Today on the bench I’ve got an old CNC lathe that I’m going to be retrofitting to run on the Arduino based GRBL CNC controller. This is a bit of an involved DIY project, but thanks to the open-source nature of GRBL and the people working on the development of lathe specific forks it should be a much more capable tool now than it was when it was new! This lathe is a spectralight lathe which is really a Sherline, and once it’s up and running it should open up a whole world of shop projects. One of the big differences from a standard GRBL install is the implementation of threading with GRBL. This is being done with a custom spindle controller and encoder.
I’m using a whole bunch of 3D-printed widgets to keep everything nice and neat, and to adapt new sensors to this old lathe without any major modifications. This kind of thing is really a perfect use for 3D printed parts!
For more details about lathe specific GRBL control (threading implementations in particular) check out:
MetalWorkerTools: https://github.com/MetalWorkerTools/grbl-L
fschill: https://github.com/fschill/grbl-Mega
For more details about this project check out my website:
www.bootstrap-garage.com
Affiliate links to the products I used in this video:
This helps fund these projects!
TB6560 Stepper Motor Drivers https://amzn.to/3jNVHGs
NEMA 23 Dual Shaft Stepper Motor https://amzn.to/3u21jS8
Limit Switches https://amzn.to/3qmqHQw
GX16 4-Pin Connectors https://amzn.to/2NswPbr
Neodymium magnets https://amzn.to/3daopQJ
Meanwell 12V power supply for Isolated power https://amzn.to/3jTrBBt
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