Add Z-Axis to my machine

I actually picked up a nice unused Baldor vector drive at a surplus store for a killer deal but feel it's overkill for my machine as I'm using the manual variable speed to dial in the rpm. I'll probably save it for a future project and get what you're suggesting and use it for Start/Stop FW/RW and have it maintain rpm.
How noisy are the Huanyangs? Electrically speaking.

so the parker servo already has an encoder on it's butt end and I was just going to hope the backlash wasn't too bad and in that case account for it through the software since it's always going to have a downward load on it... Maybe it won't be so bad?

But you do bring up an interesting point, I have only heard of the reference to linear encoders but never used one. I do have glass linear scale DRO's from a machine that I re-sold one time. Could I hook these into LinuxCNC?

I do have glass linear scale DRO's from a machine that I re-sold one time. Could I hook these into LinuxCNC?

Yes if they are TTL output it will be as easy as reading in a rotary encoder of the same type.
Some older Heidenhein sine analog units will not work without a converter but PCW or Andy will know what woks with your board. I wonder if that type of milivolt sine signal could be read with what you have as in my mind, (I could be very wrong) the resolver signal seems similar??

I only have the glass indicator, the slide piece and the armor wrapped cable with the plug end. I do not have any idea what kind of board or interface I need to plug this into so that it can read the signal. Any URL that you have to point me in the right direction for this would be appreciated. I'm in uncharted territory myself.

Now also I only have a 7i49 (resolver) board and a 7i42TA board. These both plug into my 7i43-4-U card. Is there something additional that I'd need to ready this indicator?

I only have the glass indicator, the slide piece and the armor wrapped cable with the plug end. I do not have any idea what kind of board or interface I need to plug this into so that it can read the signal.

In general a linear encoder is usually housed inside an aluminum extrusion and is a glass scale with tiny lines on it. The read head is optical and typically has the armored cable for wire protection. There should be a part number or sticker on your read head or encoder??
Do you recall who made the readout? Time period?
This type is often TTL (5v) signal unless it has a millivolt and ~ simbol on it.

Other types are spherosyn from Newall that has stacked precision balls inside a tube and has their own signal interpreter. This type is more often found on lathes as they are offered in a compact version that fits better on thin slides.

The more modern units have abs positioning and is mainly a magnetic strip similar to whats on the abs electronic calipers.
This needs decoding. Not sure if anything of this type currently works with linuxcnc.

The easiest to implement is the TTL type. It will have an A and B channel, possibly index I or Z and power connection. Can also come in differential option with the addition of /A, /B and possibly /I or /Z. Same as rotary units. Differential units are better at noise cancellation.

OK I will look things over carefully tonight. Hopefully it's something that can be easily incorporated into my LinuxCNC setup. I will report out to the group when I get home in about an hour.

OK here are my linear scales: ABS Linear Scale by Mitutoyo
AT2-N300
AT2-N750

I think someone else will have to chime in on these. A quick google came up with the replacement being the AT-103 with 2 phase sign wave outputs with a wave difference of 90. Not sure if the AT2-N are the same.

www.mitutoyo.co.jp/eng/support/service/catalog/07/E13000.pdf

I would be looking at a different type.

So can I have both a 7i48 and a 7i49 card on my 7i43-4-U card at the same time? Will this setup work until I get the rest of my encoders?