Thread: New power for mini mill???

Kryn, I've had this machine since the late 90's and within a few monts it itself. Firstly the plastic gears broke admittedly under a heavy cut. I ended up doing a belt conversion with 5mm weldable belting and pulleys. This has held up for 15 years. There were no replacements for these gears when I got the machine or at least they were uneconomical unless you cut your own. Next to go was the power controller as you have experienced. It really is horrible to use with the original controller. You get these load pops and accelerating motor (pop - whirr , pop -whirr) I ducked for cover the first time I heard it. In 2002 I did a cnc conversion on it and built the current PWM controller. Not satisfied with that I've now plopped the 3PH spindle on it. I have the Bridgeport 2J2 for heavy milling so the X2 is a baby for small stuff and CNC in general and doesn't get overloaded.

I'm still working on it at the moment but the new spindle is mounted and running. When I have time I'll get some shots for you. The hardest thing to do is make the mounting plate for the spindle clamping block. 1/2 inch aluminium plate with 8 holes. It might be a good idea to read up on the 3 PH Router spindles with huanyang VFD

water cooled version sped from 0 to 24000 RPM. only ER 11 collet. they do come in ER16.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/80MM-PRO-...item19d89253b0

Originally Posted by KBs PensNmore

.........................
If I can keep it going long enough, it was my intention to do a 3 speed belt drive, after about 6 sets of plastic, I installed a set of metal gears, even chewed them up, and I only take light cuts 0.25 mm DOC and very slow on the X/Y 6 turns per minute.
Regards
Kryn

Why reinvent the wheel from scratch? There are ready made belt drive conversion kits for the X2.

This one is from Turkey for USD111, uses a Polyurethane belt:
http://www.mbbilici.com/index.php?ro...&product_id=51
same also on eBay:
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Sieg-X2-m...item3aaf713293

Littlemachineshop in the US sells the X2 belt drive kit made by the Steele company, for USD155:
http://littlemachineshop.com/product...ProductID=2560
http://www.machinistblog.com/how-to-...-x2-mini-mill/

There are more examples of homemade X2 belt conversions on the net. Clearly, you are not the only one unhappy with the original gearbox.


As for motors, there is in my opinion no quality difference between the original X2 PM motor and a treadmill motor. I would recommend either go for a small 3 phase motor with VFD of about 1/4HP, or with the original Brushless DC motor and controller for the new model super-X2:
http://www.arceurotrade.co.uk/Catalo...X2-Mill-Spares

Both motor options are quite pricey, along with a belt drive kit you would be spending more than an X2 is worth new. That is ok if you enjoy this sort of projects. But if you rather make things with the tool (rather than fixing and improving the tool), I would consider selling the mill you have. If not working because of broken motor/gearbox sell it in bits, its not hard to find buyers for X2 parts. Use the proceedings towards a new mill that is as you want it to be out of the box.

Thanks for the information Swarf and CBA.
Will look up the spindles for more details later.
I know the conversion kits are available, but being on a DSP, money is very tight, so if I have to reinvent the wheel so to speak, so be it, time for me is cheap.
I have basically no option but to keep on with this, as to buy another is out of the question, I'm looking for ways it can be done on the cheap so to speak. As it is I wouldn't have this one, if it wasn't DONATED to me by my brother.
Kryn

Originally Posted by KBs PensNmore

... being on a DSP

What is a DSP?

Originally Posted by Pete F

What is a DSP?

Disability Support Pension perhaps?

Originally Posted by Vernonv

Disability Support Pension perhaps?

You got it in one
Some of you might say, that if I can't afford it, I shouldn't be doing it. But I have to do something to keep my sanity, otherwise depression sets in, and I don't want to go there again, metal work is in my blood, after 40+ years doing it, could you drop something like that.
Kryn

Originally Posted by KBs PensNmore

... But I have to do something to keep my sanity, otherwise depression sets in, and I don't want to go there again, metal work is in my blood ...

Me - My name is Michael and I do things with metal
All - Hello Michael
Me - I started 30 years ago but every day has new challenges...

Michael

Offer of the day - I have a 3 phase 1/2 hp 4 pole foot mount TECO motor (cast iron TEFC) sitting in the shed - given to me by another member for nix as I had a project in mind. In reality I won't get to it for at least 12 months or so as I have a grinder to finish off. I also have one of the VFDs that Joe found that is surplus - it took so long to get here that the use I was intending for it was filled by another. Apart from the fore mentioned project in the vague future it is an orphan.

Your need sounds greater than mine - would you like them?

Michael

Thanks for that Michael, will gratefully accept them. Your blood is worth bottling.
Should you need them, I'll return them to you.
Regards and Thanks again
Kryn