So on the Vital System website the HiCON Integra supports spindle orientation. 

How does one do this with an ac motor with a VFD? 

Very carefully. LOL

All kidding aside, If you don't have  a servo spindle it is much more difficult to do.
All the one I have seen have a mechanical stop and bump the spindle until the it hits the stop. Then it is orientated.

Mike

Mike,
That's exactly what I have on 3 machines.   A mechanical stop?  Lobe on the spindle to Orient at low speed.   I do have a machine with a servo spindle.   It orients internally in the servo drive, all I do I send the drive a signal.   
I was curious to see if Vital Systems had a different way of orienting with a VFD.

The mechanical stop is called a "shot pin" IIRC on my Bridgeport. It shoots in when needed. The spindle is jogged at low speed into it and when this is sensed, it stops jogging and the spindle is orientated. A disc brake can be applied at the same time to hold the spindle in place while the tool is changed.

Mike

Yep.   I made one of those for a Haas and a fadal we have had something similar already on it.

I know this is old, but did you ever get an answer?  I've been trying to find out as well and haven't heard anything from them yet.  I can do it thru my servo spindle controller, but it would be nice to do it thru the Integra and command any orientation.

Mike

This has been a long time.
You can set up some servos to run on speed and position. I had a machine set up to do either, you just have to see what the manual says on how it is switched.   If you can do that with your servo drive then you can just make your spindle an axis as well and command it to a position.

Thanks for the quick reply!  I'm going to just send a signal and have the drive orient it.  Just seems strange that the board can't do it even though it can rigid tap?  I'll have to look into using it as an axis more, good idea. 

I mean, it is just an axis. Think about a love tool lathe. The spindle is also the c axis.  So, just make it an axis.