Well, finally starting to get things together. Decided to go with the Automation Direct Nema 23 Closed Loop Stepper setup for this Emco and not use the G540. Also got all my components tested out (turret board, optical switches and hall effect sensors). I can't believe after all these years, all of it worked perfectly. So the hall effects on the ball screw pulleys are NPN and normally closed. They operate at 24v. Someone was nice enough to leave a tag on one with the wire setup and information. The optical switches for the tool turret operates at 5v. They are both normally closed and tool switch opens when the tool position tab passes over it. The zero tool is held open (closer into center, so metal always covering it until zero) and closes when the zero position slot passes over it.
I've read through the forum a ton the last few weeks and have seen numerous ways people are connecting 5v to the 24v inputs on the Acorn. Using the closed loop steppers, I will also have two fault 5v signals too (which I'll tie to one input) in addition to the two 5v optical switches. My question is which would be better, just a simple 5v relay board to give the Acorn the 24v common or use opto isolator board? Not like any of this will be switching very fast. Just know a lot of you have done this and would love some opinions. I am doing everything DIN rail, the relays come on DIN mounts already. But I could easily 3D print a mount for the opto isolator board too. Appreciate the input in advance.
Relay board -
https://www.amazon.com/Channels-5VDC-Re ... +board+din
Question number two. Anyone have a suggestion for mounting the encoder on the Emco PC turn 55? My thoughts are to remove the pulley and existing encoder cutout wheel, so I will have room for a timing pulley and belt behind the existing pulley. Though I have no idea where to find spline drive timing pulleys. Third questions, any suggestions on how to get that thing off? I pulled the snap ring off, even heated it....no luck. Pretty scared to use a gear puller on this tiny of a pulley (lot of meat on the hub, but little on the belt slots). So if anyone has pulled this off, please tell me the trick. Pic below of the pulley.
Anyway, thanks again for any input on this. Finally getting close to getting to the good part of my build, just a few more parts on the list to get.