It generally does not matter if it is longer at the other end as long as the lead screw provides the desired travel for that axis. The lead screw will only need to be long enough for the travel, plus any structure and lead-nut positioning.

For example:
- The motor that will turn the lead screw will need to be mounted at some position (generally at one end of the axis). In many cases, this positioning will be mounted where some of the lead screw will not be used (the lead nut will not be able to moved close to the coupling of the lead screw to the motor shaft). Add some of the length of the lead screw to be inserted into the coupling.

- If the lead screw will contain bearings at either end of the travel, that portion of the mechanical assembly will need to be considered in the lead screw length.

- The lead-nut will need to be mounted in a position on a structural member of the part that is to move. The distance from the part of the structure that will extend closest to the motor will have some distance to the position of the lead nut. This distance will need to be added to the lead screw length.

Add these discrepancies to the length of the lead screw and the travel length and you will have the final length.

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How to determine lead screw length needed. My Thomson 1 1:4 rails are 60 inches long roughly for the router I’m building. I know I have to have it long enough to couple up with the stepper motor of course but does it matter if it’s a little long on the other end

The plug and play system does have enough memory for additional software. The redLeaf comes standard with a 1TB hard drive.

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DOES THE PLUG AND PLAY ELECTRONICS COMPUTER FOR 3 AXIS CNC MACHINE HAVE ENOUGH MEMORY RAM ADDITIONAL SOFTWARE (BOBCAD-CAM, BOBART, MACH3) TO BE ADDED FUNCTION WELL?

Depending on the size of your CNC machine, it will vary the length required for your application.
Please verify the CNC machine, and we can go into detail on the specific lengths or methods for the linear guide mechanics.

We sell our ACME Screw (1/2" per inch), also our longest length of ACME Screw is 76-3/4".

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Hi, I need the lead screw and bearings for x/y/z axis of the CNC. What is the length of "1/2" Lead Screw per inch (Steel)"?

The leadscrew length for the greenBull long Z-axis is 47 inches.

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BUILDING ONE OF YOUR GREENBULL 6X LONG AND 2.2 KILOWATT SPINDLE DOES NOT FIT. SEEMS LEAD SCREW YOU SENT WITH KIT IS SHORT 42" LOOKS LIKE IT NEEDS TO BE 5 OR 6 INCH LONGER. THIS CORRECT? WHAT THE NEEDED LENGTH FOR UNIT?

The leadscrew length for the greenBull long Z-axis is 47 inches.

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Building one of your greenBull 6X Long and 2.2 kilowatt spindle does not fit. Seems lead screw you sent with kit is short 42" looks like it needs to be 5 or 6 inch longer. Is this correct? What is the needed length of lead screw for this unit?

Use a clamping collar (if you are using an ACME lead screw) or a couple of 1/2 nuts (if using an allthread) against the bearing to keep the bearing in place and make sure there is no axial play.

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How do I secure the non-motor end of the lead screw for my 'Book' machine build? Does it just sit inside the bearing or do i use a nut to lock it in place? I did not see any instructions for this in the book.

Dealing with running our CNC machines with roller chain on the X/Y-axes and lead screw on the Z-axis, we chose this method due to functionality and cost effectiveness. We wanted to make the lowest cost CNC machine available for our customers without taking to much functionality and precision away from the machine. We wanted the accuracy and cost effectiveness to be surprisingly high, with our machines getting thousandths of an inch will be no issue, and having it at a decent price!

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Hey. I have noticed that you guys use roller chain to move x,y axis and a lead screw to move the z axis, can you please explain the motivation in short? Thank you.

The settings that will have to be change will be your steps per inch in motor tuning (mach 3), or settings/axes(planetCNC). But we do not have the actual numbers/specs that will fit your 10 TPI 5 start lead screw, here is a tutorial video which explains how to get the exact numbers you need! (

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I just changed my X and Y to the ACME 1/2" 5 start lead screw. What are the motor tuning numbers. I have the book built machine.

We will provide shim washers as a part of machine assemblies, but when purchasing lead screw and bearings, the shim washers must be purchased as well. Please give us a call and we can send them out.

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I just ordered a 1/2" lead screw and bearings, etc. But I don't see any 1/2" shim washers for those bearings. If you have any, please toss 8 of them in the shipment and I'll gladly reimburse you.

PC with parallel port and USB port
20awg stranded wires for the motors - http://www.buildyourcnc.com/electronicscombo.aspx
18awg stranded wires for power supply to drivers
24awg stranded wires for breakout board to drivers
(location and spacing of components varies from one person to another, so we do not provide cables/wires)
- General purpose extension cord (cut the female end off) to provide power to power supply
- USB cable to power breakout board
- Parallel cable to communicate to breakout board
- Router
- (optional - instead of router) Spindle with power inverter http://www.buildyourcnc.com/SpindlesAndAccessories.aspx
- (if purchasing spindle with inverter) General purpose extension cord (240v) (cut the female end off) to provide power to power inverter
- End Mill(s) http://www.buildyourcnc.com/ProductsEndMills.aspx
- CAD, and/or CAD-CAM software (to produce geometry, machine operations, and g-code) http://www.buildyourcnc.com/CNCsoftware.aspx
- CNC control software (to read g-code and control machine) http://www.buildyourcnc.com/CNCsoftware.aspx
- If the machine does not have the table included, then a table will need to be built. The rails, chain and chain mounts are included that are used on this table.

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what I receive w/ 5' x 10' CNC machine kit and what additional items I would need to have a fully operational machine?

The details will differ depending on the type of lead screw you use.

For allthread lead screws, you will need the 1/2" square nut, 1/2" allthread lead screw, two 1/4" screws and nuts to hold the square nut in place, two 1/2" ID bearings, two standard 1/2" nuts, and one coupling hub.

Attach the square nut to the nut support using the two 1/4" screw and nuts. The bearings will need to be inserted into the seats of the lower and upper part of the z-axis. Insert the lead screw through the top bearing. Use one of the standard 1/2" nuts and start threading it on the allthread screw just below the bearing. Lower the lead screw to the square nut and start to screw the lead screw into the square nut. Continue until the screw is near the lower bearing. Add another standard 1/2" nut to the screw and keep turning the screw until the screw just passes the lower bearing. Add the coupling hub to the top of the screw just above the upper bearing. Turn the lower and upper standard 1/2" nuts until they are snug against the bearing. If the standard 1/2" nuts become loosened, consider adding another nut to each end against the existing nut to keep them in place.

For 1/2" acme 5 start lead screws, you will need to use an antibacklash nut in place of the square nut. This nut attaches with a flange using two #8 screws and nuts. The standard 1/2" nuts are replaced by clamping collars.

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I couldn't find any information about how to mount the "z-axis lead screw in the book" (Build Your Own CNC)

Currently we have no option for auto-tool change as this feature is mostly limited to higher-priced heavier duty spindles. We are aware of some new technology being developed to bring auto-tool to lighter duty spindles. We will be following the progress of this development closely in order to bring this option to our website whenever it becomes available.

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I am thinking about buying one of your kits. Do you offer a way to interchange bits without using wrenches. also do you have an option to add an additional smaller spindle for drilling parts?

BYCNC response:

Milling aluminum is no problem with our machines.

Here is a video we recently did with our 4'x8' machine. The aluminum piece is about 1/4" thick: https://buildyourcnc.com/tutorials/tutorial-greenbull-aluminum-cutting

The accuracy you will see from our our 2.2kW spindle is entirely dependent on the precision of your build, so it's not possible to say what level of accuracy you can achieve without an examination of the complete system. However, our spindles have a runout of less than .0001 in, which includes the collets that we sell. If you use a collet from another manufacturer, we cannot guarantee this TIR (Total Indicated Runout) dimension.

For the dimension drawing of the anti-backlash nut, please contact us directly by phone or email to techsupport@buildyourcnc.com

User response:
I have emailed waiting for your reply.

User response:
Hi, I am still waiting for your email reply.

BYCNC response:
Your email has been sent.

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HI, I HAVE INTENTION OF PURCHASING YOUR 1/2 INCH PRECISION LEAD SCREW SET TO BUILD MY CNC MACHINE, COULD THE SCHEMATIC DIMENSION ANTI-BACKLASH NUT, BEARING FOR AND SHIM? ALSO IS 2.2KW SPINDLE ABLE MILL ALUMINUM WHAT ACCURACY?

BYCNC response:

Milling aluminum is no problem with our machines.

Here is a video we recently did with our 4'x8' machine. The aluminum piece is about 1/4" thick: https://buildyourcnc.com/tutorials/tutorial-greenbull-aluminum-cutting

The accuracy you will see from our our 2.2kW spindle is entirely dependent on the precision of your build, so it's not possible to say what level of accuracy you can achieve without an examination of the complete system. However, our spindles have a runout of less than .0001 in, which includes the collets that we sell. If you use a collet from another manufacturer, we cannot guarantee this TIR (Total Indicated Runout) dimension.

For the dimension drawing of the anti-backlash nut, please contact us directly by phone or email to techsupport@buildyourcnc.com

User response:
I have emailed waiting for your reply.

User response:
Hi, I am still waiting for your email reply.

BYCNC response:
Your email has been sent.

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Click the link to add information to this solution:
HI, I HAVE INTENTION OF PURCHASING YOUR 1/2 INCH PRECISION LEAD SCREW SET TO BUILD MY CNC MACHINE, COULD THE SCHEMATIC DIMENSION ANTI-BACKLASH NUT, BEARING FOR AND SHIM? ALSO IS 2.2KW SPINDLE ABLE MILL ALUMINUM WHAT ACCURACY?

The maximum length we can ship is a total of 78" inches. However we can send your required length in portions. Please refer to adding the total items you require to your cart to get a visualized amount and shipping cost.

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Regarding 1/2" 5 start and 10 TPI ACME precision lead screw, what the maximum length you can ship within USA? I'm looking for something like 100" and I could use a 1" screw if available. Please include estimated price. Thanks.

Generally, you’ll need to check what control software will need to be used with the CNC router. Our machines use industry standard electronics and control software that is nonproprietary so you can use just about any software out there with our machines.

Specifically, what software are you planning on using?

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dear Sir,
I'm searching for the best one,I think that I have to learn more about that in order to be able to make the right decision.

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If you are using a computer running Microsoft Windows, then I would recommend using Mach3 or Mach4. If you prefer Linux, then LinuxCNC is the best control software in my opinion.

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I'm searching for a desktop cnc, could you tell me please if any software I may choose could be compatible with all desktop cnc machine or I have to check the compatibility before ?

PC with parallel port and USB port
20awg stranded wires for the motors - http://www.buildyourcnc.com/electronicscombo.aspx
18awg stranded wires for power supply to drivers
24awg stranded wires for breakout board to drivers
(location and spacing of components varies from one person to another, so we do not provide cables/wires)
- General purpose extension cord (cut the female end off) to provide power to power supply
- USB cable to power breakout board
- Parallel cable to communicate to breakout board
- Router
- (optional - instead of router) Spindle with power inverter http://www.buildyourcnc.com/SpindlesAndAccessories.aspx
- (if purchasing spindle with inverter) General purpose extension cord (240v) (cut the female end off) to provide power to power inverter
- End Mill(s) http://www.buildyourcnc.com/ProductsEndMills.aspx
- CAD, and/or CAD-CAM software (to produce geometry, machine operations, and g-code) http://www.buildyourcnc.com/CNCsoftware.aspx
- CNC control software (to read g-code and control machine) http://www.buildyourcnc.com/CNCsoftware.aspx
- If the machine does not have the table included, then a table will need to be built. The rails, chain and chain mounts are included that are used on this table.

Additional Information:

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can you please clarify exactly what I receive w/ 5' x 10' CNC machine kit and what additional items I would need to have a fully operational machine?

You will need to build the table unit for your machine. There are instructions on how to do this at the bottom of the product page here, https://www.buildyourcnc.com/Item/cnc-machine-blackFoot-v4
There is no estimate on how much this will cost though, since there are too many variables involved to do this.

- PC with parallel port and USB port
- 20awg stranded wires for the motors - http://www.buildyourcnc.com/electronicscombo.aspx
- 18awg stranded wires for power supply to drivers
- 24awg stranded wires for breakout board to drivers
(location and spacing of components varies from one person to another, so we do not provide cables/wires)
- General purpose extension cord (cut the female end off) to provide power to power supply
- USB cable to power breakout board
- Parallel cable to communicate to breakout board
- Router
- (optional - instead of router) Spindle with power inverter http://www.buildyourcnc.com/SpindlesAndAccessories.aspx
- (if purchasing spindle with inverter) General purpose extension cord (240v) (cut the female end off) to provide power to power inverter
- End Mill(s) http://www.buildyourcnc.com/ProductsEndMills.aspx
- CAD, and/or CAD-CAM software (to produce geometry, machine operations, and g-code) http://www.buildyourcnc.com/CNCsoftware.aspx
- CNC control software (to read g-code and control machine) http://www.buildyourcnc.com/CNCsoftware.aspx

This answer is applicable to most of our machines with the exception of the greenLean and the blueChick since those machines are equipped with a table structure.

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I just wanted to know what I can expect to pay to build the blackFoot 4'x8' CNC machine, excluding computer, software and router? Is the kit complete or do I have to purchase additional items to finish?

The parallel breakout board is able to control the spindle using its on-board relay circuit. Full instructions on how to wire the spindle to the breakout board and configure mach3 can be found here:

https://buildyourcnc.com/item/electronicsAndMotors-parallel-breakout-relay

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Is the parallel breakout board in the kits capable of being wired to turn on/off the spindle through mach3/estop or will it require additional hardware?