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IndustryArena Forum > MetalWorking Machines > Benchtop Machines > Mini Lathe > LatheMaster 9 X30 CNC Adventure
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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
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    403

    LatheMaster 9 X30 CNC Adventure

    It arrives, a LatheMaster 9 X 30, and is ready to enter the world of CNC. I begin immediately converting this lathe to CNC, for a friend, but already, I wish it were mine!!! This is really a nice lathe and will make a good project. The shipping weight is around 370lbs. and we had to use a tractor and trailer to get it to the shop, because of the recent rain fall and the low path to the shop.

    The first step is to uncrate, and setup the lathe on the steady bench and give it a good cleaning to remove all of the protective grease, so this is what she looks like.


    My last cnc project was the Harbor Freight 9 X 20, but I will assure you that this 9 X 30 lathe is a lot beefier, as far as the cross slide ways and the table than the 9 X 20. Don’t get me wrong, the 9 X 20 makes a good cnc machine.)
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails P1010514.JPG   P1010515.JPG  

  2. #2
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    Apr 2005
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    403
    Our objective is to use double ball nuts loaded on each axis, using standard rolled ball screws, and provide spindle synchronization for automated threading capabilities. I will start at the X-Axis (the cross slide).

    A quick check showed about .005 backlash on the X axis from the factory, and the screw and the acme nut seemed to tighten at a couple of locations during the X-axis travel (something to consider for those considering using existing X-axis screw and nut).

    First, I will spot and drill a couple of mounting holes on the front and rear of the table. To accurate place these holes I will do it on my lathe (this is showing a drill bit, but I spotted the holes first and the front holes are symmetrical with the back. (Ignore the drill chuck at the top of the picture, it is not being used here).
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails P1020518.JPG   P1030519.JPG  

  3. #3
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    Apr 2005
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    403
    There is enough room to place double nuts parallel to the table, so I chose to place the ball screw assembly to the rear of the table. A couple of considerations are to leave access to the gib adjustments, the lubrication points and to protect the screw from both swarf and collision. So, I chose to mount both front and rear brackets and to include a protective rear collision beam, just incase things get out of control.

    Also, you can also see the four mounting bolt locations, for the apron brackets.

    This is a picture of the X-axis screw cover; access to the lube points and the gib screws are taken into account.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails P1010529.JPG   P1080564.JPG  

  4. #4
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    Apr 2005
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    Here is a quick shot of the X-Axis mounting brackets. (The table cloth is just there for visual enhancement, hehe!!)

    Now for the apron machining, we will remove a good bit of material to give clearance for the double ball nuts, and will also remove material to allow for a ball screw cover for swarf protection. (At this point the lathe can not be converted back to the manual configuration, (the point of no return)).

    We had an old Oliver 550 tractor which was painted that color orange!!
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails P1010522.JPG   P1070549.JPG  

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
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    403
    Milling away, (actually just cutting it out by making parameter cuts), just take your time.

    So, this is what we end up with. (I taped the split ball nut ways with masking tape, prior to painting, because I did not want to cover the indention marks made by the half-nuts, so I can get a fairly accurate positioning of the ball-nut flange)

    I cut three inline .500" notches 1 inch deep to allow a sheet metal cover wit a drip edge to shield the screw. All of this is for nothing, it you let the screw get covered with swarf and collant.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails P1070551.JPG   P1080554.JPG  

  6. #6
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    Apr 2005
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    403
    This is the original Z-Axis screw and the split nut. I use a clamp to place it in the working configuration. I can now accurately measure from where the machined surface of the nut (which mates to the machined surface of the apron) to the center of the screw, this is needed where I can mill the ballnut mount, which will mount where the slit nut had been.

    Here is our apron (freshly painted), with the ballscrew coming in from the right side. The mounting holes are countersunk for clearance from the screw.

    So, with the remaining space, between the 1st ballnut and the right side of the apron, the second ballnut and the spring must fit. The spring that I picked out will be approximately 2" long and will compress down to 1ö to give me around the 85 lbs. recommended preload.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails P1080562.JPG   P1080568.JPG  

  7. #7
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    Apr 2005
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    The motor bracket will be positioned under the drive cover which covers the pulleys and belts at the shown location.

    As you can see, this is a good place for the Z-axis stepper motor. (Part of the flat cover was removed, in fact the single bolt hole in the lathe end was for that bolt.)

    I removed the front bearing mount. I will use this mount and bore out the hole to accept dual angular bearings. The mount uses two screws and two dial pins and bolts in the four holes which are shown here. I drill out the dial holes and tapped 1/4" holes to ensure the bearing mount is rigid.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails P1010524.JPG   P1010525.JPG  

  8. #8
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    Apr 2005
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    Here are the angular bearings and the bearing mount.

    Here is the bearing mount mounted and the holes for the Z-axis motor bracket. This end of the lathe is machined, but the distal end is not machined. This is the primary reason that I chose to place the stepper motor here. But, this is the best location, because the owner of this lathe will be making smaller units and the majority of the work will be done at this end.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails P1010543.JPG   P1010544.JPG  

  9. #9
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    Apr 2005
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    Here is the Z-axis main bracket, stand offs will mount the stepper motor and Oldham couplers will coupler to the Z-axis screw. This will make for a clean installation. (Note that the belt has plenty of clearance, contrary to the visual effect of this picture.)

    Now, I am waiting for additional metal, ball nuts, springs, ball screws, couplers, minor electronics and Gecko drives, then I can continue this adventure.

    Ron
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails P1010545.JPG  

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
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    357

    Excellent work Ron! I look forward to reading the rest of this project. Steve

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Posts
    218
    looking good.. I will be following this thread myself.. Is this the lathemaster from the Distributor in BR La.? Just curious since I live in BR and may get one that I can pickup to save shipping. Keep up the good work.


    Bo

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Posts
    24216
    Quote Originally Posted by Bowman View Post
    looking good.. I will be following this thread myself.. Is this the lathemaster from the Distributor in BR La.?
    You can't beat Bob at Lathemaster for excellent service, I highly recommend them.
    I am helping a friend retro-fit his 9x30.
    There is also a Yahoo N.G. for the lathes.
    He also has them on Ebay sometimes for $100 less if you can get them for the opening price.
    Al.
    CNC, Mechatronics Integration and Custom Machine Design

    “Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.”
    Albert E.

  13. #13
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    Apr 2005
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    403
    Well,
    I received the ball screws and have em machined and threaded. Here are a couple of pic's. I just completed the preload of the x-axis and will try to take a picture or two in the next few days. I currently working on the controller also. Hope to have things together in the next couple of weeks.

    Yes, this lathe is from Lathemaster in Baton Rouge, LA and it was drop ship to me in Mississippi and will end up in WI, hopefully in a few weeks.

    Ron
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails P1010579.JPG   P1010593.JPG   P1010596.JPG   P1010598.JPG  


  14. #14
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
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    424
    Quote Originally Posted by Ron111 View Post
    Well,
    I received the ball screws and have em machined and threaded. Here are a couple of pic's. I just completed the preload of the x-axis and will try to take a picture or two in the next few days. I currently working on the controller also. Hope to have things together in the next couple of weeks.

    Yes, this lathe is from Lathemaster in Baton Rouge, LA and it was drop ship to me in Mississippi and will end up in WI, hopefully in a few weeks.

    Ron
    Ron,
    Were in wisconsin are you sending it out of curosity, and do you think the party involved would mind if I look at it?
    chris

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Posts
    1268
    Good Job Ron;
    Another question! Are you fabricating the parts as you go or is this a kit of some kind? Are there plans available???? I have a TTC lathe which is the same as the lathemaster which I would like to someday convert!!! I like your installation on the x-axis!
    Bill from Spartanburg.
    Where are you in Mississippi??? Was there for 2 years in the usaf back when moby dick was a minnow!
    billyjack
    Helicopter def. = Bunch of spare parts flying in close formation! USAF 1974 ;>)

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
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    403
    Bill,
    I'm making parts as I go. Most of the brackets are detailed on a bobcad file and I could send that to you. It will get you close. I had to tweek a couple of places a few thousands for alignment purposes but that will change from machine to machine. How do you post a bobcad drawing or maybe I can email it to you? I'll take several pic's of the X -axis setup in the next xet of pic's

    I'm in Jackson, MS and the lathe will end up in Delafield, WI. In2steam, the man that I converting this for, is a nice man and I'm sure that he will gladly let you visit. I'll mention it next time I email him.

    Ron

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Posts
    6
    A question about your Lathemaster. What diameter/lead for the ball screw and specs on the stepper/servo units. Not as many people here convert lathes as the mill and router types.

    Thanks and I'll be watching...

    Clint.

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Posts
    424
    Quote Originally Posted by Ron111 View Post
    Bill,
    I'm making parts as I go. Most of the brackets are detailed on a bobcad file and I could send that to you. It will get you close. I had to tweek a couple of places a few thousands for alignment purposes but that will change from machine to machine. How do you post a bobcad drawing or maybe I can email it to you? I'll take several pic's of the X -axis setup in the next xet of pic's

    I'm in Jackson, MS and the lathe will end up in Delafield, WI. In2steam, the man that I converting this for, is a nice man and I'm sure that he will gladly let you visit. I'll mention it next time I email him.

    Ron
    Please do, I live in SE wisconsin also, I wonder what his plans are for it. I want to buy one of the 30" lathes from bob, but I cannot justify right at this second and I don't like to buy things that expensive without a test drive.

    chris

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Posts
    403
    Here how the preloading is coming. I will attach a couple of pic's and a drawing explaining the method. In2stream, where is Delafield in relation to your location? One of the pictures is a little fuzzy, but it shows the spring in the ballnut coupler (no better term that I currently can think of) which keeps the spring straight and off the screw. In that picture you also see the cardboad tube that keeps the ball bearnings in. So don't let the cardboard tube cause confusion.

    The other picture shows the x-axis preloaded. An 11 inch 1/2 inch shaft will screw inbetween the mounts and this will serve as a crashbar primarily, but will serve to also prevent the preloaded ball nut from turning. The attached diagram attemps to explain my thoughts more carefully.

    Ron
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails P1040602.JPG   P1040604.JPG   preload scheme.jpg  

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Posts
    403
    Clint,

    I planning on using a 425in/oz on both the X and Z with gecko 201's.

    I had finished a 9 X 20 using 425 in/oz on the Z axis and a 282 in/oz on the X, last year using a hobbycnc unipolar controller which equates to around 300 in/oz on the Z and 200 in/oz on the X. This yielded rapids around 70 ipm on the Z.

    The 9 X 30 has a little more mass on the saddle than the 9 X 20 so I will expect around the same performance with the steppers being driven with the gecko bipolar drives.

    Any way, we will see.

    By the way, welcome to the forum!!!

    Ron

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