tenballkiller
Registered
Hello. I recently purchased two Lanoo lathes and I am wanting to convert one with stepper motors into a cnc setup. What motors, drivers, and software does anyone recommend?
Lanoo lathe CNC conversion
- Thread starter tenballkiller
- Start date
TenBall,
A popular combination for CNC here is Mach3 control software, Gecko G540 controller, and NEMA23 stepper motors. MVPCues (a member here) sells a software package that will create the GCode for tapers for you.
There's a lot more that goes into it, but those are the basics.
Dave - IIRC someone posted here that the Lanoo lathe business was up for sale, so getting help from the originator might be difficult.
My 2 cents,
Gary
A popular combination for CNC here is Mach3 control software, Gecko G540 controller, and NEMA23 stepper motors. MVPCues (a member here) sells a software package that will create the GCode for tapers for you.
There's a lot more that goes into it, but those are the basics.
Dave - IIRC someone posted here that the Lanoo lathe business was up for sale, so getting help from the originator might be difficult.
My 2 cents,
Gary
3raildraw
Registered
Hello,
PMDX Controls
Homeshopcnc steppers
Mach 3
Sorry, but real cue makers have big cast iron lathes. In the end they cost less.
I use MasterCam I bought 20 years ago for $5000. I think there are many better or at least cheaper solution's now.
I hate to sound like a jerk, but, those alum lathes are not serious tools. Some of my friends make those machines and sell them tot want to be cuemakers, but they don't use them when they make cues themselves.
3raildraw
"Yea, I have made more than 20,000 cues in the last 25 years or so"
PMDX Controls
Homeshopcnc steppers
Mach 3
Sorry, but real cue makers have big cast iron lathes. In the end they cost less.
I use MasterCam I bought 20 years ago for $5000. I think there are many better or at least cheaper solution's now.
I hate to sound like a jerk, but, those alum lathes are not serious tools. Some of my friends make those machines and sell them tot want to be cuemakers, but they don't use them when they make cues themselves.
3raildraw
"Yea, I have made more than 20,000 cues in the last 25 years or so"
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Thanks for the links.
I am using autodesk fusion 360 and their HSMworks software. Free for students and a business less than 100k. Works really well posting to Mach 3 as well. Best of both worlds, you can simulate on the cam and see the cutter path and any collisions etc, then you see the path and orientation when it's loaded to Mach3. Bit of a learning curve, but what isn't.
Neil
I am using autodesk fusion 360 and their HSMworks software. Free for students and a business less than 100k. Works really well posting to Mach 3 as well. Best of both worlds, you can simulate on the cam and see the cutter path and any collisions etc, then you see the path and orientation when it's loaded to Mach3. Bit of a learning curve, but what isn't.
Neil
So according to your logic, a guy with aluminum machinery cannot make real cues? And no matter what cues he actually produces using said machinery, he isn't a real cue maker? Until a guy has a 1000lb paper weight sitting in his shop, he'll always be a "want to be cue maker"? Please elaborate on exactly what your statements were meant to say. Enlighten me.
If you desire a serious discussion you should not start by twisting wha he said to fit your viewpoint... 1000 lb paperweight...
There are many advantages to a fully functional machine tool lathe. If you do not yet understand that...
you still have a lot to learn.
I could make a playable cue on my somewhat modified used wood lathe. How would you feel
if I called you a foolish, stupid, sucker for paying $4k for a Taig based cue lathe?
Dale
From about this point forward this thread has the potential to be either a serious discussion on the
differences btwn alum & iron lathes, their pros/cons, etc. or yet another mega-tremendous train-wreck.
The choice belongs to all those that wish to participate. Me ? I know how to make popcorn if I have to.
differences btwn alum & iron lathes, their pros/cons, etc. or yet another mega-tremendous train-wreck.
The choice belongs to all those that wish to participate. Me ? I know how to make popcorn if I have to.
3raildraw
Registered
Cuemakers
Please excuse the typo's, I don't type for a living
I have no need or desire to convince anyone of anything.
I make a nice living making cues, kid in college, nice home, vacations, etc, all from making cues. That is all I do.
Anyone, using almost anything can make a few cues a year. I have made playable cues on a wood lathe, that did not make me a cuemaker.
BTW good wood lathes are cast iron.
5 cues a year, 25, maybe 50 who knows, that is hobby. I call a cuemaker a person that can do the same thing over and over again, correctly, precisely everytime. Their world and a lot of other peoples world depend on them being able to make a cue everytime.
The biggest mistake most beginners make is thinking well, that little lathe is good enough.. No, it is not, if it was I would have 10 of them. "Paperweight" or more correctly, mass, is important. I will assure you, no one, and I mean no one, makes a living with alum lathes.
The sad part is that it really doesn't cost more to have the correct pieces. But, it does mean you have to know things. Beginners think that by buying a cuemaking lathe they are getting something that makes it easier to make a cue. The machine has no idea what it is making.
Car guys, airplane guys, boat guys, all buy the same tools the same lathes, welders, etc.. They know how to use them. Turning a boat shaft or a facing a car drive shaft can both be done on the same machine. You don't need a drive shaft lathe, or a boat lathe. You need a nice big heavy accurate machine.
If you look on the net you will find many video's I have posted some of them) of machines turning square to round with a metal lathe and a router in one pass, the same, everytime.
There are a couple of guys on youtube doing amazing cue work on real machines, with mostly standard tooling, they are good and they know what they are doing.
My point is that alum cuemaking lathes are very pricey for the work they do.
I'm done.
3raildraw
"Yea I have made 20,000 or so cues in the last 25 years"
Please excuse the typo's, I don't type for a living
I have no need or desire to convince anyone of anything.
I make a nice living making cues, kid in college, nice home, vacations, etc, all from making cues. That is all I do.
Anyone, using almost anything can make a few cues a year. I have made playable cues on a wood lathe, that did not make me a cuemaker.
BTW good wood lathes are cast iron.
5 cues a year, 25, maybe 50 who knows, that is hobby. I call a cuemaker a person that can do the same thing over and over again, correctly, precisely everytime. Their world and a lot of other peoples world depend on them being able to make a cue everytime.
The biggest mistake most beginners make is thinking well, that little lathe is good enough.. No, it is not, if it was I would have 10 of them. "Paperweight" or more correctly, mass, is important. I will assure you, no one, and I mean no one, makes a living with alum lathes.
The sad part is that it really doesn't cost more to have the correct pieces. But, it does mean you have to know things. Beginners think that by buying a cuemaking lathe they are getting something that makes it easier to make a cue. The machine has no idea what it is making.
Car guys, airplane guys, boat guys, all buy the same tools the same lathes, welders, etc.. They know how to use them. Turning a boat shaft or a facing a car drive shaft can both be done on the same machine. You don't need a drive shaft lathe, or a boat lathe. You need a nice big heavy accurate machine.
If you look on the net you will find many video's I have posted some of them) of machines turning square to round with a metal lathe and a router in one pass, the same, everytime.
There are a couple of guys on youtube doing amazing cue work on real machines, with mostly standard tooling, they are good and they know what they are doing.
My point is that alum cuemaking lathes are very pricey for the work they do.
I'm done.
3raildraw
"Yea I have made 20,000 or so cues in the last 25 years"
3raildraw
Registered
Cuemakers
Please excuse the typo's, I don't type for a living
I have no need or desire to convince anyone of anything.
I make a nice living making cues, kid in college, nice home, vacations, etc, all from making cues. That is all I do.
Anyone, using almost anything can make a few cues a year. I have made playable cues on a wood lathe, that did not make me a cuemaker.
BTW good wood lathes are cast iron.
5 cues a year, 25, maybe 50 who knows, that is hobby. I call a cuemaker a person that can do the same thing over and over again, correctly, precisely everytime. Their world and a lot of other peoples world depend on them being able to make a cue everytime.
The biggest mistake most beginners make is thinking well, that little lathe is good enough.. No, it is not, if it was I would have 10 of them. "Paperweight" or more correctly, mass, is important. I will assure you, no one, and I mean no one, makes a living with alum lathes.
The sad part is that it really doesn't cost more to have the correct pieces. But, it does mean you have to know things. Beginners think that by buying a cuemaking lathe they are getting something that makes it easier to make a cue. The machine has no idea what it is making.
Car guys, airplane guys, boat guys, all buy the same tools the same lathes, welders, etc.. They know how to use them. Turning a boat shaft or a facing a car drive shaft can both be done on the same machine. You don't need a drive shaft lathe, or a boat lathe. You need a nice big heavy accurate machine.
If you look on the net you will find many video's I have posted some of them) of machines turning square to round with a metal lathe and a router in one pass, the same, everytime.
There are a couple of guys on youtube doing amazing cue work on real machines, with mostly standard tooling, they are good and they know what they are doing.
My point is that alum cuemaking lathes are very pricey for the work they do.
I'm done.
3raildraw
"Yea I have made 20,000 or so cues in the last 25 years"
Please excuse the typo's, I don't type for a living
I have no need or desire to convince anyone of anything.
I make a nice living making cues, kid in college, nice home, vacations, etc, all from making cues. That is all I do.
Anyone, using almost anything can make a few cues a year. I have made playable cues on a wood lathe, that did not make me a cuemaker.
BTW good wood lathes are cast iron.
5 cues a year, 25, maybe 50 who knows, that is hobby. I call a cuemaker a person that can do the same thing over and over again, correctly, precisely everytime. Their world and a lot of other peoples world depend on them being able to make a cue everytime.
The biggest mistake most beginners make is thinking well, that little lathe is good enough.. No, it is not, if it was I would have 10 of them. "Paperweight" or more correctly, mass, is important. I will assure you, no one, and I mean no one, makes a living with alum lathes.
The sad part is that it really doesn't cost more to have the correct pieces. But, it does mean you have to know things. Beginners think that by buying a cuemaking lathe they are getting something that makes it easier to make a cue. The machine has no idea what it is making.
Car guys, airplane guys, boat guys, all buy the same tools the same lathes, welders, etc.. They know how to use them. Turning a boat shaft or a facing a car drive shaft can both be done on the same machine. You don't need a drive shaft lathe, or a boat lathe. You need a nice big heavy accurate machine.
If you look on the net you will find many video's I have posted some of them) of machines turning square to round with a metal lathe and a router in one pass, the same, everytime.
There are a couple of guys on youtube doing amazing cue work on real machines, with mostly standard tooling, they are good and they know what they are doing.
My point is that alum cuemaking lathes are very pricey for the work they do.
I'm done.
3raildraw
"Yea I have made 20,000 or so cues in the last 25 years"
So who the hell are you? Certainly everyone will have heard of you after making 20,000 cues.
An argument could also be made that your choice of cnc technology is hobby level at best. Your advice of what should be used is text book for a toy machine as you put it. Certainly you haven't retrofitted big ultra precise cast iron machine tools with Mach 3 and stepper motors
To be fair, the OPs question was about CNC for a Lanoo, one of the alum lathes which
he considers to be a "toy". So why criticize that recommendation?
Dale(who grows more and more confused by this thread)
To be fair? Really? I just thought I'd challenge the Guy. His recommendation was not really a recommendation at all. More like a cheap shot while making himself sound sporty. Hell, maybe I'm confused, Anybody who touts on more than one occasion that he's built more than 20,000 cues makes the bullshit meter goes through the roof.
Yes, really. I'm not quite a CNC genius, but I wouldn't expect to use the same setup
for a Taig that I would for a Clausing.
BTW - If he really has made 20,000 cues will you walk to his house to offer an apology?
Dale
If you have really made even 1/2 the cues you claim, then why not use your business name so we have something to weight against your claims? Most full timers have not been able to finance college for kid(s), a home and a great living 'strictly' from cue building and not have a name people recognize.
It's possibly, but not the norm as somebody always knows the truth.
I use a bench top Atlas lathe and a Cuesmith deluxe and make fine cues, so does that make me a wanna be?
Almost sounds a lot like a certain Florida supplier that may have resurfaced as another Handle here.....could be wrong.... but....
Dave
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Hell yes, I'll even skip and sing a song while carrying flowers.
Just speculation but maybe 3raildraw is someone of the likes of Bob Meucci? He could certainly claim to have built over 20 000 cues, he didn't say he built them all with his own hands.
Getting back to the Lannoo lathe question. I had a Lannoo up until a few months ago. Ant I'm not sure it worth trying to convert it to CNC. Mine had one been rigged to do tapers for shafts, but I found it a bit cumbersome and it wore the parts out fast. As Brian Lannoo is basically out of business, it's hard if not impossible to get parts out of him. Unless you can machine your own, I'd not go that route.
But as the OP has 2 of the lathes..... maybe he can make it work.
But as the OP has 2 of the lathes..... maybe he can make it work.