LMS CNC

[papermaker]

I want to connect CNC a new mill from Little Machine Shop. Has anyone had experience doing this and what is the best hardware and software to use?

 

[DMS]

Are you talking about getting the HiTorque mill, and converting it, or purchasing one of their pre-assembled CNC mills?

If the first, those mills are a variant of the Sieg X2 (actually, the SX2). Lots of people convert them, and you can even buy kits. I recommend checking out hossmachine.info. Hoss has taken these little machines farther than anyone else I have seen. I think he still sells conversion plans too.

As for hardware, you can get driver/motor kits on E-bay, or through vendors like http://kelinginc.com (I got my servos and drivers from them). For software, people usually go with either Mach3, which runs on windows. Or LinuxCNC/EMC2, which has it's own built in operating system (Linux). I went with LinuxCNC, because I prefer Linux, if you are not familiar with Linux, or you are more comfortable with Windows in general, Mach3 is probably a better choice for you. Both are very capable, and for what most hobbyists do, there is not a significant difference. I hear that Mach3 is easier to get up and running, but I don't have any direct experience with it. You could try out both, LinuxCNC is a free download, and Mach3 has a demo version. The hardware (if you are using a simple parallel port breakout board) will be the same for either.

If you are going with one of their pre-assembed CNC mills, I think everything is included.

 

[papermaker]

I'm going to convert a hi torque machine. I lots of questions about hardware. The x and y can use a 280 in/oz, stepper motor and I see they recommend a larger stepper motor for the z axis. How do you determine what size stepper drive do you need ? The mill needs to have ball screws on all 3 axis?
I think I will probably go with Mach3 software. I see that they must have incorporated "Lazy Cam" into the Mach3 software.
Anyway I'm sure there will be more questions as things progress.

 

[jimmyzoso]

Hey there, I'm about to embark on the same thing but looking to add a 4th axis. there's an awesome thread that's already covered the conversion here:

http://www.hobby-machinist.com/showthread.php/6680-X2-Mini-Mill-CNC-Conversion?highlight=axis

I've put together a BOM for download.

Hope it helps

 

[papermaker]

I have found some good videos on YouTube that show and explain how to hook up the electronic which I have really found very helpful.