Recent conversions of Warco WM18 to CNC?

[Ross Lloyd 1Participant @rosslloyd1]

Hi

Further to my CNC quest this board has been so helpful with so far, I have seen some old posts here as well as the Model Engineer article about converting the WM18 to CNC.

The 4-axis + high speed motor job Roger has done looks amazing, but there are no plans or drawings as such. Not a criticism by any means and as he points out, setups vary and he figured it out on the fly.

However being slightly time-poor, I was wondering if anyone knows of a source of plans / CAD models etc for converting the current WM18 model, or very close equivalent, assuming changes have been made over the years?

One older post here mentions needing to machine something for clearance, I am hopeful that is not still the case as I also have a concern that extensive modification will void warranty. I know some drilling will be needed for limit switches and such but I would like to avoid major surgery!

Thanks for reading

[Ross Lloyd 1Participant @rosslloyd1]

[Nick HughesParticipant @nickhughes97026]

There is a company in America that produce a Kit of the mechanical parts for a similar milling machine (The GRIZZLY G0704), that might be worth a look as they have instuctions on the fittting of the kit, on this page:- **LINK**

Also a lot of information on converting the G0704 around and so probably best serching for this machine, as well as the Warco WM 18.

Edited By Nick Hughes on 30/06/2019 19:33:53

[Andrew EvansParticipant @andrewevans67134]

I would have thought that any warranty would be void if you converted to CNC. Surely a warranty only has any value with the electrics and motor and presumably you would be replacing those anyway.

[Ross Lloyd 1Participant @rosslloyd1]

Posted by Nick Hughes on 30/06/2019 19:11:57:

There is a company in America that produce a Kit of the mechanical parts for a similar milling machine (The GRIZZLY G0704), that might be worth a look as they have instuctions on the fittting of the kit, on this page:- **LINK**

Also a lot of information on converting the G0704 around and so probably best serching for this machine, as well as the Warco WM 18.

Edited By Nick Hughes on 30/06/2019 19:33:53

Hi Nick, thanks for the reply. I have looked into that machine and numerous videos of the conversion, and whilst it is similar, it appears to be the equivalent of the WM16, one model smaller than mine. Though the general idea will be the same, obviously the kit parts would not match. Thank you for the suggestion though.

[Ross Lloyd 1Participant @rosslloyd1]

Posted by Andrew Evans on 30/06/2019 19:38:41:

I would have thought that any warranty would be void if you converted to CNC. Surely a warranty only has any value with the electrics and motor and presumably you would be replacing those anyway.

Thanks Andrew,

When I spoke with Warco, they said it would void the warranty only if I made extensive material changes to the machine. That is why I am asking about the potential need to mill off metal for clearance (I am not sure on which part) which was apparently needed in the old versions of the WM18.

Cheers

[ChrisBParticipant @chrisb35596]

You can read through this : **LINK**

From what I can understand there's a clearance issue to fit the table new lead screw.

[Andrew EvansParticipant @andrewevans67134]

There is an Amadeal milling machine just advertised on the homeworkshop site for £400.

[Ross Lloyd 1Participant @rosslloyd1]

Posted by ChrisB on 30/06/2019 22:31:20:

You can read through this : **LINK**

From what I can understand there's a clearance issue to fit the table new lead screw.

Thank you, quite a trove of info there

[Ross Lloyd 1Participant @rosslloyd1]

Posted by Andrew Evans on 30/06/2019 22:48:58:

There is an Amadeal milling machine just advertised on the homeworkshop site for £400.

Thanks Andrew

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

It's worth noting that it is possible to get smaller ballscrews if you look around. I believe that the Myford lathe conversion kit from "cncyourmyford.com" for example uses an 8mm dia screw on the cross slide because the standard bore in the Xslide casting won't accommodate anything bigger. They are harder to find and more expensive but may save a lot of grief modifying castings. You will also need to make sure the screw is under tension to avoid it bowing.

[Anthony RomansParticipant @anthonyromans62348]

Any further progress on converting a WM18? Contemplating purchase of one with an eye to CNC conversion one day.

[Brian RutherfordParticipant @brianrutherford79058]

I started converting my WM32 mill a few weeks ago. Bought the motors and drivers from longs on ebay. No duty to pay as they ship from Germany. Ball screws came from Alibaba. The cost was really cheap for the parts but the air freight and duty and couriers admin charges put the price up..

Not started on the mechanical side yet as have been getting the electrics sorted first. Using a chinese ethernet motion controller which works fine with Mach3.

Will be starting on the mill soon providing I can get material. Ballscrews are the same size as the original acme leadscrews (20mm) so I am contenplating a few problems getting the ball nuts in..

Set myself a budget at the start of £500 to do the 3 axis. Will add a 4 later

[Gary WoodingParticipant @garywooding25363]

I helped a friend convert a WM 16. We had to machine the table a little to accommodate the X-axis ball nut, but that was the only machining required.

[Enough!Participant @enough]

OK, I'll ask the question … how do people "machine the table". Second mill? Take it to a friend?

[Jack MParticipant @jackm14742]

I'd be very interested in this conversion too as i have a warco wm18 mill and brought mach3 steepers drivers etc only bit left to get and find is ball screws but I'm still debating if to do the conversion or leave the mill manual and sell all my bits and software as I've never used cnc or mach3 to do programs before how hard really is it to use for a first time user? Can I do simple jobs still without having to domhours of programming im not a clue on mach3 easy to use etc etc

Thanks

[Ronald MorrisonParticipant @ronaldmorrison29248]

Posted by Bandersnatch on 28/03/2020 15:34:09:

OK, I'll ask the question … how do people "machine the table". Second mill? Take it to a friend?

i've seen people mention using a mounted stone with their Dremel tool to enlarge the pocket on the table to hold the ball nut.

[Martin ConnellyParticipant @martinconnelly55370]

Jack M, Mach3 has manual data input (MDI), no programming required, so you can get started with a converted mill before you progress to programs and CAD/CAM. You just need to know a few gcode commands to make the mill do what you do manually such as move the x axis 20mm to the left (or right) or the y axis away or towards you. Read through this to get an idea of using MDI. A mini wireless usb keyboard is useful as well for jogging the machine around.

Using MDI

Martin C

[Enough!Participant @enough]

Posted by Ronald Morrison on 02/04/2020 23:05:57:

Posted by Bandersnatch on 28/03/2020 15:34:09:

OK, I'll ask the question … how do people "machine the table". Second mill? Take it to a friend?

i've seen people mention using a mounted stone with their Dremel tool to enlarge the pocket on the table to hold the ball nut.

The heavymetalcnc instructions that Nick Hughes referred to above suggest that too …. but then point out that you need to machine (really machine) the saddle.

[Gary WoodingParticipant @garywooding25363]

Posted by Bandersnatch on 28/03/2020 15:34:09:

OK, I'll ask the question … how do people "machine the table". Second mill? Take it to a friend?

We took it to a friend's mill.

[Jack MParticipant @jackm14742]

Posted by Martin Connelly on 02/04/2020 23:58:02:

Jack M, Mach3 has manual data input (MDI), no programming required, so you can get started with a converted mill before you progress to programs and CAD/CAM. You just need to know a few gcode commands to make the mill do what you do manually such as move the x axis 20mm to the left (or right) or the y axis away or towards you. Read through this to get an idea of using MDI. A mini wireless usb keyboard is useful as well for jogging the machine around.

Using MDI

Martin C

Hi Martin thanks for that when i get time ill sit down and read through that in detail but makes life looks easy from my quick read

Thanks

[simondavies3Participant @simondavies3]

Posted by Bandersnatch on 28/03/2020 15:34:09:

OK, I'll ask the question … how do people "machine the table". Second mill? Take it to a friend?

This is how I did it 10 years ago – from (distant) memory, the big clamps were not the only means of holding the mill table to the lathe's vertical slide

BR
Simon

and the result looks like this:

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

Posted by Martin Connelly on 02/04/2020 23:58:02:

Jack M, Mach3 has manual data input (MDI), no programming required, so you can get started with a converted mill before you progress to programs and CAD/CAM. You just need to know a few gcode commands to make the mill do what you do manually such as move the x axis 20mm to the left (or right) or the y axis away or towards you. Read through this to get an idea of using MDI. A mini wireless usb keyboard is useful as well for jogging the machine around.

Using MDI

Martin C

You can use the MDI but the only thing I use it for is parting on the lathe. Much more useful on both lathe and mill are the suite of Wizards provided by Mach to do a wide range of common machining tasks.

[Jack MParticipant @jackm14742]

Posted by John Haine on 03/04/2020 15:11:02:

Posted by Martin Connelly on 02/04/2020 23:58:02:

Jack M, Mach3 has manual data input (MDI), no programming required, so you can get started with a converted mill before you progress to programs and CAD/CAM. You just need to know a few gcode commands to make the mill do what you do manually such as move the x axis 20mm to the left (or right) or the y axis away or towards you. Read through this to get an idea of using MDI. A mini wireless usb keyboard is useful as well for jogging the machine around.

Using MDI

Martin C

You can use the MDI but the only thing I use it for is parting on the lathe. Much more useful on both lathe and mill are the suite of Wizards provided by Mach to do a wide range of common machining tasks.

I surpose the only way the learn and make mistakes it to build it use it try it all myself unless someone would be so kind to show me there mill in use show me bit of use and set up in person would give me a better idea

I have seen they do have few wizards on there but some not good for what id do some will be

Thanks

[Jack MParticipant @jackm14742]

This is not a cheap option i dont think but looks a easy way out of machining your mill

mill https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/124139065419

might help some of you been looking at this myself as its the last bits i need to convert mine too

Thanks

[Author]

Posts