SPINDLE DRIVE, COOLING, LOAD METER UPGRADE

[keen]

Finally I have got around to upgrading my old 3 digit series Tormach with the new main control board/spindle drive, cooling kit and load meter. The many perceived benifits finally outweighed the cost and my lazyness.

I imagine there are others considering this project, so I post this thread for those currently interested, while it is all still fresh in my mind.

I will start the ball rolling with the following jpg's...

[keen]

The whole project including the control software upgrade, took me quite a while.

Here are some jpg's of it finished:

[twocik]

Looking good Keen !

[jeffrey001]

Hope you'll remember where you put your chewing gum


Nice mod, really appreciated.


Jeff

[Keith B]

Nice job Keen,

However, you will get better performance if your fan was located at the top drawing air out through the fully open hole which should be sized no smaller than the blade diameter.

Keith

[Don Clement]

Nice job Keen,

However, you will get better performance if your fan was located at the top drawing air out through the fully open hole which should be sized no smaller than the blade diameter.

Keith

Nice job Keen.
I also installed the VFD upgrade and cooling fan. My fan was mounted as per Tormach instructions on the bottom and has worked very well. I noticed that the fan mounted at the bottom blows directly across the VFD upgrade braking resistor.

Don

[Keith B]

I have not installed the VFD upgrade. Perhaps Tormach has chosen to rely more on the direct cooling of the power resistor. As a manufacturer of custom ventilated and non ventilated sheet metal enclosures, this would not be standard practice for effectively removing "overall" heat from an enclosure.

Keith

[keen]

The VDF braking resistor does not seem to put out that much heat with my occasional spindle stops. The air coming out is not even warm under normal use. I doubt if the cooling fan placement etc is critical as it is probably sized for overkill. I suppose If I were to do a lot of quick sucession tool changes from max revs the cooling fan would start to work and push out warm air.

One of the main reasons I did the upgrade is the type of heavy steel machining I often do. Here is a couple of jpg's of cutting mould cavities in prehardened P20 assab 718 steel. I was often worried about stalling the spindle as the cutters wore - with the new drive and load meter my worries should be less.

[Don Clement]

The VDF braking resistor does not seem to put out that much heat with my occasional spindle stops. The air coming out is not even warm under normal use. I doubt if the cooling fan placement etc is critical as it is probably sized for overkill.

I agree.

[philbur]

I think the need for fan cooling was marginal, so as long as you have a reasonable amount of air flow everything is fine.

Phil

I have not installed the VFD upgrade. Perhaps Tormach has chosen to rely more on the direct cooling of the power resistor. As a manufacturer of custom ventilated and non ventilated sheet metal enclosures, this would not be standard practice for effectively removing "overall" heat from an enclosure.

Keith

[Keith B]

That's good to hear. I thought the heat removal requirements were more critical than this. I'm sure at some point, I'll be doing this upgrade as well.

I think the need for fan cooling was marginal, so as long as you have a reasonable amount of air flow everything is fine.

Phil

Thanks
Keith

[keen]

Hi Don - and others who have done the upgrade... Is your spindle smooth through to max revs on high speed? I get vibes kicking in above about 4500rpm - I quess my motor/pulley/spindle pulley etc is a bit out of balance somewhere. I'm not sure if it will hurt to ignor the vibs and just run it on max - Anyone done a balancing job?