Hi.
looks like you're going to spend SERIOUS money using those puppies....are you sure?...really sure?
My experience building a mill, and with nothing as classy as the stages your talking about, is that as you learn and uncover the tricks and traps
that CNC presents it will blow your budget, maybe so badly that the project never gets completed.
My recommendation would be to use the Aerotech drivers for the motors you choose, no guessing, you'll know they're right at probably similar cost
to the 'extras' associated with closed loop capable HICON board.
What drive does the spindle use? Most motion controllers do a pretty good job with VFDs open loop. Unless you need really accurate speed control or
indexing then 'no feedback' is the norm.
My experience was that I focused on travel/ rigidity/ accuracy/ resolution/ ease of construction and so on of the axes and the frame of the machine.
Towards the end of construction I started thinking about the spindle. This was a mistake, the spindle speed, power and torque, the materials being milled
and the tools to be used should be at the TOP of the list. Realistic appreciations of these factors will determine to a VERY large extent how the rest of the
machine looks. It will also uncover any 'budget blowout points'.
I am guilty, not badly so, but guilty none the less, of being a perfectionist. The level of perfection I seek often exceeds my skill and certainly my budget. This
can be a real disaster in this hobby (obsession), I have at times talked my self out of enhancement projects because I couldn't achieve the level of performance
or perfection. I have become better at saying 'to hell with it and box on, make the thing and see how good it is'. While never perfect the results are usually worthwhile.
I need the practice of overcoming 'perfectionisum'....
Let us know how your going, thinking and dreaming about it is part of the fun!
Craig