Supporting > Tooling & Machines

Revisiting a DIY Arduino/Forth Electronic Leadscrew Project

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vtsteam:
One can purchase a pre-built model engine there as well.  :LittleDevil: 

Jason,  :cheers: I found it very much worth doing to build my own lathe, and the ELS for it -- assuming it works in the end. Of course, yet to be proven!  :Lol:

vtsteam:
 I did it, WooHoo!!!!!!!!!  :pinkelephant: :pinkelephant: :pinkelephant: :cartwheel: Just cut a 3/8" - 16 on my lathe, without change gears. I just used an ordinary insert, not a screw cutter, but it was a 60 degree type, so I figured it would be good enough for a trial cut. It actually did quite well.

Turned out my earlier problem wasn't in the code after all, it was just personal dumbness. Checking the switches (which were hidden since the gearbox was upside down on the bench) they were actually set to 14 TPI. So the ELS had done what it was supposed to, after all. That kind of mistake will be solved mounting the project all together onto the lathe, now that I know it works.

I'm really happy! I should have called this an electronic change gear project, rather than an ELS because I don't intend to do more than cut threads and set fine feeds with this unit. For ten years, up until today my lathe has been purely manual, with no leadscrew drive at all, and no gears.

When I first built it, I decided I didn't want to make change gears and a banjo, etc. for it. The intention was to use a variable speed DC motor for the spindle, and a stepper driven leadscrew, while retaining manual capability. I do enjoy turning the cranks on a lathe, generally. But for finest finishes, and thread cutting, the electronic changegear will be a very handy addition now!

BTW, I can cut both imperial and metric threads with it. And it works by positional encoder feedback, not single pulse magnetic switch feedback, so it is accurate no matter if there are speed changes. Which is important for a DC motor drive. In fact I can move my spindle by hand forwards and backwards and the leadscrew will track perfectly, just like real gears when engaged. It senses spindle direction and reverses in sync automatically. If I want to cut left hand threads I can reverse the relationship between spindle and leadscrew directions with another switch.

Again extremely happy today -- this has been a VERY long time coming....

Photo, first screw cut, 3/8" - 16:

Kim:
Congratulations!   :cheers:
That is a real accomplishment!  And so very satisfying that you designed it and wrote all the code yourself.
Nicely done!  You should feel quite proud about this!

Kim

vtsteam:
Thanks, Kim! I can't tell you how psyched I am about this!  :cheers: :cheers:

MJM460:
Well done Steve.  A truly exciting and wonderful achievement.

I really admire you for not only making your own lathe but also following through with this excellent feature.

Now to add the stepper motor and encoder to the cross slide travels.

MJM460

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