[Bob La Londe]

This is one of those threads I've beren following and looking forward to seeing it run. While not as long in running as the Z² thread its been a long time coming. Nice to see some progress.

Uuum... where is the turret?

[burbingus]

The lettering on the toolholders looks really nice. What method did you use?

Cool project!

[CS900]

This is one of those threads I've beren following and looking forward to seeing it run. While not as long in running as the Z² thread its been a long time coming. Nice to see some progress.

Uuum... where is the turret?

You better believe i have one all designed up and ready to make. Haha. I'm excited to see it run too. My original conversion worked fairly well, and while I'm loosing a bit of diameter turning capacity, i think the rails will stiffen things up quite a bit. And to answer the next question everyone will ask, my max diameter I can chuck now is around 3" before it'll hit the table. not super great, but very rarely do i turn anything over 2".

The lettering on the toolholders looks really nice. What method did you use?

Cool project!

Thanks, they are just engraved on a CNC, filled with nail polish, and sanded down.

[CS900]

Got a little more done on the lathe today. Tail stock is all mounted up.





In addition to having to make a new base that will work with the linear rails, the ball screw goes right down the center of the base casting so the original screw and locking clamp would no longer work. So i made a steel version that goes around the ballscrew. It's kind of hard to see, but here's a cross section view of how the new locking clamp looks.

[CS900]

Squared up the axis today. I clamped my granite square to the "master" Z rail and swept and indicator on it. Maybe a little ghetto of a set-up but it's not stupid if it works! You can also see the new tailstock clamp at the tail end.


square to within .0002 over 6" not too shabby.

[toddbeau]

what spindle motor will you be using?

[CS900]

what spindle motor will you be using?

right now i'm going to reuse the motor i had which is a 1/2 HP ac motor with a VFD drive. Ultimately i'd love to have an AC servo so i can do positioning and rigid tapping.

[CS900]

Apocalypse Update!

Motor is mounted, but still needs to be wired up again. Took a while to get the motor in alignment, but it turned out well. I used some string for alignment and to size the belt.


right now the weight of the motor tensions the belt. If i have any problems with belt slipping, I'll add an adjusting screw. Don't mind the extra long bolts, they are temporary.


Starting to look like a real lathe again...




Also, a bit less fun, I got some wiring done to the point where I can jog the machine around. While I can't use the encoders for position feedback. I made an adapter cable and used the DRO on my lathe to read the encoder output. Little ghetto, but it worked great. I got the step/inch tuned in and adjusted my backlash to under .0005 for both axis. And for those interested my current motor settings are 150 IPM with an acceleration of 40, and I think there's still room to go higher on both.



still need to wire in the new limit switches and rewire the motor VFD and I think I'll be ready for some test cuts.

[toddbeau]

Thanks for the updates, I'm planning on converting mine. Are you planning flood/mist cooling?

[CS900]

probably mist for now. I'd like to get a flood system set-up for the mill and the lathe eventually though.

[jdrimm]

I'm working on converting an old Jet turret lathe. It's similar in swing and bed length, but a lot beefier. You do some nice work! Really making me want to get mine in the mill to cut proper rail mounting surfaces, with shoulders like yours.

[CS900]

So did my most favorite thing today....wiring....got the spindle wired up and the new limit switches working.

The Z axis limit switch is mounted directly to the tailstock. That way no matter where the tailstock is on the table, the saddle will never go careening into it.


The X axis has a high precision switch repeatable to within .0002. Should make it so once my X tool offests are set i'll only ever have to touch off the Z axis to set my part origin. i'm looking forward to that!


I also plugged all the unused holes in the table so as to keep coolant and chips out of the ballscrew.


and lastly first cuts were made!! It was just done joggin the machine manually, but it cut like butter.

[bill south]

CS900;
Are you winging this build or do you have a set of conversion plans? I have a Travers Tool 9 X (something) and have toyed with the idea of conversion but just haven't committed as of this date. I always look at conversion threads for ideas and do like your handling of the ball screw installations. Linear rails will most definitely be the way to go and I just happen to have some of the parts on the shelf from an old RF45 conversion. Anyway, thanks for posting your build. Looks like a fun conversion.
Have a good day and stay safe.
Bill

[toddbeau]

Very nice work for sure. What size steppers are you using? Also if you could share details on your limit switches I would appreciate that.

Todd

[jdrimm]

Very nice work for sure. What size steppers are you using? Also if you could share details on your limit switches I would appreciate that.

Todd

I second the limit switch question, I'm trying to work out how many I want and where to put them.

[CS900]

So had my first mechanical failure. I was trying to set some tool offsets and the lathe kept stalling when jogging the z axis towards the spindle. Turned down the rapid rate and it would jog, but i could hear crunching noises coming from the ballscrew fixed bearings. Sine day 1 i've known these bearings are a weak point and I've wanted to upgrade the design for a while.Today was a good excuse. Both bearing plates cracked and in turn scored the bearing pocket.



So, i dug into my bag of bearings and found some really low profile thrust bearings. Being quite a bit thicker and larger in diameter than the original thrust bearings the bearing pockets needed to be machined out. Got out the 'ol coax indicator and made it happen.


Much better!

[CS900]

CS900;
Are you winging this build or do you have a set of conversion plans? I have a Travers Tool 9 X (something) and have toyed with the idea of conversion but just haven't committed as of this date. I always look at conversion threads for ideas and do like your handling of the ball screw installations. Linear rails will most definitely be the way to go and I just happen to have some of the parts on the shelf from an old RF45 conversion. Anyway, thanks for posting your build. Looks like a fun conversion.
Have a good day and stay safe.
Bill

I'm semi-winging it. I do have it all modeled up in CAD, but basing measurements off a casting has it...issues...


toddbeau, these motors are 380 oz-in motors from automation technologies and are geared down 2:1 (mainly for more precision)

The Z axis limit switch is a standard roller switch that I installed in a custom enclosure. Nothing too fancy here.


The X axis limit switch is a high repeatable switch from automation direct. It's advertised as repeating within .005mm and from what I can tell it does it very well.

[CS900]

not much progress to show. I spent quite a bit of time working my postprocessor which while necessary, isn't as cool. I did make another tool holder for another parting/profiing tool.


It's made from 2 pieces, it's the only way i could get the locating notch in the correct location. I'm excited to give it a try.


with all these tool holders i'm starting to wish i had made my x axis table longer....or i need to finish my tool turret...

[jdrimm]

with all these tool holders i'm starting to wish i had made my x axis table longer....or i need to finish my tool turret...

Let's see - Profile rough, profile finish, face rough, face finish, center drill, drill, tap, boring bar, internal threading, profile threading, parting..... You's need a 20" X to hold them all! Turret sounds like a better plan.

[CS900]

Let's see - Profile rough, profile finish, face rough, face finish, center drill, drill, tap, boring bar, internal threading, profile threading, parting..... You's need a 20" X to hold them all! Turret sounds like a better plan.

I will have a turret someday....this I promise you!