Retrofitting and old benchtop CNC mill - Town Labs 512

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 :cool:.

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!


Attachment 31572

Attachment 31573

Attachment 31574

Attachment 31575

Attachment 31576


And a video of the disassembly if that interest you.

https://youtu.be/re2-72BH_l4

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

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 :lol:

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.:brickwall:
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 :rolleyes:)
Once the rotary table is working correctly I am going to have a go at the mill.
Will keep you updated
The Home Engineer

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

intersting project
Bart

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.

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!



Attachment 31636

Attachment 31637

Attachment 31638

Attachment 31639

Attachment 31640

Attachment 31641




https://youtu.be/lwZgf2nQQao

Great video again :thumbsup:

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

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.

https://youtu.be/GlAnTECjpFU

Some test cuts.

Attachment 32011


The accuracy is a little off but that may be due to some adjustments needing to be made in the software and the need to tighten up some parts. The linear bearings were less than impressive so maybe different ones will straighten it up a little. I'm guessing there's about 0.005" that be tightened up and another 0.010" that needs adjusted in Mach.

An engraving test as well. This is what I am hopeful to be able to use this thing for so even if I can't get that last little bit of error out it seems to be plenty close enough for engraving :cool:

Attachment 32012



https://youtu.be/Khw4VxkY-qk