What is a realistic goal for a CNC conversion?
(No one has ever asked this question of me – but based on the questions people have asked, it seems like the nicest way to put it :). Unfortunately answering this question is really based on what you want to do. For example, if you want to run 1″ end mills at 10ipm in steel, you’re probably looking at the wrong class of machines. My goal, for my personal CNC conversion was to have the capability of having 180ipm rapids, and be able to take .250″ cuts in steel at 3-4ipm. Your servo/stepper motors will have a significant effect on your rapid speeds but less effect on your cutting speed. Your cutting speed will be mostly determined by your spindle horsepower. Obviously you could size your servo/steppers so small that you had no cutting ability whatsoever – so please use a little common sense. Your CNC machine will not be able to exceed the machining rates of the same machine under manual control. So, if you can’t take huge cuts in steel with your manual machine, don’t expect that converti
