New PM-25MV Mill

Thanks for the info! I'm contemplating going the GRBL route for my RF31 conversion (for simplicty and my prior knowledge with it) but I keep hearing good things about LinuxCNC. I just can't decide if I want to convert my mill at all, I like the manual mill (will a DRO and power feed) for the basic stuff but CNC will allow for making new/interesting parts. Just don't have the room for two in my 2 car garage where I do everything from automotive work to woodworking and everything in between.
 
stioc said:
Thanks for the info! I'm contemplating going the GRBL route for my RF31 conversion (for simplicty and my prior knowledge with it) but I keep hearing good things about LinuxCNC. I just can't decide if I want to convert my mill at all, I like the manual mill (will a DRO and power feed) for the basic stuff but CNC will allow for making new/interesting parts. Just don't have the room for two in my 2 car garage where I do everything from automotive work to woodworking and everything in between.
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I have looked at GRBL, and it just didn't come out on top. LinuxCNC is an inexpensive route, just requiring an older computer ($40 gets one that is plenty capable) and a $10 break out board. That gives a complete operating system that lets you access the internet to transfer g-code, a text editor to edit the g-code, essentially unlimited memory, and a much faster processor. The only place GRBL won was in space requirements. Its a much more compact, if less powerful, system.
 
Good points! It comes down to pros/cons, they all have them. The advantage I see with GRBL is I don't have to rely on finding old computers with parallel ports (it's 2018! lol) and two the Arduino becomes a single-purpose board with GRBL (no OS to boot and much faster processing, takes all of 2 secs to boot up when I power it on) it's definitely limited by the memory of the Arduino you use where I hear really long toolpaths fill it up and they get queued up on the g-code sender. I'm using it for my small CNC router- so far I haven't had any issues with it.
LinuxCNC though seems more sophisticated with features like the backlash compensation and I hear Tormach's PathPilot is based on LinuxCNC. Your post makes me want to test it out now.
To CNC the mill or not is the question :p
 
stioc said:
Good points! It comes down to pros/cons, they all have them. The advantage I see with GRBL is I don't have to rely on finding old computers with parallel ports (it's 2018! lol) and two the Arduino becomes a single-purpose board with GRBL (no OS to boot and much faster processing, takes all of 2 secs to boot up when I power it on) it's definitely limited by the memory of the Arduino you use where I hear really long toolpaths fill it up and they get queued up on the g-code sender. I'm using it for my small CNC router- so far I haven't had any issues with it.
LinuxCNC though seems more sophisticated with features like the backlash compensation and I hear Tormach's PathPilot is based on LinuxCNC. Your post makes me want to test it out now.
To CNC the mill or not is the question :p
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All excellent points. GRBL is an interesting solution and I bet it is more than suitable for many applications.

As for CNC vs not CNC, you probably won't know until you try it. I started with my manual X2, converted it, then got the new one and got a chance to work manually again. I missed manual milling. I don't know what it is about turning handles, but I made most of the parts for the CNC conversion manually with the PM-25, just because I missed manual machining. But then, I don't think I really start making the coolest stuff until I had CNC. With just manual, I made a few 80% AR15 lowers and a few various doodads. With CNC, I made an AR15 lower completely from scratch, a tiny lathe just for the fun of it, and lathe insert holders. I am a big fan of CNC, but I really want a big manual machine hanging around as well...

Also, learning to 3D model made a huge difference. I wasn't limited to making things I could visualize. Starting with something, changing a little of this, a little of that, adding some of this, changing that, until you are on version 48, and you have something really cool and don't need to keep track of all of it in your head.
 
I'm exactly of the same mind as you, CNC allows you to build so much more stuff and so much faster especially if it includes radius-es, curves etc. But I think I'll miss just chucking up a part and turning handles...sorta like automatic transmission vs. manual. I wouldn't want the latter for my stop and go commute but sometimes it's just nice to row the gears yourself. I'm still struggling with Fusion360 but that just means I need to spend more time in it.

Anyway, thanks for the info and the sidebar conversation...don't want to hijack your build thread anymore! :encourage:
 
Got the new motor in. It is a 1000 oz in Nema 34. It really dwarfs the smaller 40 oz in one. It is crazy how much of a difference there is between the Nema 23s and Nema 34s. I am not sure when I will get the new plate made to put the new motor on. I will also need to modify a coupler for the half inch drive on the 34. I couldn't find any couplers that went from 12.7mm to 10mm. I would like to make some couplers one day, just because I have always wanted to make one. The couplers I got were $5 each and came in a pack of 3 from Amazon.

Here is the new motor next to the old one.
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Here is the new coupler next to the old one. The new ones were actually less than the old ones, ($9 vs $5) and they look much nicer. (New one on the left)
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I got a quote for 2 C7 double nut ballscrews from Linearmotionbearings2008 on ebay and he quoted me $99 for a 750mm 1605 with double nuts, and a 350mm 1605 with double nuts as well. That quote included shipping and end machining on both ends. He said they should be in around the middle of March. Since I couldn't find any online that I could afford (Next offer was $300 each), I will be going with these to see how they are.
 
Great thread!! I have a new PM-25 ordered that is suppose to be here in a couple of days. A CNC conversion is possibly in the the future, but initially I want to use the manual machine to learn on. (My first milling machine)

Since available help with a strong back and weak mind is in short supply, I have been trying to calculate how I was going to get it from the shipping container up to the bench top!! Now I know. I opted for terminal pickup so having the shipping company load to the back of my truck will take care of half the battle.
 
mrjbinok said:
Great thread!! I have a new PM-25 ordered that is suppose to be here in a couple of days. A CNC conversion is possibly in the the future, but initially I want to use the manual machine to learn on. (My first milling machine)

Since available help with a strong back and weak mind is in short supply, I have been trying to calculate how I was going to get it from the shipping container up to the bench top!! Now I know. I opted for terminal pickup so having the shipping company load to the back of my truck will take care of half the battle.
Click to expand...

Sounds like a great idea. Learning is much easier in manual (in my opinion) because you can feel when something isn't quite right. Lifting it wasn't too bad while it was taken apart, but I am 22 and in decent shape, not sure what your situation is, but keep that in mind.

If you end up converting it to CNC, let me know and I can send you the plans for the conversion parts. This machine was way easier to convert than my X2, and all of the parts can be made manually. Let me know if you have any questions when you get the machine, I am always happy to help!
 
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