Hi,

Here is my first CNC conversion.  Having worked in the scientific research industry for many years on equipment I now have been bitten by the CNC bug.  I look for cheap obsolete equipment that has parts that may be useful for CNC projects.  l This conversion took a Cartesian Technologies liquid dispenser and converted it to a small CNC router.  It was a simple conversion because once I opened it up I found it had three IMS-483 controllers  that are step/direction compatible controlling three stepper motors.  I basically replaced the control board with a board from  CNC4 PC and wired things up.  The system came with three optical homing sensors and a power supply.

I removed some extra hardware from the system and made a fixture to hold a small trim router and am up and running.  This one gives me the opportunity to learn Mach and gcode with something that will not take my arm off.   I have another larger  instrument conversion that I am working on  and will post it sometime.

Todd

Todd,
Good use of surplus lab equipment. You can get some real nice parts from them.
Expect to see some more. Cheap, well that's my idea of good pricing.
RICH

Looks great, and a really nice sign.
Old medical equipment has a lot of potential, too.

Tidy job! Old scientific equipment tends to be really well made, and fairly simple to work with if all you're doing is converting it to something else. Good going

Hi,

I have upgraded to little larger machine.  Still recycled lab equipment.  I have now cut plastic, and aluminum.  The aluminum is a little slow going at .03 inches per pass and about 20 in/min.   Had to put on some plastic shield to try to contain the chips.

Todd

Excellent work Todd, I look forward to seeing more.

Tweakie.