Re: using a stepper motor for spindle on a lathe

Bob,

At this point is seems like 2 motors might be necessary unless a servo
motor could accomplish both. I am going to look at trying to control
the existing spindle motor fist, then seek out a stepper or servo as a
second motor. I'll have to figure how to do the wiring as you
suggested. I might be able to control the switching with the computer
through relays. The machine has great potential and might even be
able to do hollowing.....

Thanks,
Keith

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, bobmcknight@c... wrote:
>
> I think that you would definitely want two motors on the spindle.
> I think I would have two configurations that could be hard wired
> and switched manually or wired with patch cords.
> With the router motor supplying the cutting power, the spindle
> motor would basically just determine how fine the finish is.
> With the stepping motor driving the spindle, you could do your
> rope patterns, fluting and engraving. With a motor driving the
> spindle you could do more conventional turning and bowl turning.
> Do you ever do any hollow jug turning? Sounds like a real
> versatile machine that can handle some large projects.
>
> bob mcknight
>
> To: <CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com>
> Organization: Machine-Tech Engineering
> From: "Bob Muse" <mtebob1@s...>
> Date sent: Fri, 13 Jan 2006 15:52:29 -0800
> Subject: Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: using a
> stepper motor for spindle on a lathe
> Send reply to: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com
>
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>
> Hi Keith
>
> You might want to consider using a large sized servo motor on the
> spindle
> rather than a stepper. I think your power requirements for this
> application
> are beyond what a stepper is capable of. A servo will have a greater
> speed
> range and available torque than a stepper. Servos are available that
> take
> step/direction input just like a stepper motor. I am not that
familiar with
> machX although I am sure it can do the job, I just use a different
> program,
> CNCPro. You might need to have a couple of different machine
> configuration
> files depending on what you want to do.
>
> The thing to remember about running a machine's axis' on gcode is
> that
> everything is based on position. So to just run the spindle like a
lathe
> spindle, you could program in however many revolutions (in degrees)
> that it
> will take to complete the cut. It might be easier to use the analog
input
> to the servo amp to just set a spindle velocity. Many servo amps have
> selectable inputs step/dir, +/- 10v analog, serial communication etc.
>
> What you want to do should be quite feasible.
>
> If you are interested I have a couple of large servo motor/amps which
> take
> step/ dir etc and might work for you. Email me off list for more info.
>
> Regards,
> Bob
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Keith Clark" <mail@t...>
> To: <CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Friday, January 13, 2006 2:12 PM
> Subject: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: using a stepper motor for spindle
> on a lathe
>
>
> > In a prior message Seiman said;
> > "I do not see why you want to change the spindle to stepper motor as
> > each one represent a completly different role."
> >
> > If I can work through the logic of what is a retrofit of a manual
> > woodturning lathe into a CNC woodturning lathe with router option...
> >
> > I basically have a setup that looks like a metal working lathe with x
> > and z axis, except that the axes are bolted onto the side of the
> > woodworking lathe which has its own spindle motor. The z axis is the
> > carriage that moves down the length of the lathe. The x axis is the
> > cross-slide that moves the tool cutting bit at right angles to the
> > lathe bed, but in place of the cutter I have a router mounted. The
> > spindle motor on the lathe is intact and can be used for high rpm
> > normal woodturning.
> >
> > I would like to then in one instance control the rpm of the motor for
> > standard CNC turning with a normal cutting bit or router mounted on
> > the cross slide.
> >
> > In the second instance, I would like to be able to mount an engraving
> > motor or router on the cross-slide and to do engraving, fancy
> > decorating etc with the spindle now controlled like a 4th axis. In
> > the standard mode described in the first instance, the spindle motor
> > turns at a controllable rpm either clockwise or counterclockwise. With
> > the router mounted, I will be able to rough shapes in very large
> > diameter logs and do spiral designs with barley twists or rope like
> > creations on smaller pieces. However, in the 4th axis mode, the
> > spindle will be stepped in either direction like an axis rather than
> > like a lathe spindle.
> >
> > My problem is trying to understand how Mach3 will deal with these 2
> > setup options. It seems to me that a stepper motor could offer both
> > options. Perhaps the stepper motor could handle lower rpm standard
> > turning jobs with the router mounted and when needed the higher rpm
> > jobs would be done with the original spindle motor controlled
> > manually. I realize that there is a resolution issue with larger
> > diameters in the 4th axis mode that might require a significant gear
> > reduction.
> >
> > Again, this router table is mounted to a woodturning lathe with an 8
> > foot by 30 inch diameter capacity. That is about the best I can do to
> > describe the situation. I appreciate eveyone's feedback and
suggestions.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Keith Clark
> >
> > --- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, Seiman H <seiman_h@y...>
wrote:
> > >
> >
> > > you can have a 3 axis machine with rotary 4th axis but the spindle
> > still independat it usually works with Z axis in this case which do
> > not exists at your lathe.
> > >
> > > Seiman
> > >
> > > Keith Clark <mail@t...> wrote:
> > > I am wondering if I can use a stepper motor to turn the
spindle of a
> > > lathe. I am using Mach3 to control the 2 axis router machine that
> > > mounts on the woodturning lathe. I will do very slow rpm work,
> > > shaping vessels with the router machine. It seems like Mach3 is
> > > capable but the docs do not specifically discuss stepper motors but
> > > say a step and dir controlled motor will work. Does anyone see a
> > > problem with this approach?
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > >
> > > Keith Clark
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
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> there, for OT
> subjects, that are not allowed on the CCED list.
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> there, for OT subjects, that are not allowed on the CCED list.
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> NOTICE: ALL POSTINGS TO THIS GROUP BECOME PUBLIC
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