Re: Digital DC Variable Speed Drive for spindle control

Hi Bryan,

Thanks for the input I took a look at the Carotron site and I liked
what I saw, a couple of points I would like your opinion about:
- When you say the drive will accept frequency inputs as standard do
you mean like step pulses from mach2?
- If so, which way would you go, step & Dir, or serial
communication?? I asked Art about mach2 supporting serial
communication, and he said mach2 can be configured to send serial
commands but not receive.
- In my lathe setup, I have a tacho attached to the motor, and an
encoder attached to the spindle (1024) PPR, and there is a 3 speed
gearbox between motor and spindle, which way to go for feed back,
tacho or encoder.

I'm sorry I'm asking all sort of questions, as I'm doing this for
the first time.

Mina F.

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, fiteboss@y... wrote:
> Control Techniques makes good drives, if (IMO) a little bit
overpriced.
>
> For DC drives, I really, Really like Carotron. Good pricing, great
> technical support. They aren't as pretty as some others, but they
get the
> job done, day in and day out. Mike Jenkins and his crew make an
excellent
> product. I've got quite a few installed in some severe industrial
> environments, and I've *never* had a failure. Amazing.
>
> The ElitePro drive will accept frequency inputs as standard, as
well as
> 1024PPR quadrature feedback. Configure one of your 7 digital
inputs as
> direction. Or use the supplied RS232 or 422 communications ports.
Speed
> regulation with encoder feedback is +0.01%
> http://www.carotron.com
>
> BTW, DC drives are not inverters.
>
> Bryan Moody
> Not affiliated with Carotron!
> Just a very satisfied systems integrator.
>
>
>
>
> At 05:51 PM 1/24/04, you wrote:
> >Gentlemen,
> >
> >I'm in the process of changing the old Fanuc controller of a
medium size bed
> >lathe to a new control using mach2 and Geckos.
> >I already setup my Z&X axis, and they are working fine, now I'm
getting to
> >the part of spindle speed control, the spindle motor is a 11 Kw
BBC
> >DC motor, which came with its old speed controller which I'm
scrapping.
> >I'm thinking of buying a new digital DC variable speed drive
(inverter) for
> >the motor like the one in the URL below:
>
>http://www.controltechniques.co.uk/products/mentor_intro.htm#Benefit
s
> > I know it's a bit expensive, but I'm planning to use the lathe
for
> >production work, now I was wondering of the way to control the
speed drive
> >from mach2:
> >
> >- Can I send step & Dir pulses to the speed drive as it has
digital inputs.
> >- I have a 1024 PPR encoder attached to the spindle, do I send
the encoder
> >pulses to the speed controller for feed back.
> >- If so, can I rely on the speed controller to keep a constant
speed, for
> >threading operations, or do I have to take an index pulse to
mach2 to do
> >threading.
> >- I think mach2 does not support serial communication to speed
drives, am I
> >correct.
> >
> >- If non of the above is feasible, what other options do I have to
> >communicate between mach2 and speed drives?
> >
> >Please advise,
> >
> >Mina F.
> >
> >P.S. I apologize for multiple group posting.
> >
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