[Lasr Da Vinci]

Hello everyone,

After a million mistakes I learned from, I finished my first Table top CNC machine that I built from scratch and it works perfectly. Nevertheless, I am still a complete newbie.
Now I got the CNC bug, and I want to continue upgrading my creation. I recently purchased a chinese CNC spindle motor, and I would like to integrate it to the controller. I am currently using a HobbyCNC EZ board, which does its work just fine, but it does not have a spindle control output. I see a bunch of chinese made boards with a spindle controller output but I see that they only control low DC motors and the quality is far from being ok.
My motor is 110V, so I am looking for a controller board that can drive the steppers, control and drive the spindle motor.
Can I just use a regular on/off switch with a variable power supply to adjust speed?
Can I use a relay connected to a low DC spindle output to drive the AC motor?

Pictures of my little CNC monster to follow.

Thanks,

Gustavo

[ger21]

Specs on the spindle motor?

[Lasr Da Vinci]

Specs:

2) Power: 1.5 KW
3) Voltage: 110V 1 phase
4) Frequency: 400 Hz
5) Speed: 8000-24000 R/min
6) Water Cooling
7) ER11(3.175mm,4mm,6mm) collet chuck
8) Runout off: less than 0.005mm

[ger21]

I believe that's a 3 phase spindle and you need a VFD to control it. I think the 1 phase is for the VFD? Do you have a link to it?

If it does use a VFD, you need a board that converts PWM to 0-10V for speed control, or use ModBus if the VFD supports it.

[Al_The_Man]

According to those specs, I would agree with Gerry, that would be a 3 phase motor driven by VFD, so it should have analogue control input, is this a Huanyang?
You can also use a remote manual speed pot, if that was part of your question?
Al.

[Lasr Da Vinci]

First, I apologize for all these (very basic) questions. My knowledge of electronics is very limited! (I am a chemist, wrong career!)

I purchased on Ebay. This is the link:
1.5KW MORE PRECISE WATER-COOL SPINDLE MOTOR FOR ENGRAVING MILL&GRIND p4 | eBay

I purchased the US version (110V~220V?)
My question is what would be the easiest way to control de motor? Ideally, I would like to control it using Mach3, but I will settle with an independent controller.
In particular, what PWM should I use and where can I buy it? What I need to know is what components do I need to purchase to make it work (either integrated to a controller board or with a stand alone controller)?

[ger21]

First, you need a VFD to power the spindle, like this.
VARIABLE FREQUENCY DRIVE INVERTER VFD NEW 2HP 1.5KW 7A | eBay
The VFD converts the single phase into 3 phase, which is what that spindle is.
Most people here prefer to use a Hitachi VFD, rather than the Chinese, as the Chinese ones have been known to have problems (failures).

There are several ways to control the rpm and on/off. A lot of people prefer to use Modbus, as it doesn't need any parallel port pins. There is a thread at the Machsupport forum about controlling a VFD with Modbus, and there may be one here as well.

You can also use a board that converts PWM to 0-10V, like this one.
CNC4PC

[Lasr Da Vinci]

Wow, lots of nice things. I just saw this:
CNC4PC

According to what I read, this board (C33), will interface with Hobbycnc board and allow me to control spindle and pump through Mach3. Is this right?

[ger21]

Wow, lots of nice things. I just saw this:
CNC4PC

According to what I read, this board (C33), will interface with Hobbycnc board and allow me to control spindle and pump through Mach3. Is this right?

No, it won't work for the spindle you have. See my previous post.

[Lasr Da Vinci]

Ok. I'll give that a try.

Thank you,

[Lasr Da Vinci]

I am still tinkerning with the subject:

I've purchased this VFD 110V VARIABLE FREQUENCY DRIVE INVERTER VFD 1.5KW 2HP 7A | eBay

and I'm also exchanging the spindle motor that I have for smaller diameter one. My question is: given that my VFD is 110V / 1.5KW, should I also get a 1.5kW motor or 0.8kW? I'm just questioning the VFD's capacity to handle the wattage.

Thanks,

G