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CNC Routers vs. CNC Mills: The Difference

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CNC Routers vs. CNC Mills: The Difference To an untrained eye, CNC router and CNC mill can appear the same machine. However, these two machines have a range of differences. Let’s take a look:   Design The first and foremost difference between CNC router and CNC mill is their design. CNC router comes with a gantry style design and are often made of plywood, plastic, aluminum, and steel. CNC mills, on the other hand, are sturdier and are made of steel or cast iron.   Cutting Area CNC routers have larger cutting area while CNC mills have smaller cutting area.  Since CNC mills need concentrated milling, they tend to have smaller cutting area.   Z-axis Travel This is another area where CNC mills and CNC routers tend to differ. CNC routers have smaller travel on their Z-axis while CNC routers have longer travel on their Z-axis.   Spindle Speed CNC routers have faster moving spindles with an RPM between 10,000 to 30,000. CNC mills, on ...

What is Backlash in CNC Machining and How Can You Avoid It?

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Backlash is the tiny clearance available between adjoining gear teeth. This space exists to avoid the machine from jamming and allow easy lubrication. Nevertheless, while machining, this space can cause the measurement to be inaccurate and the design to be unresponsive. So, backlash is both necessary and a problem. In CNC machining , backlash is especially problematic as it can be difficult to trace and even more difficult to compensate. Sometimes the clearance between adjoining gear teeth is not the only reason for backlash.  Backlash can also be caused by loose and deformed machine parts. One of the most common and best ways to solve backlash issues is to replace the lead screws with ball screws. Ball screws are more suited for CNC machining as they provide smooth operation, efficiency, accuracy, speed, precision, and long-lasting high-speed movement. You can also reduce the amount of backlash by compensating for it. If you are a manual machinist, you can compensate for it by fee...

Converting Grizzly G0704 into CNC Using DIY CNC Conversion Kit

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The Grizzly G0704 is the country’s best selling mill. It is easy to operate and offers a range of features that make it a popular choice among machinists. It comes with R8 spindles that are powered by a 1HP motor. A typical Grizzly G0704 also comes with a digital readout, a chip guard, and tapered gibs with dual locks for maximum accuracy. Despite all these features, the Grizzly G0704 still has a lot of room for improvements and the best way to make this machine better is by converting it into CNC using Grizzly G0704 CNC conversion kit. What is a CNC Conversion Kit and How To Use It? CNC Conversion kit is a set of tools that are mounted on a manual machine to automate its movements. DIY CNC conversion kits come with clear instructions are easy to handle so the operator can convert their machine into CNC themselves. Converting manual machines into CNC using CNC conversion kit is called CNC conversion. How to Convert Grizzly G0704 into CNC using CNC conversion kit? The first thing that ...

How to Convert Grizzly G0704 Into CNC Using DIY CNC Conversion Kit

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Grizzly G0704 is the best selling milling machine in the country. It has a wide range of features and is simple to operate.  A typical G0704 comes with R8 spindles which are powered by a 1HP motor, digital readout, a chip guard, and tapered gibs with double locks. Even with all these features, the Grizzly G0704 still has some room for improvements. How can you make further improvements to the G0704? By converting it into CNC using the Grizzly G0704 CNC conversion kit. What is a CNC Conversion Kit? A CNC conversion kit is a set of tools and hardware components that is mounted on a manual mill/lathe/grinder to automate its movements. The process of converting a manual machine into CNC using the tools provided in CNC conversion kits is called CNC conversion.  Grizzly G0704 CNC Conversion Kit and How To Use It The first thing to do before converting your Grizzly G0704 into CNC is to remove the machine’s head. Start from the top and strip down the machine into its bare minimals....

Should You Convert your old MIlls or Lathes with CNC Conversion Kit or Buy a New CNC Machine?

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Buying a new CNC machine or converting your old machine to CNC using a CNC conversion kit has been a topic of debate for too long. Some people prefer to have their machines converted while others tend to want a new machine for their machining needs. Converting your old machines to CNC is a more affordable option between the two, which makes it a preference among small-scale machinists and hobbyists.  CNC machines, on the other hand, are a more expensive alternative, often used by industrialists and large-scale manufacturers. With that being said, let’s take a look at some of the major differences between converting your machines to CNC vs buying a new CNC machine: CNC Machine CNC stands for Computer Numerical Control. CNC machines are modernised mills, lathes, drills, etc. that are operated with the use of a computer.  CNC machines use specialized software to allow the operator to set the parameters. The software uses G Code, the language that allows the operator to control v...

What is a CNC Conversion Kit? How Does it Work?

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CNC Conversion kit is a set of tools that allows you to convert your manual lathes or mills into computer-operated machines.  A CNC conversion kit comes with several hardware components and motors that help you automate your machine and save time on production. CNC conversion kits also consist of new control units, software, home and limit switches, and motor control units. While CNC conversion kits might come with similar components, not all of them are the same.  CNC conversion kits differ in terms of which machine they are designed to work with. Some CNC machines are based on a particular design while others cater to machines by specific manufacturer. Moreover, some CNC conversion kits come with complete electronic packages, control units, and programming software. While others are simpler and may contain only the motor and hardware components.  The kind of CNC conversion kit you need depends on your specific requirements out of the machine.  You can either use a ...