Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / Re: Electrically preloaded Dual motor drive for Rack & Pinion

« on: May 27, 2014, 09:31:16 AM »

   Thanks for all the replies!

   The main reason for this inquiry was trying to incorporate inexpensive, ready made, planetary gear assemblies (e.g. power tools) which would not be high precision.

   Electrical preloading does work and it's being used in industrial machinery. However, one of the suppliers for the gears and motors for this application said the motor control is done by the CAM software...
   
   Finding an affordable CAM capable of doing that would make this approach worth looking into.


   Mechanical preloading ( gears + springs, etc) are only recommended for slow speeds.

Even if you could get this to work (and I have my doubts) why would you?

Surely, you'd end up with exactly the same effect that is achieved far more simply and cheaply by the old trick of using two pinions fixed slightly out of phase on the same shaft.

Ian

Yes, that should work but, from what I read so far, it only works for slow speeds.

 Maybe use a wide Rack or 2 of them, side by side ? But that would increase the cost as well.

2

General Mach Discussion / Re: Electrically preloaded Dual motor drive for Rack & Pinion

« on: May 23, 2014, 08:31:11 AM »

I guess the answers are no and no ?

3

General Mach Discussion / Re: Electrically preloaded Dual motor drive for Rack & Pinion

« on: May 22, 2014, 12:42:29 PM »

        First question :

       Could Mach4 be configured to do that?

  
       Second question:

Could it work with Mach3  if there's a programmed micro-controller  between the breakout board and the stepper drivers?

       It would read the signal from Mach 3 and drive the steppers accordingly.

        Is that worth looking into or would it conflict with the way Mach 3 operates?


Thanks,
Radu



  
      

4

General Mach Discussion / Electrically preloaded Dual motor drive for Rack & Pinion

« on: May 22, 2014, 09:18:38 AM »

Hi all,

 i'm researching building a 4' x 8' cnc router for a woodshop.


I was wondering if Mach3 has the capability to drive 2 stepper motors per side of X axis ( 2 pinions per rack for reduced backlash, electrically preloaded ).




That would be 4 motors for the X axis.

 Motor A would drive in one direction while motor B would have less torque (dragging) to keep the pinion engaged.

When switching direction, the motors would switch  also to B driving and A preloading.





Thanks,
Radu

5

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: New people welcome !! Come in here and introduce your self!

« on: May 22, 2014, 09:05:51 AM »

Thanks for the welcome Tweakie!

I will start a thread on this subject, hopefully it can be done.

6

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: New people welcome !! Come in here and introduce your self!

« on: May 21, 2014, 01:25:42 PM »

Hi all, I'm Radu and i'm researching building a 4' x 8' cnc router for a woodshop.


I was wondering if Mach3 has the capability to drive 2 stepper motors per side of X axis ( 2 pinions per rack for reduced backlash, electrically preloaded ).




That would be 4 motors for the X axis.

 Motor A would drive in one direction while motor B would have less torque (dragging) to keep the pinion engaged.

When switching direction, the motors would switch  also to B driving and A preloading.



Should i start a thread for this?

Thanks,
Radu