Mill conversion to cnc

**wolsey** · 15-08-2011

Hi all, i recently purchased a 2nd hand warco minor mill/drill and i am intersted in converting it to cnc. The mill is approx 15 yrs old and in quite good condition. Pillar benchtop style.

Does anyone have any info/tutorials on how to do it and an exact list of compnents?

I have been offered some motors, mach 3 software disc and some bits and pieces for £50.

any advice would be greatly recieved, Cheers.

**Robin Hewitt** · 15-08-2011

I did the Warco Major, there's a build log somewhere.

There is no specific way to do it, you pays your money and takes your choice.

I'd strongly suggest a 2 stage operation, first cnc it crudely so you have a cnc mill to cut the parts. Then do the pukka job when you know which bits are the problem areas.

The first common mistake is to buy a ball screw the same length as the X axis and then discover that with a motor on the end you have severely limited the travel :whistling: