I'm putting together a retrofit to upgrade a tapping / light duty machining center from an old 0MC to a very well optioned 16i that I picked up (was previously in a high speed machine, so it has all the bells and whistles baked in, including RISC and data server). Everything is up and running in a test rack setup (amps, servos, IO unit, spindle motor, etc) and I'm working my way through the ladder conversion for the ATC unit. One challenge that I do have is that the Alpha 3 spindle motor I was able to get for a good price isn't equipped with a position coder like the exiting 2S motor. This is obviously going to be a problem for rigid tapping. I don't have an existing Alpha 3 with an integrated position coder for reference of what position encoding mechanism is typically used and how it is fitted in the spindle, so I'm wondering if anyone here might know if its possible to add a position coder to the existing motor? I'm guessing its probably as simple as replacing the existing pulse generator with a position coder ring and pickup? Can anyone share some insight into how one of these spindle motors with an integrated position coder is configured from a parts perspective? What encoder ring and pickup, any special alignment requirements, etc? I've looked at the descriptions manual and have some ideas, but a validation from anyone that actually has such a spindle would be very valuable. I considered an external position coder, but the head design of this machine doesn't offer any reasonable place to mount and tie one in via timing belt/pulleys.
Alternatively, is it possible to drive the existing 2S spindle using an alpha drive. The position coder signals look compatible, just need to double check voltage levels to ensure the differential peak voltages are the same as what the spindle amp is expecting.
Thanks!