I have a controller that I built a couple of years ago, that has never been used. I was planning on building an engraver, but I found it was just easier to add a second high speed spindle to my mill.

This is TB6560 based and is a budget model, but hopefully it will fit the bill. If not, I will build a new one around a Gecko G540.

I found an an old HP Windows XP computer on Ebay for $50 including 17 inch monitor! I already have a 14" monitor which is fine for Mach3, so I will probably sell the monitor for more than the combined package!

Inputs

There was a nice box compartment under the motor control that previously housed the leadscrew bearing, but is now empty, so I decided to use this to wire the inputs back to a terminal block. It will be easy to seal this box to stop coolant causing problems.

At this stage I will be using inputs from Spindle Index, as well as a combined Limit/Homing switches.

By comparison, the Z Axis is much more straightforward than the X Axis.

I purchased a 600mm long 12mm diameter rolled ballscrew from China on Ebay (Img 1). This included bearings as well as a flexible coupling. There was a bit of a drama with one of the bearings the wrong size, but they promised to send me another one, and I don't need it for a few weeks anyway. Replacement bearing arrived a couple of weeks later.

I used one of the existing tapped holes to locate the right hand fixed bearing. Other holes will be tapped later.

Once again, the internet was my friend and I did a lot of research on how to manage the X Axis on such a small lathe. Some have even put the screw outside the cross slide, but I did not like the idea of swarf getting into the ballnut. So, I found a neat design, wish it was my idea!

Click Here to visit

I was able to lift the lathe by hand (very carefully) up onto my workbench for stripping.

I did not even bother to try and clean off the assembly grease since a good deal of the equipment would be removed anyway.

Stripping the lathe for the conversion was actually quite simple. The tailstock was first off, followed by the toolpost (Img 1), compound slide (Img 2) and cross slide (Img 3). Finally, the saddle was slid off the tailstock end of the bed.

I don't have a lot of spare time, my other main interests are building and shooting benchrest rifles, and playing pool. As well, I'm busy writing my third thriller novel. More Info Here

Most of the parts will be sourced from Ebay, and I should be able to make anything I need in the way of mounts etc. I have a converted CNC mill as well as a larger lathe to make custom parts.