Hi all,
This is my first (meaningful) post since 2008, it's been about eight years or so since I purchased a Grizzly G0463. I've used it just a few times and mostly it's just sat in public storage and/or various garages, until this week when I pulled it out and re-commissioned it.
I'm trying to regain my bearings, so to speak, and am trying to wrap my head around what's changed in the world of CNC and benchtop milling, in the last decade. I've been very active in the 3D printing scene and also in electronics manufacturing robotic machinery, but honestly I've not machined or turned anything in a really long time. I know my way around CNC, but am basically just wanting to see what I've missed in this particular niche.
Right now, my machine is basically bone-stock, the only thing I've added to it would be some patina and/or surface rust Ideally, I'd like to go with zero-backlash ballscrews, steppers (eventually DC servos), a decent ARM Cortex-based motion controller like Smoothieboard, a high-speed spindle for really fine-pitch micro-machining work. Will be buying a CNC-ready rotary table, for sure. I won't be doing any big pieces or hogging any metal. Mostly aluminum and brass. I'd love to get the Tormach R-8 CNC taper kit that does the repeatable changeouts... oh, and some decent homing switches and touch-off probes. Definitely will be investing in those!
Some quick questions, I'm sure all of this could be answered by searching, but was looking for more of an expert opinion from some of the veterans around here that have an up-to-date idea of the state of things in CNC and benchtop milling.
Question #1, CNC Ballscrew Conversion Kits -- Who are the major players?
Years back, I had bookmarked this page, a company specializing in making CNC conversion kits for the X3 mills:
CNC Fusion
Are they still in business? Are they still the go-to company for getting CNC ballscrew conversions? I'm in the southeast United States, but wouldn't mind buying internationally, especially if the price/quality ratio was better.
Are the Chinese making CNC conversion kits yet? I recently travelled to China and can say for sure that they're capable of manufacturing exporting quality ballscrew stuff, for a great price. But I've not heard of any such company doing this.. does such a place exist?
I don't mind machining my own adapter pieces and NEMA mounts, but I don't have the ability to turn down raw ballscrews.. so basically I just need cut-to-size zero-backlash ball-screws, ideally precision ground.. but a full kit would be great and probably worth the extra price.
Question #2, What are People using Besides Mach3?
Mach3 was "it" back in 2008, and I believe I even have an old license for it somewhere. Are people still using it? Is there anything better, preferably not requiring Windows, and most importantly, something "real-time" that won't crap out if the operating system tends to other chores? Something that's not based on an outdated parallel port?
Question #3, Guidance for Building a Stand / Bench?
I'm going to build a stand / bench this weekend, and was wondering if anyone had links to some pictures and/or high-level plans that have worked and withstood some use? My first stand was too wobbly and I don't want to make that mistake again.
Question #4, Anything else Cool or Exciting that I Should Know About?
Are there any cool accessories or parts or conversions out there, that have came about since 2008?
As I said, I know most of this can be answered via searching, which I will be doing over the next few days / weeks, but figured I'd start a dialog and hopefully be re-welcomed back into the community.
Thanks!