Hey Patrick,
I can only run the x & y at 90 IPM safely. I could rapid at about 130 IPM if I didn't like the safety factor. I replaced the lead screws with adjustable preload ball screws, .200 lead. The steppers are 1780 oz. in. runnning at 65 volts, gearing is 1-1. The rods are for a tractor, not a Harley. I was amazed at how well the little machine handled the job. I roughed them out with a .750 4 flute carbide end mill taking a depth of cut of .260 at 28 IPM. It took 5 passes as the material was 1.250 thick. Your right about the nice circles Mach does. However, the bores were finished with a boring bar as well on these. I only ran the profile for a friend who is a manual machinest. He finished the bores and bolt holes. At times, I wish I had gone with servos but then again the little machine is not the most rigid foundation and the steppers have served me well so far. The nice thing about the steppers is that if I do screw up, not that I ever have
, the machine shouldn't destroy its self before they stall. Lucky me had a friend that had set Mach up on a machine of his that helped with the project. He designed the first controls to fit in an old cabinet I had and wired it for me. He brought it over one evening, we wired it up in about 30 minutes, and cut a wood rod that night for testing. I have all new components for a new control cabinet that will house everything, monitor and all. I also have some gas springs ordered to help the stepper with the knee.
Brett