Thread: X3 Mill converted to CNC

I have recently retired and am interested in converting an HM45 mill to CNC operation. Can anyone point me in the right direction please.

Great job Rod! I was initially going to get an X3 with the intention of eventually going CNC with it, but finally finished up with a little Hercus (looks like that is too small anyway) ... so it looks like I will now have to buy a second mill to CNC Was your X2 your first entry into CNC? I wondered whether that may be a way to go; cut one's teeth on something small, then get bigger until it becomes "big enough".

Pete

Originally Posted by charris

I have recently retired and am interested in converting an HM45 mill to CNC operation. Can anyone point me in the right direction please.

Hi,
Head over to CNC zone where you will find dozens of these mills converted over to CNC.
Have you already bought one, the reason I ask is because Titan machinery have a large table model equal to the Industrial hobbies mill in the US for $3000.

Here are the links to the 2 forums you will find them, just look for anything with 45 in the heading.
General Metal Working Machines - CNCzone.com-The Largest Machinist Community on the net!

Benchtop Machines - CNCzone.com-The Largest Machinist Community on the net!

And the Industrial hobbies forum
Industrial Hobbies (Support forum) - CNCzone.com-The Largest Machinist Community on the net!


Bob has also done a brilliant job at documenting his conversion with great pictures
CNCCookbook: IH Mill CNC Home
You can get lost for hours in his projects
CNC Cookbook: Projects
And his blog which he has been doing for years. At the bottom of the page click on earlier entries.
CNC Cookbook: Blog

Dave

Just pointing out this thread has risen from the dead, way back in 2007. But now that its lurching around again, I'd point out that if you're doing CNC on a Sieg X3, why not check out Promica in Melbourne who manufacture a truly great retrofit kit.

New to this but I have a HM45 mill and I would like to convert it to CNC operation. Can anyone point me in the right direction please for costs, suppliers etc

Thanks Dave. Good of you to help me out. And yes, I bought the HM45 a couple of years ago at a Field Day in Toowoomba. Couldn't resist it. The year before that I bought a small metal lathe. Don't go to field days any more. They cost too much. This will probably cost an arm and a leg too but I might learn something useful.

R

Charris