I decided to go ahead and start a thread for this. I finally decided to just get rid of the BLDC and Mikini electronics as I have had a ridiculous amount of trouble with the Mikini electronics over the last three years.
And now that the spindle is actually working I find it is entirely gutless in the low end of the RPM range. So I finally decided there was no other real choice than to gut the Mikini electronics and replace them with parts I know will actually work.
So I have decided to go with an AC motor and VFD setup. And to replace the Mikini breakout board with a more standard CNC4PC bob. So here is what I have so far.
2HP Hitachi sensor-less vector VFD
http://www.driveswarehouse.com/Drive...200-015SF.html
2HP Inverter duty motor
Y368 Products
CNC4PC C23 BOB
CNC4PC
One problem I will run in to is that the new motor weighs 45lbs. The BLDC motor on the machine weighs 22 pounds as I just weighed it. I have one of the original 1610Ls and it does not have a gas strut on the Z axis. So I am going to have to add a gas strut to the Z axis. Anyone have one on their machine and want to post some pictures of how it is mounted so I can get some ideas on how to mount one? Measurements and or specs for the strut would be useful too.
Anyone have any input on pounds of force for the strut?