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11

General Mach Discussion / Re: Manual to cnc lathe retrofit? feaseable?

« on: May 18, 2008, 02:31:56 PM »

So is the differance between using stepper motors and ac servo motors just about speed? or power?

Kev

12

General Mach Discussion / Re: Manual to cnc lathe retrofit? feaseable?

« on: May 18, 2008, 11:47:51 AM »

Ok guys
A little update, I have had a quote to do the above work, but in the price was the heidenhain conversational controller, and they came back with a rough guess of £30k  . Now i am not afraid to spend some money on this, but that is just rediculas!. So my thinking is i would like to still get a complete regrind of the ways, and turcite added, so that i know everything is good from the start, and have a go retrofitting it myself, or have somebody, whos done it before do it. Please bare with me and the following stupid Qs, but i am old school and a total newby when it comes to cnc, but i want to get into it and learn it. Can you guys tell me EVERYTHING that i will need to convert this machine to cnc? and if possilbe give a brief explanation of what things are? from what i can gather i will need mach turn for the controler,ballscrews, servo motors to drive them, dro? glass scales? for mach to read what the servos are doing? and what about the spindle motor? does it changed to a vfd, or servo motor? i dont know? .When i am ready to go for this i will have a budget of £15k, so if you were in my shoes, what route would you go.
All advice appriciated.
Kevin

13

General Mach Discussion / Re: Manual to cnc lathe retrofit? feaseable?

« on: February 24, 2008, 02:00:26 PM »

Thanks
For the sound advice guys. When the time comes for this retrofit, im going to let the experts do it, and look for somebody who can do the full works, grinding, repaint, ballsrews, etc..., there will be no expense spared on this, but i think i will end up with something along the lines of a haas tl2, but perhaps more versatile, and i think certainly more rigid. and probably less the cost of a haas.

Kev

14

General Mach Discussion / Re: Manual to cnc lathe retrofit? feaseable?

« on: February 23, 2008, 12:24:23 PM »

Thanks
For your input guys, it puts my mind at rest, and gives me lots to think about now. 

Regards
Kev

15

General Mach Discussion / Manual to cnc lathe retrofit? feaseable?

« on: February 23, 2008, 09:03:39 AM »

Hi Guys
Im new to this forum, and would like to hear your opinions on an idea i have. Whilst admiring a haas tl2 lathe and thinking how much i would like one, it occured to me that for the price of one i might be able to get my manual lathe reground, and retrofitted to cnc, and mach3. The lathe will be used for gunsmithing work, and like the fact that it has a short headstock so that i can get both ends of a barrel bore clocked, and add coolant through the bore whilst chambering. I would like to be able to clock a barrel blank in, and let the cnc thread, counter bore, then bore the chamber undersize, and finaly finish off the chamber manualy with the tailstock. Also it would be nice to profile a barrel blank between centers. I know as a rule converting a manual to cnc is going the long way around, but i realy do like this lathe. I know its going to be expensive too, but want to hear your thoughts on it, and tell me im not mad
Its a cazeneuve 590 by the way, and hopefully the pics will attach.
Thanks
Kev