Inspired by some of your projects i have finally decided it's time to
bring my milling machine to life.
It is a full size, bridgeport clone, table XYZ of 815,381,406, and is equiped with a rapid
lift motor on the knee. The powerfeed fitted to the x-axis specifies a torque of 650 in-lb, so i think that is a good indication of what the motor size should be. (I thought so until i saw some guys using 40 in-lb servo's )The leadscrew pitch is 5mm on the x and y axis, and if you use the 1/10 reduction gearbox fitted to the rapid lift motor, one revolution there gives 0.25mm of travel on the knee. This also provides for convenient place to mount Servo.
I machine aluminium alloys 95% of the time, and a little bit of brass and mild steel.
Does anyone have some ideas/advice on how to proceed?
Specifically:
Servo or stepper, (ac or dc for servo's)
Motor size
Drivers for the motors
other controll gear
As well as sources for parts/surplus motors/drivers
When using servo's, is it better to put the feedback encoder on the motor, or to use digital readout scales
directly on the slideways? Have anyone interfaced with these before?
Thanx
Pete