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Do you want to be a better CNC'er in 37 Seconds? Get Better Tool Life, Surface Finish, and Material Removal Rates Fast. It's that easy. You can install and get results now. |
CNC Master Checklist
Do you have all the bases covered for your CNC conversion or refit? Here is a master checklist I drew up to try to organize things from a top down list oriented perspective. Where I have some deeper information to contribute, I've tried to provide links to some of the other pages on this site.
|
Topic |
Remarks |
Links
& Articles |
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| Axis Drive Motors | |||||
| Motor Type | Stepper | Usually cheaper, simpler, can lose steps. Power peaks at 1000 rpm. | Stepper, Servo & Backlash Simulator | ||
| Servos | Higher performance, more expensive, more complex. Power well above 1000 rpm, fater rapids, greater accuracy due to closed loop operation. | ||||
| Encoders | Separate shielded cable from motor power cable? Connector type? CAT-5? Microphone? DIN? | ||||
| Transmission | Direct Drive | Coupler: Helical Beam, Oldham, etc. | Simple. No torque or resolution multiplication. | CNC Lathe Conversion Direct Drive Details | |
| Timing Belt | Most common. Allows torque and resolution multiplication. | ||||
| Gear Head | Harmonic Drive | Need to make sure its a low/no backlash drive type such as a harmonic drive. | |||
| Chain | Usually found only on lower resolution systems such as plasma tables and routers. | ||||
| Motor Connectors & Cables | Got shielded cables? Connector type? | CNC Lathe Conversion Driver Electronics & Motor Cables | |||
| Axis Leadscrews | |||||
| ACME Leadscrew | What's already there. Likely to have significant backlash. Some backlash can be adjusted out with a split nut and Delrin nuts have pretty low backlash. | ||||
| Ballscrew | Low or no backlash. What the "pros" use. | ||||
| Proper Leadscrew Mounting | You have to use angular contact bearings to properly mount the leadscrew. | ||||
| Rack & Pinion | Usually found only on lower resolution systems such as plasma tables and routers. | ||||
| Belt Drive | Usually found only on lower resolution systems such as plasma tables and routers. | ||||
| Chain Drive | Usually found only on lower resolution systems such as plasma tables and routers. | ||||
| Ways | CNC Dictionary discusses different types of slideways | ||||
| Rails | Usually found only on lower resolution systems such as plasma tables and routers. | ||||
| Linear Slides | Very high precision, lower rigidity tha nconventional ways. Most common design for the average machining center. | CNC Lathe Gang Slide | |||
| Conventional Machine Ways | e.g. Dovetail and Box Slideways | Less precision, more rigidity. Common on older manual machines and very heavy duty CNC machines. | |||
| Home & Limit Switches | Are you going to combine home and limits to save inputs? | ||||
| Driver Electronics | |||||
| DC Power Supply | CNC Lathe Conversion Driver Electronics Page | ||||
| Breakout Board | CNC Cookbook Breakout Board Article | ||||
| E-Stop | |||||
| Spindle Control | |||||
| Coolant and Accessory Control | |||||
| PC | Industrial, or Just a Basic PC? Notebook? Notebooks have problems with a lot of breakout boards. |
CNC Lathe Rackmount PC | |||
| Control Panel | |||||
| Software | |||||
| Machine Controller | Mach 3? | CNC Software Overview | |||
| CAM Software | |||||
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Do you want to be a better CNC'er in 37 Seconds? Get Better Tool Life, Surface Finish, and Material Removal Rates Fast. It's that easy. You can install and get results now.
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