More on my lathe conversion

[tonyfoale]

However, there are many of us whose neurons are running about 1/2 a watt when it comes to electronics! Have you considered, or been approached, by others that could take your design and produce boards and software support for a small royality?

You do not actually need any electronics knowledge to build this. Just some manual soldering skills is enough. I did have some boards made. Before getting any made I did say that I would add on to the order any that were ordered before the order went. I had only a few takers. Since then I have had quite a few others who have indicated a desire to make a similar conversion so I may get some more done. First I need to produce a document explaining things so that I can say "here are the instructions, here is the BOM and here is a PCB, you are on your own now. Maybe you should all start a self support forum" Finding the time to do that is proving difficult. I have no secrets and I am happy to share anything that I do with others, but I just do not seem to have any spare time to prepare stuff to a stage suitable for others to follow. Only this past week I realised that I need a dynamic balancing machine, not a large project but that is on top of a dozen others. I generally work without drawings for mechanical stuff and without schematics for electronic stuff. In the case of the lathe conversion the PCB is the schematic in effect.

Click for full size
Front and back of the PCB. Constructing it requires no electronics knowledge, just place components and solder. These are the only boards that I have had made professionally. Although I have made my own since the early 1980s. It was all manual wiring from the 50s to the 80s but now things have got much simpler with the advent of micro based circuits. Far less electronics knowledge is needed today in order to make very capable devices.

Evolution.
Left: 1980s, manually drawn with ink resist pen. The aluminium pieces are drill jigs. Right: 21st century, CNC isolation milling.

James (Clough42) developed an ELS based on an Tektronics board that has become quite popular. I have often wondered why he stopped at just a single axis. Although, its clear his motivation was getting rid of the miserable change gears. I think he is now batching his boards a few hundred at a time. Have you talked to him? While a ball screw conversion and other physical features of a machine are as diversified as the world and bring the associated problems, I suspect your electronic system, or its logic, is fairly adaptable. I don't need or want full CNC, I just need an ETA (Electronic Taper Attachment or ball turner). LOL

Yes I contacted James some time back just after he had started on the ELS suggesting we look into a form of collaboration. He did not respond with enthusiasm. However, I did initially take his idea of using the ready made control and display unit. Amazing and very cheap base for a controller. However I soon found it tedious and slow to use and quickly changed. His focus seems to be producing a money making video channel and making the rather expensive ELS for profit. Nothing wrong there but that is not my priority. I do not particularly like making tools, I like making the stuff that I make with tools. So first I have to make the tools but only for myself and my needs.

BTW When I started with the lathe I did join an ELS forum, but it seemed to me to be a closed shop neither welcoming newcomers nor new ideas. This is the only way to do it period.