Thought I'd post a couple of pics of my lathe as it is, most of everything is done and working, just now need to machine all the turret toolchanger parts, the wiring and everything is ready for it to bolt on. This lathe uses a 400oz/in stepper driving the X axis through a 2:1 reduction belt, plenty of power there. The Z axis is a 1200oz/in direct drive, it's marginal in power but I still have some drag to deal with yet. Both ballscrews are 5 turns per inch. Uses Gecko 201 drives, 34 volt power supply from a 500VA torodial transformer, PDMX 50 volt AC/DC converter- power conditioner, Cambell breakout board, huge fan cooled gecko heatsinks. Stainless sliding half cover for coolant and chip control makes it really nice and cleanup easy. Computer/ worktable cart is an old Indy car shock dyno cart that was perfect for this use. I still can't believe how much equipment, gears, feedscrews, front apron, threading gearbox and assorted crap I had to ditch off that wasn't needed anymore, you'd think that the ballscrews, steppers and electronics would't be much more, if any, money to manufacture and add for a low cost commercial CNC lathe. And without all that mechanical stuff the thing runs so much quieter now! Been a really fun project but I need to get back on the aircraft stuff...
Dave.