Re: EMC2 DC-servo controlled minimill

> Hows the mpg work for you? One click =.001, or what ever the feed
> rate multiplier is set at? Can you crank it as fast as you want
> without loosing position or stalling? Does the axis follow without
> jerking?

I made my own pendant with a 100ppr jogwheel, two selector switches,
and four push-buttons:
http://www.anderswallin.net/2006/11/jogging-emc2/

It has a selector for the jog increment 0.1 0.01 and 0.001 mm. Another
selector switches between X/Y/Z-jog and setting the feed override or
spindle speed override. When turning the wheel by hand at a moderate
rate that gives about 200mm/min 20mm/min and 2mm/min if I remember
correctly.
At the highest setting of 0.1mm/pulse the machine does tend to jump a
bit in discrete steps and the PID loop needs to be well tuned or else
I get following errors.
The axes do follow without error and cranking it as fast as possible
is no problem (limited by the rapid feed which is now 4000mm/min).

As Jon mentioned the parallel port has limited I/O so you might
consider a m5i20, the pluto-p, or Jon's boards to get more I/O out of
EMC2 (+hardware encoder counters, PWM generetion etc.)

Coolant: we put the enclosure around the mill to keep the coolant
inside and so use a liberal amount of it. My friend worked in a
production shop for a year and he says the pros use even more coolant
at higher pressures. Keeps the cutter cool and clears chips.