[chbm]

Hello,

I have been in the slow process of converting my ~15 yr old Grizzly X2 to CNC using plans I picked up from Hoss a while back. I am just about finished up with all the mounting hardware now but I am on the fence about what electronics and ball screws to use with it.

On the electronics side of it I want the ability to add a 4th axis, spindle control, an external pendant, and possible a tool changer in the future. I have looked over and over at different controllers, breakout boards etc and just am not sure what I need to get to be able to have the future expandability that I need.

Also on the ballscrews Hoss calls for Roton with threaded ball nuts, what other options are there with threaded nuts?

I have read a bunch of conversion threads here and it doesn't seem like any two conversions use the same setup, so I am looking for some suggestions.

Thanks,
Chadd

[hoss2006]

These electronics will do you well.
CNC Stepper Motor Kit: , Stepper Motor, Servo Motor, Power Supply Automation Technology Inc
There are some other sources for ballscrews listed here.
Shop Info
Lots of suppliers + lots of folks wanting to do their own thing = lots of variances.
You can contact Chris at CJA to see if he has any ballscrew kits left for my x2 plans.
http://site.cjamasterworks.com/
Hoss

[chbm]

Hoss,

Thanks for the reply. That was the kit I was planning on buying originally but I wasn't sure if it had the capability to do spindle control, I didn't see it in the description anywhere.

I had kind of decided to go with seprate drives and breakout board but again wasn't sure on what breakouts offered spindle control. Kelling has a breakout that they list as doing spindle but it is $109 for the board. Is there anything lower priced that will do spindle that you know of? Quality Gadgets has one they sell but I am a bit leary of quality of it.

Upgrade USB 5 Axis CNC Breakout Board Interface Adapter for Stepper Motor Driver | eBay

Do you know anything about that board?

Thanks,
Chadd

These electronics will do you well.
CNC Stepper Motor Kit: , Stepper Motor, Servo Motor, Power Supply Automation Technology Inc
There are some other sources for ballscrews listed here.
Shop Info
Lots of suppliers + lots of folks wanting to do their own thing = lots of variances.
You can contact Chris at CJA to see if he has any ballscrew kits left for my x2 plans.
Home Page
Hoss

[hoss2006]

The g540 has spindle control built in. read here.
G540 VFD
That chinese board is just a breakout board.
Hoss

[chbm]

Hoss,

Quick question for you. I bought your DVD from you a while back and was wondering if the drawings are on it for rotary style ATC. I found the drawings for the stationary type that mounted to the table but dont see the others.

Wasn't sure if you did that after the dvd was done.

Thanks,
Chadd

The g540 has spindle control built in. read here.
G540 VFD
That chinese board is just a breakout board.
Hoss

[hoss2006]

check the website again, the rotary styles are there.
must have been a while, I did those back in 08.
Hoss 16 Tool Automatic Tool Changer - CNC - The Hossmachine Forum
Hoss

[chbm]

Thanks.

Is there any way to control everything you did to the X2 with a single parallel port and breakout board? I noticed after reading through your stuff again that you added another parallel port to your pc for the spindle speed control and other stuff.

I would like try to buy "big enough" the first time as far as the electronics go instead of having to add ports and stuff later as I add on to the X2

check the website again, the rotary styles are there.
must have been a while, I did those back in 08.
Hoss 16 Tool Automatic Tool Changer - CNC - The Hossmachine Forum
Hoss

[hoss2006]

It's easy to add a second pci parallel port and a c10 bob to get plenty more inputs and outputs or go with a usb pokeys for bunches more.
Hoss