Noobie question - Spindle speed

Hi all

I'm looking at getting spindle speed readings into my LCNC monitor and just wondered if anyone can point me to a good guide of what I need to do on both hardware and software? Just looking initially to get the spindle RPM but if it's just as easy to set up for rigid tapping I would go that route.

My setup is a converted sieg X2P mill with belt drive, spindle speed currently controlled on machine by manual dial, no VFD and my electronics is a leadshine MX3660.

I have no idea what I need to do though I have researched quite a lot so if anyone can help and point me to off the shelf of homebuilt solutions it would be great.

Thanks in advance.

Jools

Edit. Looks like I only have one spare input on the MX3660 as the other three are for homing.

Jools Are you in the UK and if this is the machine you purchased from Baz in Manchester. Email me and I might be able to help.

Clive wrote:

Jools Are you in the UK and if this is the machine you purchased from Baz in Manchester. Email me and I might be able to help.

Hi Clive
Yes that's me. I've converted her to linear guides for super accuracy and now have 200mm Y travel to play with. Spindle speed would be very useful for me. Just a readout for a start but if it's as easy (or a bit more) to do rigid tapping I'll go the whole hog.

I've requested you as a connection so we can private message.

Jools

andypugh wrote:

You will need at least one sensor triggered once (or more) per spindle rev to read spindle speed.

You need a three-channel quadrature encoder to do rigid tapping. Rigid tapping needs to be able to detect both direction and index to be able to work.

I made my own spindle encoder for my Chinese mill, you can see it (out of focus) at 23 seconds in this video . It needed to be made top-hat shaped to be able to fit that spindle.

With only one spare input channel you won't be able to do rigid tapping.

That video is great!

I thought that my self about the rigid tapping.

With my one spare input can I just read spindle speed? If I set up a ring with one sensor do I just plug it into the input on the MX3660? If I do that do you know what changes I would have to make in any of the configuration files and are they easy (bit of a noob in terms of computer programming and the language in the HAL file).

Cheers

Jools

andypugh wrote:

Yes, one channel is enough to just monitor spindle speed.
You might be able to get more than one pulse per rev using a proximity sensor detecting one of the head gears. Or the corners of a nut. Or a keyway.

Thanks. Any advice on the settings files?

I've requested you as a connection so we can private message.

Jools I have answered your pm. If I remember this was running on linuxcnc 2.6. The first thing to do is make a backup of the config folder and put in on a usb stick off the machine. You can also add another PP to get a few more inputs.

Andypugh input is very valid and helpful and will be a good start.

Clive wrote:

I've requested you as a connection so we can private message.

Jools I have answered your pm. If I remember this was running on linuxcnc 2.6. The first thing to do is make a backup of the config folder and put in on a usb stick off the machine. You can also add another PP to get a few more inputs.

Andypugh input is very valid and helpful and will be a good start.

The spare input is on the BOB and stepper driver, I think the PP has three or four spare inputs and quite a few spare outputs. Couldn't find out how to message you though, not sure this forum has the functionality.