Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: guynamedbathgate on July 25, 2007, 11:24:04 AM

Title: can someone recommend a decent limit switch
Post by: guynamedbathgate on July 25, 2007, 11:24:04 AM: Im combing through all the ginormous electrical component sites looking for a reasonably priced but apropriate limit switch to use for a lathe conversion. Im a bit overwhelmed by the sheer number and diversity of prices and types. can someone witj a little experience please just point me at a decent switch. my preference is that it is somewhat sealed to keep out dirt and oil.
Whats everyone else using.
Chris
Title: Re: can someone recommend a decent limit switch
Post by: Chaoticone on July 25, 2007, 11:39:55 AM: Chris,
I like proximity switches. Here is a link.

http://web1.automationdirect.com/adc/Shopping/Catalog/Sensors_-z-_Encoders/Inductive_Proximity_Sensors/12mm_Round_(AM-z-VM1-z-PMW_Series)/Standard_Sensing_Distance_(AM1_Series)/AM1-AN-1A

Brett
Title: Re: can someone recommend a decent limit switch
Post by: Whacko on July 25, 2007, 05:55:41 PM: I agree about the proxi switches, just be carefull where you mount it, so you don't get a false trigger from shavings etc.

William
Title: Re: can someone recommend a decent limit switch
Post by: motorhead101 on July 28, 2007, 05:58:49 AM: I used the Omron limit switch's. They are great if your using them for a limit switch, but not repeatable for using them as a home switch. I can get a variance of 0.010" depending on how tempermental the limit switch decides to be when I home out the axis. It's clearly just an inexpensive switch, they only cost $15 each, roller plunger style and the plunger has quite a bit of slop. Problem is now I'm looking for decent home swith's with the same mounting bolt dimesions. I highly recomend paying for decent home switch's, or home/limit switch's. The cheap ones will work good for the other end of the axis.

Michael
Title: Re: can someone recommend a decent limit switch
Post by: guynamedbathgate on July 28, 2007, 09:32:37 AM: Yeah , I guess Im looking for something that will work as a home switch too.
Do the proximity switchs work well in that application?
Title: Re: can someone recommend a decent limit switch
Post by: GaryB on July 28, 2007, 11:00:31 AM: http://web2.automationdirect.com/adc/Technical/Catalog/Sensors_-z-_Encoders/Heavy-Duty_IEC_Limit_Switches

these are what I have
Title: Re: can someone recommend a decent limit switch
Post by: Greolt on July 28, 2007, 06:42:42 PM: Look at this Ebay item. 180140979019

This seller has a range of Tend limit switches.

I have had good success using them as home.

Greg
Title: Re: can someone recommend a decent limit switch
Post by: Chaoticone on July 28, 2007, 08:33:56 PM: Yeap, prox. switches work well for home switches too. A couple of benfits that I didn't mention, they are no contact switches. They don't touch anything, they sense. Also, if you are never going to be running certain materials, ie. ferrous, non-ferrous, etc. you can get prox switches that only detect those types of material. You can make you target out of that and will never get a false trigger due to a chip. If your machining Alum. get some that will only see steel. It can be covered in alum chips and will not send a signal until it sees your steel target. ;)

Brett
Title: Re: can someone recommend a decent limit switch
Post by: DAlgie on July 30, 2007, 06:49:23 PM: I uesd a prox switch for the X axis on my lathe, and a roller micro for the Z axis. The Z axis doesen't have to be very accurate as you are always resetting the zero for the end of the stock. The X axis, on the other hand, must be dead accurate because this is the machine's accuracy, with the tools you have set. If the X axis is not accurate then the diameters will be different with each tool you use, which is a problem for a lathe. I used a tenth microstepping Gecko drive, a .200" ballscrew, and drive it 2:1 with a tooth belt, this gives tenths of a thouasandth in diameters of inches, which is a standard lathe accuracy limit.
Dave A.