[LtFransky]

Could I please get some initial thoughts on this machine? I think that it is a Sieg X2 with a bigger motor and table, but I'm not sure. It looks good, for the price.

Thanks

http://busybeetools.ca/cgi-bin/picture10?NTITEM=CT129N

[hoss2006]

The CT129 is $229 cheaper and the only difference in the specs between the 2 is MT2 vs MT3 and 17 Kg.
They show the CT129N on a stand but it's optional.
Nice looking mills otherwise even though the X axis travel is pretty skimpy but they make up for it on the Y.

[LtFransky]

Now, what sort of difference does MT2 vs MT3 make?

[ihavenofish]

Now, what sort of difference does MT2 vs MT3 make?

mt2 is smaller. takes up to 1/2" bits (ive seen 14mm collets from germany though). mt3 goes up to 3/4" if im not mistaken.

otherwise they are the same taper and general idea.

i have a suspiscion the website has some mistakes though. id call and get confirmation on the spec before buying.

[LtFransky]

mt2 is smaller. takes up to 1/2" bits (ive seen 14mm collets from germany though). mt3 goes up to 3/4" if im not mistaken.

otherwise they are the same taper and general idea.

i have a suspiscion the website has some mistakes though. id call and get confirmation on the spec before buying.

Not surprising. What sort of possible mistakes do you see?

[SCzEngrgGroup]

Could I please get some initial thoughts on this machine? I think that it is a Sieg X2 with a bigger motor and table, but I'm not sure. It looks good, for the price.

Thanks

http://busybeetools.ca/cgi-bin/picture10?NTITEM=CT129N

Whatever that is, it's definitely NOT an X2.

Regards,
Ray L.

[hoss2006]

Not surprising. What sort of possible mistakes do you see?

The possible mistake could be the X axis travel.
The CT129/CT129N are pretty much the same as the OPTI BF 20 Vario/OPTI BF 20 L Vario.
Similar price difference and most everything is the same but the OPTI BF 20 L Vario has 19 inches X axis travel versus the 11 of the cheaper mill.
Could explain the price difference of the CT129/CT129N other than just MT2/MT3.
19x7 would be very respectable.

[LtFransky]

Wow. Hoss you have good eyes.

I've seen your site, very impressive. How tough do you think it would be to cnc the CT129N mill? I'm refering to the screws/motor mounts etc. The computer stuff should be no biggie.

[hoss2006]

Shouldn't be difficult to convert, it's also the same as the LATHEMASTER LMT25L and with R8.
There are several owners on here.
I would have liked to picked one of these up years ago, has more capacity than the X3 but only tips the scales at 250 lbs.
Optimum Machines was the only source I knew available then.
Nice to see these BF20 clones available on this side of the ocean now.
Hoss

[LtFransky]

OK, another few questions regarding this mill.

1. If I were to convert this mill from brand-new, would it be possible to use the factory motion screws and put Nema 32-960's into them, and build the controller WITHOUT switching to ballscrews? I'd like to do the project in 2 or 3 phases ($$$!!) if I could. I'd add ballscrews in phase 2.

2. I'd like to use Gecko 204V's and a PICStep opto-breakout board for my controller. Do they play nicely together?

3. Other than the Gecko's, breakout board, power supply, and on-off switches, what else should go in the controller box?

Thanks

[Crevice Reamer]

OK, another few questions regarding this mill.

1. If I were to convert this mill from brand-new, would it be possible to use the factory motion screws and put Nema 32-960's into them, and build the controller WITHOUT switching to ballscrews? I'd like to do the project in 2 or 3 phases ($$$!!) if I could. I'd add ballscrews in phase 2.

2. I'd like to use Gecko 204V's and a PICStep opto-breakout board for my controller. Do they play nicely together?

3. Other than the Gecko's, breakout board, power supply, and on-off switches, what else should go in the controller box?

Thanks

I think you mean N34 motors and G203V Geckos. N23 motors of 387-500 oz should be more than enough for X/Y. N34 640 - 960 oz should be ok for Z.

You will want to wire them in Bipolar Parallel and match the motor best voltage with the PSU. Formula for best/max motor voltage is 32 times the square root of the inductance in mH.

203Vs are the best IMO.

CR

[project5k]

i second CR's last post, the 203v's are super awesome. great drives, and they call them the vampire drives for a reason, you cant kill them(or so they say and i have absolutely no reason to doubt them).

I've had mine for a little over a year now i think, and they were easy to wire up, easy to set up, and easy to use, and rock solid on my X3.

the only thing i would suggest is mounting the drivers on some sort of a good heatsink, not cause of any real experience, other than the #1 enemy of all electronics is heat, and if your gonna put that kinda cash into something, might as well spend a couple dollars to protect that investment.

[LtFransky]

I think you mean N34 motors and G203V Geckos. N23 motors of 387-500 oz should be more than enough for X/Y. N34 640 - 960 oz should be ok for Z.

You will want to wire them in Bipolar Parallel and match the motor best voltage with the PSU. Formula for best/max motor voltage is 32 times the square root of the inductance in mH.

203Vs are the best IMO.

CR

Actually, 203V' and N34 are exactly what I meant. Good Catch. (Damn salami fingers!!!!) Are 960's overkill?

Also, do I NEED ballscrews or can they wait till later?

[Crevice Reamer]

Actually, 203V' and N34 are exactly what I meant. Good Catch. (Damn salami fingers!!!!) Are 960's overkill?

Also, do I NEED ballscrews or can they wait till later?

Yes, 960s are probably overkill. Bigger motors run more slowly than smalller motors.

You will need to be creative, but lots of CNC conversions use stock lead screws. The downside to that is that because they have more TPI, the rapid speed is lower. The upside to that is that because they have more TPI, the accuracy is higher.

CR.

[sgman]

Hello

I have an CT129 and want to CNC it!

If you are in the process of buying parts maybe I could order the same parts and combine out experience

Same thing for me here I would like to step through it in stages and build it as i go

Any comments would be appreciated

Thanks

Steven G

[Radical!]

Hello

I have an CT129 and want to CNC it!

If you are in the process of buying parts maybe I could order the same parts and combine out experience

Same thing for me here I would like to step through it in stages and build it as i go

Any comments would be appreciated

Thanks

Steven G

I'm In, I'm looking @ Rockcliff machine for the control board > http://www.rockcliffmachine.com/electronics.htm

I'm also in the process of disassembling CT129 and seeing what I've got to work with + I need to clean.

[Radical!]

opps