Lathe Spindle Encoder Options

[Chaz]

I've got a little Denford Orac which is up and running on Centroid. It used to have an older encoder of sorts with a little AC motor providing spindle power.

I'm considering changing this to a servo.

Can I use the output of a suitable drive (like the Panasonic Minas) where it has its own position feedback. Of course, there could be 'slip' if its belt driven, however could this work and be good enough for rigid tapping or am I wasting my time trying to do it this way?

Thanks

[suntravel]

With a toothed belt 1:1 on the spindle a servo encoder will be ok.

Anything not 1:1 or a slipping belt will not work.

Uwe

[Chaz]

With a toothed belt 1:1 on the spindle a servo encoder will be ok.

Anything not 1:1 or a slipping belt will not work.

Uwe

Thanks Uwe. I know that on some setups you can alter the numerator / denominator to potentially 'mimic' a 1:1 ratio but it sounds like I should just find a rotary type encoder and use that. A challenge is that its a pneumatic chuck however there was some form of encoder before, so it's about adapting something.

[suntravel]

For tapping you need one Z impulse for each revolution of the spindle...

Uwe

[Chaz]

An adjacent question. Is it possible, with the standard lathe setup, to run the spindle as an Axis with positional capability? For example, let's say I have a milling attachment and want to use the spindle as a '4th' axis, can this be done with Acorn 4 / Lathe Pro (assuming I have the right hardware on the machine to with full encoder feedback)?

[suntravel]

No Problem to use the spindle as C-Axis with Acorn.
You can use a second servo with a clutch, or a spindle servo that can be switched from speed to position mode.

Uwe

[Chaz]

No Problem to use the spindle as C-Axis with Acorn.
You can use a second servo with a clutch, or a spindle servo that can be switched from speed to position mode.

Uwe

Thanks and this is all within the Lathe Pro functionality?

Thanks

[suntravel]

Yes with Acorn.

Uwe

[Chaz]

Thanks, appreciated.