Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] from stepper to servo

metalman55418 wrote:

>A couple of years ago I bought a stepper motor kit from super tech
>and built a plasma cutting table, it has worked well but now Im
>cutting large stainless sheets and would like to convert it to a
>servo motor system. Im currently using a rack and spur gear, and
>would like to keep that. Ive read threw alot of material but am still
>unsure of a few things in this new and frightening world..
>
>What size servo motor do I need(currenltly using nema 23 stepper)
>
>

What is the weight of the carriage? What is the top speed you need, and
what acceleration?
What is the pitch diameter of the spur gear?

>Do i need to have a qaud. encoder? how many cpr would work?
>
>

A quadrature encoder is needed so that direction, as well as movement,
can be determined.
What resolution do you need on the position of the cutter?

>If im using real time software do I need a controller or is my
>computer acting as the controller leaving only motor amps(g320) to
>buy?
>
>

Assuming your computer can provide step pulses fast enough, then the
G320 is all you need.
In this case, the step pulses would need to come out at the encoder
count rate. So, the encoder
determines this. If you don't need real high resolution, then a lower
count encoder will
make things simpler.

>And last but not least to clear the haze from the battle field. Im
>using auto cad to create all my dxf files for cutting, So what
>software would be recomended for use with a servo/encoder? Will they
>all work regardless of my encoder type and motor size?
>
>
>

You still need a program to convert the DXF file to G-code for most CNC
programs.
There are autocad add-ons that will do this, or you can use a separate
program. The
program to convert DXF to G-code doesn't care about motors. Only the
CNC program
needs to know this.

Jon