New here, Need help with spindle control...

[bikedude987]

Hi all. First I'd like to introduce myself, I'm Kenny, a Mechanical Engineering senior from Northern Arizona University. I am doing an independent study that involves converting a prolight 1000 with a bum controller to run on EMC2 and and Keling 4030 amps powering their 460(?) in-oz steppers.

As far as I can tell the spindle motor is a 1hp 746W dc motor. I would like to use the existing power supply and controller board (but have money for a new spindle/controller if that would be better) and am quite unsure the best way to wire everything.

At the very least I need a manual on/off and speed for the spindle. Preferably this would also be able to be controlled by the cnc software (like the original prolight was).

can anyone point me in the correct direction?

[acondit]

Well I need a little more info to be able to help. What kind of spindle drive did the prolight 1000 have? Is the spindle drive still good? Are the stepper drives and spindle drive on separate boards? Did the prolight support variable speed for the spindle?

Alan

[bikedude987]

the only thing i can tell about the spindle is that it's a 1 hp, 750W DC brushed motor. past that there are no markings on it at all...
the spindle drive is a Miniark I don't remember the part number. As far as I know it is good.
Originally the Prolight had swichable manual vs, cnc control, with manual variable by a potentiometer on the front of the machine, and cnc control through a pos/neg input from the main control board,

[acondit]

So, is the Minarik speed variable with a 0v to +10v or -10v to +10v volt signal?

Assuming that one of the above is correct and if your original cnc control board is fried, you will need some type of digital to analog converter to drive the Minarik.

There are a number of PWM to Analog DC or Step/Dir to Analog DC controllers available. You could use a DC relay to control spindle on/off from the computer (either in a single stage or two stage {one small relay activating a larger relay}).

Does the spindle have an encoder already on it? I would expect so, but if not you will need to put one on it.

Alan

[bikedude987]

hrm.... no idea what it varies from, I will try to dig up the part number and find out later.

the spindle has no encoder, just a basic motor. I don't need to control the speed too precisely, but we want more control than off or flat out.

[acondit]

Well, a single index will let you know the speed and even allow some degree of threading but a multi-count encoder (I use 100 counts per rotation on my lathe's spindle) will give you better threading capability.

Alan

[bikedude987]

we really don't even need an encoder. there is no need to thread with this machine, and we would have to buy a new spindle...

I really just need some help with wiring the control circuit, or better yet a control board/power supply to buy that will work with EMC2

[Nth]

If your prolight mill is like mine then spindle control should be easy. Basically you vary voltage 0 to 9v on pins 1(+) and 2(gnd) of the DE9 connector coming out of the back of the mill. Check out this post for more details.