Where to start? Thinking of converting my mills and lathes to CNC.

this should give you a good start, it is the wiring from your breakout board to all 4 controllers the controller motor wiring and the power supplies to both the breakout board and the controllers.
edit: i used the words: step and pul(se) in the wiring diagram they mean the same thing sorry that could be confusing, but step and pulse are the same.
steve

wiring 4 axis to bob.JPG
 
i still want to see the ebay listing for the motors you ordered so i can make sure the motor wiring to the controllers i gave you is the correct colors
you might want to put everything you have ordered into one post so it is all easier for me to find
steve
 
Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. I just got back from spending all day at the ER in the VA Hospital.

I was thinking along the same lines as you as far as consolidating the info on this build into a single post in this thread. I've been hunting all over this thread and in my ebay history gathering info for my replies the last couple of days. It would make sense to put all that info in one place since I already have most of what I'll need to finish the project. Give me a few minutes and I'll put something together
 
Here's the parts breakdown so far:

Stepper kit, 3 axis NEMA 23 steppers (425 Oz./3 Amp/dual shaft/4 wire) w/ drivers, power supply and DB25 cable ($309 w/ free shipping):
http://www.ebay.com/itm/300844470892?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

CNC Fusion, kit #2 w/ X,Y and Z ballscrews ($600 incl Shipping):
http://www.cncfusion.com/minimill1.html

USB Pendant, 4 axis ($25.99 w/ free shipping)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/271126015400?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

Aluminum Felx couplers (15.88 for 5 w/ free shipping)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/261072881826?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

DB25 Break Out Board ($6.50 + $2.20 shipping)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/300775143431?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

DB25 Gender changer adapter ($1.22 + 2.26 shipping)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/190685170549?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

Shielded 4 conductor, 18 Ga motor wire, 30' ($27 + $5 shipping)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/160632659191?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

4 pin XLR plugs for motor wires, 4 M&F plugs ($13.96 w/ free shipping)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/280929733116?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

DM542A 4th axis driver (identical to the ones in the 3 axis kit), 4.2 Amp rated ($36.99 + $18 shipping)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/271115223142?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

4th axis NEMA 23 stepper motor (dual shaft/ 287 Oz/ 1 Amp/ 6 wire) ($20 + $23 shipping)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/270848225792?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

20V-48V to 12V DC/3A voltage converter ($2.99 + $1.69 shipping):
http://www.ebay.com/itm/150987907819...84.m1497.l2649

20V-50V to 5V DC/3A voltage converter ($2.99 + $1.69 shipping):
http://www.ebay.com/itm/150987911654...84.m1497.l2649

12V slim (3.1"x3.1"x.6") fans (x2) ($5.98 (for 2) w/ free shipping):
http://www.ebay.com/itm/230914379043...84.m1497.l2649

UC100 cable ($129)
http://www.cnc4pc.com/Store/osc/prod...roducts_id=481

E-stop switch, A9-Latch Twist-Release ($7.50)
http://www.cnc4pc.com/Store/osc/prod...roducts_id=138

Limit switches (x6), A7, N.O. ($3.52/ea, $21.12 for 6)
http://www.cnc4pc.com/Store/osc/prod...products_id=79
*Shipping for the 3 items from www.CNC4PC.COM was $13.25 via USPS Priority mail which was the cheapest option available.



The PC's are such a big variable hardware-wise I'll just post the basic specs that pertain directly to the software requirements. Here's the minimum stated requirements I was able to find for the software I'll be using:

AutoCAD 2013 (32 bit):
OS= Win 7 (Ent., Ult., Pro. or Home), Win XP (Pro or Home) w/SP3 or later
CPU= For Win 7: Intel P4 or AMD Athalon Dual-core, 3.0GHz or higher w/SSE2 tech.; For Win XP: Intel P4 or AMD Athalon dual-core, 1.6GHz or higher w/SSE2 tech
RAM= 2GB min (4GB recommended)
HDD= 6GB free space for installation (leave extra room for files)
Monitor= 1024x768 resolution with true color minimum (1600x1050 true color recommended)
Browser= IE 7.0 or later

D2NC:
Video card= Must support OpenGL V2 Spec

Mach3:
CPU= Intel P4, 1GHz for 25KHz, 2GHz for 45KHz, faster still for 100KHz (not verified)
RAM= 512Mb min (1Gb recommended)

I'll go back and update this post if I add anything else or if I any find any corrections to the software requirements stated above.
 
Last edited:
ok
when you have it all i'll double check myself and then post the switch settings and xml for mach3
i also need to know if you ballscrews are metric or imperial if they are metric they were probably 1605's. 16mm 5 pitch if imperial they are probably 5/8 5 tpi. let me know
steve
 
Not sure. They're the ones that ship with the CNC Fusion kit. I didn't get the ballscrew upgrade since I've heard they wear out faster than the normal ballscrews that come with the kit. I'll go poke around on the CNC Fusion website and see if they have any info posted on the regular ballscrews.
 
The CNC Fusion Forum says they're 200 steps per revolution. Is that the number you're looking for?

EDIT: hold on. I think I got something out of wack there. BRB with an update in a min..... OK, it's .200" pitch and 5 revolutions per inch.
 
lol
that was quick they are imperial
ok i'll try to do everything tomorrow
steve
 
No rush Steve. Between being sick the last couple of weeks and still trying to go to school full time, this is turning out to be a slower project than I had originally intended.
 
posting this here so i can find it easy tomorrow
it has your 6 wire motor on it
steve

unipolar_ill_02.jpg
 
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