RE: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Basic path to NC milling (for this new guy)?

I will say a few words about your questions. I am sure
others will as well.

Usually commercial digital readout scales are much too coarse
for cnc. A much higher resolution rotary encoder is used on the leadscrew.

Servo is a power feed brand name. As with the dro these are not designed
for use with cnc. A typical motor as used on a Bridgeport machine can be
seen on my engineering link below.

As far as differences between mills... If it is a used one you will
be ahead of the game if you find one with ballscrews already installed.
This would typically be on a cnc machine with old or dead controls though,
because the backdriving capability makes them actually
undesireable on most manual machines.

Les

Leslie M.Watts
L M Watts Furniture
Tiger Georgia

Main page:
http://www.lmwatts.com
Engineering:
http://www.lmwatts.com/shop.html
Cnc surplus for sale:
http://www.lmwatts.com/forsale.html
Carved signs:
http:/www.lmwatts.com/signwp.html

-----Original Message-----
From: jimmyge2001 [mailto:gerken@...]
Sent: Thursday, June 17, 2004 10:36 AM
To: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Basic path to NC milling (for this new guy)?


Since my ancient vertical mill is breaking down more often than I
can tolerate, I may opt to trade it in. If so, I would like to
ensure I make the right choices to eventually do some NC automation.
Is there really any difference in the mill I choose (from a NC
standpoint?
Does the choice of DRO I buy matter? Does the DRO feed information
to the computer? If so, what is the connector, or interconnect type
I am looking for? Specific brands and models recommendations would
be welcome. If not, does a person have to add seperate location
detectors?
Motors: Enco offers a table motor they call "Servo". I am guessing
that is a brand name, not an actual servo motor. I will not buy any
table driving motors with the mill (I will not be able to afford it
all at once), but eventually I will add the motors, and would want
the motors to be addaptable to NC operation. I am familiar with
steppers after having built an NC plasma table, so I have a bit of a
headstart here.
Any info you can offer would help me. Again, if I buy a new mill, I
would want to have the right upgrade path to eventual home-brewed NC
operation. I checked the FAQ briefly. Thanks!