What do you use for leadscrews and nut?

The ball nuts I've looked at for zero backlash and great tolerance seem to cost more than the steppers, and stepper control board if you count the carriage rod for the ball screws on 3 axis.

I'm still unsure if buying a 3 axis mill with ball screws and solid work area already set up, then converting it to CNC would be a better alternative than building one from scratch, for "best accuracy per dollar spent".

I designed and machined my own lead screw nuts out of Delrin.... I used a piece of the 3/8-12 ACME rod to fabricate a Tap to thread the Delrin, by doing that I got a real snug fit, and along with the "offset compensator" blocks, I was able to get zero backlash ....

I am actually about to convert my 3 axis manual industrial mill into a CNC

 

don't you just wish you DARPA funds? Who do you have to do to get them?

 

http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-11-makers-infamous-bigdog-robot-unveil.html

Kinda walks like a cross between Lou Ferrigno and Marion Morrison.

 

don't you just wish you DARPA funds? Who do you have to do to get them?

Order some stuff that would set off red flags with them.

Somebody from the government will be in contact with you shortly after you receive all the parts, hope your interview goes well.

 

Yeah, but I'm not likely to get funding beyond room and board for that.

 

This one has both.

http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-11-snake-alike-titanoboa-robot-eek-video.html

 

Have you guys checked out the naobot? haha

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQJ7hHJLaEU

 

This is pretty impressive with quadcopters...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=W18Z3UnnS_0