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Model Engineering in UK - Model engineering, metal crafts in UK
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Posted by NoSpam on August 3, 2008, 7:30 am
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I'm gradually becoming seduced by the idea of CNC on a mill. The
question is whether to convert my Tom Senior M1 to CNC, or whether to
buy a KX1 or a KX3 - to be honest I like the idea of a new toy!
Some questions:
- Has anyone here got any opinions on the KX1 or KX3 compared to an M1?
- Has anyone in the South got a KX1 or KX3 running that I could have a
look at (within striking-range of Winchester)?
- How easy/hard is it to convert an M1 to CNC? (I'll ask in the TS
owner's group too)
- Never having used CNC before, if I bought a KX3 would I want to keep
the M1 for manual work or is it reasonable to plan to do everything with
CNC?
Dave
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Posted by Guy Fawkes on August 3, 2008, 8:48 am
Please log in for more thread options
> I'm gradually becoming seduced by the idea of CNC on a mill. The
> question is whether to convert my Tom Senior M1 to CNC, or whether to
> buy a KX1 or a KX3 - to be honest I like the idea of a new toy!
>
> Some questions:
> - Has anyone here got any opinions on the KX1 or KX3 compared to an M1?
>
> - Has anyone in the South got a KX1 or KX3 running that I could have a
> look at (within striking-range of Winchester)?
>
> - How easy/hard is it to convert an M1 to CNC? (I'll ask in the TS
> owner's group too)
>
> - Never having used CNC before, if I bought a KX3 would I want to keep
> the M1 for manual work or is it reasonable to plan to do everything with
> CNC?
>
> Dave
First off, YMMV, however...
I decided to go down the "convert a decent old fashioned mill" route
for several reasons, I know I'm starting with a quality machine, I
know I can spec EVERY single component to my own desires, and perhaps
most of all because I think that having done a conversion I will be
more able to understand and therefore use the thing properly...
I also think it works out a lot cheaper, cost per quality wise.
Motion Control Products for your steppers and drivers
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7470965926215097427&hl=en
The rest of it you can make easy enough, but if you'd rather buy then
Reliance Precision Mechatronics for things like couplings and belts
and pulleys and ballscrews....
I tell you one HUGE benefit, you already know by sound and feel and
all that good stuff how all your tooling and your mill sounds when
things are optimal and when they are not, you get all that for free
when doing a conversion.
Any questions ask away, or if you're in the southwest you can always
drop by and nose around.
Cost wise I can convert both the mill and lathe to CNC for less than
400 quid all in, and that is all quality branded industrial products
made to spec, no fleabay stuff, no chinese stuff, none of that.
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Posted by Guy Fawkes on August 3, 2008, 1:38 pm
Please log in for more thread options plus, a bit more detail and thoughts... scuse the mess...
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8046410346841899515&hl=en
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Posted by Boo on August 3, 2008, 3:28 pm
Please log in for more thread options Guy Fawkes wrote:
> plus, a bit more detail and thoughts... scuse the mess...
>
> http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8046410346841899515&hl=en
Very interesting video, thanks for posting that.
--
Boo
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Posted by NoSpam on August 3, 2008, 4:42 pm
Please log in for more thread options Guy Fawkes wrote:
> plus, a bit more detail and thoughts... scuse the mess...
>
> http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8046410346841899515&hl=en
Thanks for that - 'very interesting!
Could you go into a little detail about the steppers and controllers
that you've used (choice, types, suppliers, etc)?
Dave
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> question is whether to convert my Tom Senior M1 to CNC, or whether to
> buy a KX1 or a KX3 - to be honest I like the idea of a new toy!
>
> Some questions:
> - Has anyone here got any opinions on the KX1 or KX3 compared to an M1?
>
> - Has anyone in the South got a KX1 or KX3 running that I could have a
> look at (within striking-range of Winchester)?
>
> - How easy/hard is it to convert an M1 to CNC? (I'll ask in the TS
> owner's group too)
>
> - Never having used CNC before, if I bought a KX3 would I want to keep
> the M1 for manual work or is it reasonable to plan to do everything with
> CNC?
>
> Dave