Been here once in a while, always getting some help from guys here.
Recently, I got a brand new desk-top mill, Optimum BF-16.
It doesn't have rich information in network, probably not quite polular than its bigger bro, BF-20 (or Grizzly 0704), anyway, as soon as I saw the real one,
I decided to buy it and to convert it for light CNC milling job.
I dissembled it to measure x-y table/underneath available space for ball screw, and already ordered 12mm diameter/4mm lead ball screws for this baby.
I also got a very good deal of 3 sets of used 200w servo motor+driver from Yaskawa, SGDA series and successfully tested it via parallel port mach3 board using pulse/dir and this fascinated me. Very quiet, smooth and fast.
However, this 200w power seems to be beyond my necessity for this micro mill and I am thinking of reserving these sets for my future modification for current CNC router I am operating which is 600mmx1200mm dimension, moving gantry, steel frame, a lot heavier than this mill.
Then, I will need another sets for this mill.
I am currently looking at 100w versions, but I do not know if 50w can simply meet my demand.
Main use of CNC mill is for light(really light) milling. It will never cut 45C steel with 1mm DOC.
Slow feeding, light cut, mostly 6061 aluminium or brass, and then sometimes normal steels.
So here comes my question:
Will 50w be enough for the job or do I have to consider at least 100w motor sets?
Considering mill's size and type of duty, I guess 50w may do the job if I use reduction pullies and ball screws with 4mm lead.
I wish someone can suggest some helpful advice.
* I don't consider stepper motors at this moment. I have been using steppers for years until now but I now have access to various used gears from dissembled factory automation. They are not expensive and they work good. And the size of motors really grabbed my eyes. I am new to servo motors and this is a new world to me. All are yaskawa/mitsubishi/samsung/omron things, though recent products are a bit more expensive than old ones. I believe I will stick to servo systems for a while until.... hmmm.. I don't know