Electronics Shopping List Approval Needed

I have no applicable experience with lead screw machines, but would offer the following comments.

Question1 – Not clear what you are using for a spindle. You’ll need a lot of torque to make cutting speed in plywood, for sure in Al. Torque generally translates to mass, which raises the question of strength of the X Axis cross member.

Questions2 – Your description translates to likely long runs due to relatively slow lead crew movement, for sure in AL. Longs runs translate to potential heat build-up in the drivers. I have seen references suggesting that higher voltage (I believe it is 36V max) is better under high load conditions. I’d search about, hopefully someone with applicable experience will stop by and comment. Be mindful of your thermal design.

Question3 – Yes, some form of computer will be required to continuously stream the GCode. TinyG has a limited code buffer.

Sounds very interesting, be sure to post a picture when you are done!

• This reply was modified 10 years, 7 months ago by cmcgrath5035.

Spindle; I don’t think my machine is in your league, but find the DW660(my spindle) to be a relatively large mass for the X Servo to control. It also puts a good twist load on the axis member, but you seem to have that covered. If you had an even larger router, controlling/moving that mass could be a challenge, mitigated of course by the torque gain inherent in the screw based design.

Stepper power – that will depend a lot on your stepper to lead screw ratio, or do the steppers directly drive them? And, obviously, the efficiency of / drag on the screws from the movable elements.

Thermal – actually, I was worried more about tinyG thermal management.