Retrofitting and old benchtop CNC mill - Town Labs 512

[Rusty Knuckles]

This machine was my first attempt with a CNC. It's not the best designed tool out there and the company seems to be gone as I can't find the website anymore but it was almost free by the time it got to me. After I first got it I used it for several months making a few things but eventually spent more time tweeking it to get it to work correctly than using it so it was shelved. By then I was confident enough by then to drop a knot of money on a Tormach .

Anyway, I found in my stash a Probotix 3-axis kit that I bought for a long abandoned CNC router project. Even though I don't really have a planned use for this machine if I can get it to work with the retrofit then I think the experience of doing this small one will help me decide if I want to tackle a larger machine that I have the also needs a retrofit but that I have to buy parts for.

Guess I'll find out!













And a video of the disassembly if that interest you.

[thehomeengineer]

Hi Rusty Knuckles
I will be very interested in following this project as I am also looking to convert and retro fit a 3 axis CNC conversion to a mill I picked up cheap. I am going to have to get all the bits and pieces and I am thinking about using the Mach 3 software. The leadscrews will also be changed from Acme to ball screws (16mm)
Great video and looking forward to the next one
The Home Engineer

[Rusty Knuckles]

Thanks! Mine's been on the been on the back burner for a few years as I was intimidated by it. So far it's been no big deal but we'll see once it's all wrapped up if I still feel the same or not

[thehomeengineer]

I am currently playing with an Arduino to control a rotary table. It is going OK but without the help of our young apprentice with the code and electronics I would be lost. There is a lot of information on the net but you still have to understand what you are reading. Electronics is a bit modern for an old mechanical engineer like me who is used to nuts and bolts but I will get there just not that quickly.
I have enjoyed the challenge and having someone there to explain things has been invaluable and I have learnt a lot in a short time (Well I think I have learnt a lot )
Once the rotary table is working correctly I am going to have a go at the mill.
Will keep you updated
The Home Engineer

[lodola235]

Hi,
can you tell some moer about the software and the elektronica please

intersting project
Bart

[Rusty Knuckles]

Yea, as I get older it seems technology passed me by while I was sitting in a cubicle at work. I know when I was younger I would have been all over this new stuff if it had came out back then. Just some catching up to do I guess.


Thanks Bart, all the electronics came as a kit from Probotix about 5 years ago or so. Looks like they don;t sell my kit anymore but it's similar to this - https://www.probotix.com/CNC-CONTROL...tor-Driver-Kit

Came with pretty good instructions too so hopefully I can get it sorted out

The software I'll be using is Mach 3 and from what I hear that's pretty simple too; at least for a simple setup. I should know more in a week or two.

[Rusty Knuckles]

I got another day of work in on the tiny mill. Just some assembly but it has to go back together before it'll work!

[thehomeengineer]

Great video again

[Rusty Knuckles]

Thanks!! Should get to some good stuff in the next one; wiring and testing and whatnots.

[Rusty Knuckles]

Not many more pictures to show as the machine still looks mostly the same since the last update but here's a video of the wiring process and some testing.