Spindle timing/index

[macona]

OK, I want to enable Mach3 to control my spindle on my mill using the feedback features. Right now I have speed control using one of cnc4pc's step/dir to 10v control boards. I also want to be able to stop the spindle at a certain spot so I can take advantage of the back face cycle. I plan on using two Keyence retrorefective fiberoptic sensors. The question is do I use both the index and timing inputs, or just index? I saw something in the manual about you can use multiple marks with index but one needs to be 50% bigger than the others. So that means the spindle will top at the large spot?

[Chip]

Hi, Macona

I think the only way you could do this is to treat your spindle as an Axis, with an encoder.

Maybe I'm wrong, Chip

[Graham Waterworth]

My machine uses a latch.

I set up a macro to do spindle index.

I have to fire the solenoid, creep the spindle round and kill the motor when the switch on the solenoid triggers.  its a bit faffy to set up and get the timing right but when its set it works without a fault.

I use it for tool change index too.

I don't know how it would work with back bore cycle, I do them with long hand code.

Graham.

[macona]

Thats not really going to work for me. I dont want to do any modifications to the head if I can get away with it. Plus I cant see anywhere to install something like that.

I went back to find where I saw something about using multiple marks in index mode and cant find it. Argh!

I guess I can give it a try and see what happens.