About 18 months ago I decided to upgrade my Tos FN20 milling machine to CNC. I have watched others upgrade their machines and always wondered why does it take so long. Well in short order it does, there is a lot to consider,buy and actually do. This is my first exposure to CNC although being in the electrical trade I have seen machines working I have never been the person working on the drives, electronics or programing. All of this is new to me.
The Tos FN20 weighs about 2000 pounds and I am the second owner. The machine new in 1980 was purchased for $27,000 and was used in a small machine shop to produce a few parts. The job was a fillin for apprentices. The machine was used for about 5 years and then sat for 7 more years when it went up for sale and I purchased it for $1750. The machine has power drive on all 3 axis and has a 3 phase cooling pump motor. The spindle is 2.5 hp the axis drive is 1.5 HP and the coolant pump is 1/6th of a HP.
One the considerations was to find a used CNC machine but I soon realized that I would have to upgrade the computer and motors and drives. That a used CNC machine that I could afford would most likely need a lot of work to bring into tolerance. The machine I have is very versitile as the table comes off of the machine and a small engine block can be mounted directly to the T slot face of the machine.
When purchased a large dividing head with chuck and a 5" vise came with the machine. Working tolerances ( lash ) with this machine were good on the Y and Z axis of less than .003" the X would need work as the lead screw was producing a lash of .020" with the backlash nut turned in. The screw was worn in the middle working position and when driven to the ends of the lead screw binding would occur.
The first part of this build is the tear down and repair. Although not having anything to do with CNC a good foundation and what is required must be addressed in any conversion.
The Tos brand was not imported into the USA because of the states ban on importation of tools from communist countries. Canada did not have this import restriction.
I will start with some tear down pictures.