kevinj308

My .02 is that for that kind of money, the machine in your link is $3k, you could do exactly what straightup did with an x2. That would be quite a bit more robust than the sherline. The G0704 is a hobby unto itself to convert to cnc. A really fun one, but time consuming.

I'm a complete noob to this but here's my take on it. With something like Solidworks or Fusion360, and others I'm sure, the Cam can be part of the software. So you draw the model in the CAD side then slide it over into CAM and you get a gcode program that will be your toolpaths. CAD is computer assisted drawing, CAM is computer assisted manufacturing. They don't have to be the same software companies by any means. I use Alibre for CAD and MeshCAM. The CAD will export the model into one of many file formats like .stp, .igs, or .stl. The CAM then imports that and helps you make the tool paths. Another term you'll hear is post. The CAM can have post processing choices for different kind of machine controllers. So if you're like me you choose Linux/EMC as your post and the gcode program you get will work for that control software. There's lots of different controllers out there, and some have some quirks to them. It just helps getting a program that's gonna work right out of the gate. I always end up doing a little manual editing though. Like I said noob. I know you didn't ask, but here's what I found to be the best learning experience for CAD/CAM. Cubify Invent CAD software is free for 14 days or buy it for $49. I ended up buying it because I was having so much fun figuring out models. It's very limited in the file types it uses. It can't import someone else's file and only exports in .stl. But it's super cheap and there's an outstanding set of youtube videos for it. I did end up upgrading my CAD software later, but Invent was perfect to learn with. Well worth the money, or free if you get it done in 14 days. Watch CubifyFan's 18 videos in order and you will be drawing parts in CAD, I promise. They're perfect little 10 minute or so videos that explain one topic at a time for total beginners. http://cubify.com/en/Products/Invent https://www.youtube.com/user/CubifyFan/search?query=invent Then get the free 15 day MeshCAM http://www.grzsoftware.com/ He's gonna send you a series of training emails that explain how CAM works, again for beginners so it's very easy to understand. The training course if free and you can sign up on his website too. I appreciated the CAM before I even had a mill. Took some of the voodoo out of it and also helped me think in terms of how to get a tool to do what I want. To buy it's $250, but that's pretty cheap for stand alone CAM. Fusion360 right now is free for a year to hobbyists/startups. It's CAD/CAM together. Much more professional software than the other ones I listed, but for me it's been pretty frustrating to use. Been watching alot of youtube on it, and I like the CAM but the CAD is not so easy. For me anyway. I went back to using the CAD I knew. I don't think I'd recommend it for someone who's brand new. It's pro level and there's a lot of choices to make that aren't always intuitive. http://fusion360.autodesk.com/pricing# Last but not least check out cnccookbook.com Bob's site has a ton of articles that explain eveything about the process. It's a great resource. I bought his Gwizard software for feeds and speeds, been very happy with it. Sorry if it was long winded take care Kevin

I ordered some pulleys and a belt to make a belt drive. Was about $60 shipped from sdp-si.com. I've got to make some brackets too to give me some way to tighten the belt. When I get it all worked out I'll post some pics, part numbers and drawings of the brackets. Might take me a couple of months to get too depending on the rest of life

http://instagram.com/p/yheUfyOCBB/?modal=true here's my redneck bucket http://instagram.com/p/yheUfyOCBB/?modal=true I don't why this link isn't taking you to the right pic, but it's the pic of the bucket full of aluminum lol need a chip retention reservoir!

Yeah it does. I've just got the pump sitting in a five gallon bucket and the return hose going back into the bucket. For the drain I used a sink drain from Home Depot and some 1 1/2" pool and sauna hose. I don't have a pool, but it's just corrugated plastic hose. It slips over the pvc drain and goes through a hole I cut into the bucket lid. FWIW I got a ton of chips in the bucket after a long job. It was enough that it actually clogged up the suction of the pump. I think I"m going to get a larger plastic container for the coolant reservoir and have the drain line dump into a small bucket in that. Something to collect the chips. Overall I'm very happy though, the pump just kept going after I cleared the screen at the bottom.

Got some flood coolant going, so much nicer than listening to an air compressor run for the mister I had made. http://instagram.com/p/yfsGBPuCAJ/ Already had this pump, worked really well. I did plumb it though a 1/4" ball valve to throttle the discharge. The pump is probably a little large for the application. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000X05G1A/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1#

A little late, but here's the wrenches I used to make spindle bearing spanners. An 1 1/8 and an 1 3/4 drilled out for machine screws. I didn't even the thread the holes, just dropped screws through them and turned the nuts. Worked great.

So true! No one comes out of the womb with any knowledge. We all learned everything we know from someone. Cheers to people willing to share!

The bearings aren't that bad, I didn't think anyway. I'll post some pics of the spanner wrenches I made when I get home. All I did was take a couple of big harbor freight wrenches I already had and drilled them out for machine screws. The wrench fit around the spindle shaft and the screws engaged the holes in the big nut. Any piece of metal would work.

On the motor side it's just a swap, the stock motor has a 10mm shaft, keyed. You need to make an adapter plate of some kind to allow the motor to slide and tighten the belt. On the spindle side it's a splined shaft. Everyone I've seen is a pulley bored out to fit over the splines then set screws added in the sides to engage the splines. Usually 3 screws. That's it, plus the better bearings. Do some reading on cnczone and you'll find plenty of pics. The gears are noisy. Even at 2300 I wear hearing protection. Mostly just because it's annoying over a long period of time.

Do you mean leaving it as a manual machine and just doing the belt drive upgrade? You need to replace the spindle bearings, that's really not that bad. I can walk you through that. Any rpm increase is gonna need better bearings though With new bearings how about just doing the gear swap that I linked on OG's thread? That's a really straight forward upgrade that gets 4700 rpm. I might do that myself, Im still running the stock set up at 2300rpm. http://www.g0704.com/projects.html If you're gonna go cnc then the belt drive is the least of your worries. I wish I could afford a larger machine too!!!!!! I think even the pro's do.

Now that you've got Inventor up and running, you'll want to look into Mesh Enabler, if you really absolutely must play with STL's. I guarantee you'll absolutely hate it, though ... It's normally for subscribers only, but there's a thing on the Inventor part of the Autodesk forum where you can request it, since you've got a student license. The guy will give you a license for it. Good info - I never actually knew the difference between 203 and 214. I just use whatever is the default when I export stuff from Inventor, TBPFH. 203 is the default for my cad, maybe there's a reason for that lol. No reason to play with stl's. The other cam I have that was all it would import, that and dxf. So one more pro for 360 if it uses a better model.

Nice! Hope it solves the issues, by that I mean I hope you get a Tormach

Think I answered my own question, sounds like 214 covers it all? Re: what is the use of step AP203 and AP214? Pavan Veera Nov 17, 2012 1:47 AM (in response to Mamatha Dasari) AP203 defines the geometry, topology, and configuration management data of solid models for mechanical parts and assemblies. This file type does not manage Colors and Layers. AP214 has everything a AP203 file includes, but adds colors, layers, geometric dimensioning and tolerance, and design intent. AP214 is considered an extension of AP203.

Fusion 360 does 3+2, as was noted elsewhere. If you want true 4 or 5 axis machining, you need to look at Inventor HSM Pro (~10k), or Solidworks + HSM Pro (~10k + Solidworks license). Okay, now let's talk file formats. Fusion 360 - and Solidworks, Inventor, most engineering software - works with solid models. They have mass, volume, etc. They are defined by mathematical equations - a shape and an extrusion vector, for instance. This means that a rounded object is truly round, in a mathematically perfect sense, and it's very easy to calculate. STL files are more like the sort of thing created by 3D animation software. They are made up of individual polygons, each made up by connecting a set of points. This means that a rounded object is only round from a distance, and the more you zoom in, the less round it is. If you create an STL file with lots of details, there will be lots and lots and lots of individual polygons. A solid modeling software package will HATE this. Solid modeling software likes solid models - they are watertight, so to speak, and it's easy to regenerate them just by changing the math used to create them. An STL, being comprised of individual polygons - which, by the way, also have to worry about which direction they're facing - is very rarely going to be watertight. Most STL files are only solid from the front, and are open on the back. These are generally more art related. Even if an STL file is actually watertight, if the normal vector for even one face is missing or incorrect, then -boom- no longer watertight. STL is just a flat-out pain in the ass, and I would seriously like to see the person responsible for STL covered in honey and buried in an anthill. If you want the best results working with F360 or any other solid modeling program, stick with either native file formats or neutral things. F360 really likes Inventor files, and does quite well with STP / IGS, and I think it can do okay with x_t as well as a few other formats. (Incidentally, IGS is probably a good one to stay away from - STP is more modern and still currently being developed for. IGS was more or less abandoned almost 20 years ago, if I remember correctly.) Good info thanks! So I've got a couple options for STP files. STEP AP 203 and STEP AP 214, one better than the other?

I havent tested it, but i was told it does 3+2 axis stuff. Not quite full 4th but good for the price. I saw that in there. It appears you can orient the tool to any angle you like. I didn't see a way to coordinate the movement, maybe there is I dunno. It is OUTSTANDING for the price. I'm a total amateur so my only other cam experience was meshcam, which is $250 as a standalone product. I'm on the free for a year startup deal with 360 and I already don't see how I can't subscribe when it's time. At $100 a monthg that's saying a lot for some one who only turns their mill on once a month or so. I'm pretty happy with my cad, Alibre, and it's already paid for too but maybe I'll like this cad. In that case the price is even better.

Been playing with Fusion360, so far much more efficient than MeshCam. Like a few hours more efficient lol. Still figuring it out but it looks great for CAM. Haven't looked at the CAD side of it at all. Just a note it DOES NOT like .stl files, at least not from my cad. Switched to .igs and everything worked great. Got me a little worried there for a minute. ETA it doesn't do a 4th axis though. And I just got one so still happy I've got MeshCAM.

I posted a topic with a build list from my G0704, http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=209014 If anybody is thinking of going that route hope it helps.

I just like this pic, I don't even remember what I was making

Here she is after I made the enclosure but before getting converted to cnc.

This is really just an extension of StraightUpOg's thread. I had never heard of a hobby level CNC before reading his write up. Thanks to him, Jared, Warren, Daniel, Peter and many others for contributing so much. I converted a Grizzly G0704 to CNC with the following components. Hopefully helps somebody if they're looking to do this sort of thing, I'm having a blast!!! I'd strongly recommend checking out Cnczone.com for all things 0704 related. Tons of beautiful builds on that site. I went with LinuxCNC, again thanks to straightupog, because it was free and I had read too many horror stories about Mach3, so far it's been good to me. Can't recommend enough the Mesa control hardware. I think there must be some high level collaboration between Mesa and LinuxCNC, it just works really well together. FWIW I'm not a computer geek really, it was actually pretty easy to put together on the electronic side of things. Bear in mind that these are imported machines and their quality can vary quite a bit. I consider myself pretty lucky with the one I got, you're gonna have to do some work to them no matter what. At least some lapping, maybe a lot more. I would really recommend that this sort of project be viewed as a hobby in itself. If you have a part or design already and you just want to get to making it then buy a tormach. It took me a year of weekends to get this done, including all the research. So here's all the big pieces with links that are current at this time, I didn't add up the prices. Please don't tell me if you do! And definitely don't let my wife know. This combination of components is working very well for me so far. Grizzly G0704 http://www.grizzlyindustrial.com/products/Drill-Mill-with-Stand/G0704 Hoss cnc plans http://www.g0704.com/dvdrom_super_combo_download.html LInuxCNC 2.6.5 Debian Wheezy Ball screws and nuts from linearmotionbearings2008 on ebay, got the double nut C7 set up. Dimensions from Hoss plans. Add 75mm to the y and z screws to make room for the double nut. You can always cut the end off if it’s too much. Bearings from VXB.com. Hoss calls out all the part numbers for you on his plans. Sabrent 12 button usb 2.0 game pad. Easy to set up as a pendant in pncconf with the mesa cards. http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AEWTSWU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 PNP inductive proximity switches 10-30VDC, quantity 3. Home switches for x,y, and z http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B009PMHLTM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Samsung 840 EVO 120gb SSD http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E3W15P0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 NZXT Technoligies Source 530 Full tower case http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FUC6S5O/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Corsair CX 600watt power supply CX600M http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ALYOPSS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Crucial 2gb RAM, quantiy 2 http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B006YG88QC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Asrock E350 M1 mini ITX mother board http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B004KABOZG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Mesa Electronics 7I76-6I25 Plug-n-go kit http://store.mesanet.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=217 Nema23 motor 156oz for rotary table http://www.automationtechnologiesinc.com/products-page/nema-23/nema-23-bipolar-stepper-motor-156-oz-in-%C2%BC%E2%80%9D-dual-shaft-with-a-flat Nema23 motor 570oz for x and y http://www.automationtechnologiesinc.com/products-page/nema-23/nema-23-three_eighths-inch-dual-shaft-with-a-flat-570-oz-in Nema34 motor 906oz for z, wish I had gotten the 1200oz http://www.automationtechnologiesinc.com/products-page/nema-34/nema34-stepper-motor-%E2%80%93-906-oz-in-6-1a-single-shaft-kl34h295-43-8b 48VDC 13A linear power supply http://www.automationtechnologiesinc.com/products-page/torroidal-power-supplies/unregulated-625w-48vdc13a-input-120vac-or-230vac KL5056D drivers for x,y, and rotary table http://www.automationtechnologiesinc.com/products-page/digital-stepper-motor-driver/digital-stepper-driver-kl-5056d-heat-sink-is-included KL8070D driver for z http://www.automationtechnologiesinc.com/products-page/digital-stepper-motor-driver/digital-stepper-driver-kl-8070d-heat-sink-is-included Worth noting that these are working great as part of the lube system. Can’t remeber what thread I found them on CNCzone.com but they’re very nice. They take a couple psi to open so the lines don’t drain. I used the #3 on the ways and #2 on the ball nuts. http://www.mcmaster.com/#2293k12/=vigc4u Rotary table from Sherline https://www.sherlinedirect.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=127&CFID=43795423&CFTOKEN=34209478 Bijur style pump from ebay. TTS style tooling from ebay, bsello168 is the vendor. Very happy with the holders. Big thread on CNCzone about them, lots of good reviews. I put the power supply and drivers together like this and they fit in the case perfect. I added some fans to the front of the case and they blow across the heat sinks, been working well. Assembled case with power supply and drivers. I cut out a piece of the case at the back and made a plate with all the motor connections.

Welcome from socal!

You can add me to the list of fusion 360 users too. Downloaded last night, thanks straightupog for the heads up on the free year! I have a part to make for my wife this weekend that needs a tapered pocket cut into one end and a tapered male stub in the other. Meshcam was telling me some pretty big numbers for machine time. Interested to see what 360 does once I figure it out that is.

I hope you're not, for both our sakes. I've been riding your coat tails since you started this thread? I'd never heard of linux before this. I'm definitely in the noob category as well, really still finishing my build. I haven't asked much of my machine yet. I have been pretty happy with the Mesa cards and the pncconf though. Pretty straightforward. Looking forward to your experience with Mach. Always appreciate the writeups and info sharing in this whole thread. Reminds me I've been meaning to post a list of the hardware I used. It was really hard to find a set up that was known to work. I'll get on that.

Wow. That's pretty frustrated. Hope Mach is better for you. If you don't mind me asking what was the last straw? I've been pretty happy with linux, just looking for a heads up on potential issues.