanton]

tauntdesigns,

Which CNC Fusion kit did you use? Was it the Deluxe version?

Thanks.

[Degrom]

I used 425oz/in for X & Y-axis and used an 640oz/in for z-axis.

The kit bolted right up and backlash was under .0004-.0008" on X & Y.
Backlash on the Z-axis was at .0040" because of the locking collar design. They have changed that design to use a threaded locking nut, which should fix that.
I haven't put any strain on the mill yet to see what it will/can do(can take). I did a lathe conversion using the mill to produce the parts and was happy with the results. I took small, very small cuts.......

Don't worry about the questions,
Jack

Interesting!!! I am also interested in doing lathe conversion once the CNC Mill is going. I have a Sieg C6 that needs some steady steppers behind the steering wheel... :P

[tauntdesigns]

tauntdesigns,

Which CNC Fusion kit did you use? Was it the Deluxe version?

Thanks.

Yes, I have the Deluxe kit on mine.

[tauntdesigns]

Interesting!!! I am also interested in doing lathe conversion once the CNC Mill is going. I have a Sieg C6 that needs some steady steppers behind the steering wheel... :P

I had planned on building both conversions myself ....... I was going to do the mill first and then use it to build the lathe(Lathemaster 8x14). To do that I was going to need to buy a lot of manual tools and tooling that I would hardly ever use once I had the mill cnc'd.
The CNC Fusion kit was pretty close to my own design, so I bought it.

Cheers,
Jack
X3
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=43418
geckobox
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=42921
Lathemaster
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=54376

[Degrom]

Is it worth spending the extra money on the G203V or will the G201 do?

[tauntdesigns]

I got the G203v's for the extra protection, because I'm electronically dumb and didn't want to let the magic smoke out

I hooked everything up right the first time............ but I'm still glad I got the G203v's for piece of mind in knowing I could make a newbie mistake without blowing up the drive.

Jack