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ELS installation questions

Brian H

Brian H

Super User
I know there probably a few threads on this, but, the search function didn't bring them up. I'll do my best to keep this question as short as I can...

My plans to upgrade my lathe had to be put on hold for the time being. In the interim I am looking at installing an ELS. I watched through the Clough42 series on how he made his and I think this will solve 50 % of the issues I'm having.

I'd like to pretend I understood what he was talking about but he may as well have been speaking mandarin...LOL

After a frustrating search on the interweb and since there are many of you who actually know what he was talking about, I am here hat in hand asking for help/advice.

I would like to purchase a kit that can be installed on my 8 x 11 mini lathe (MV-210) that doesn't require the wiring/programming part of it (although I realize there needs to be certain information specific to this machine in the programming part of it). Does such a thing exist? My challenge is having all the pieces that work together as they should, and since I don't have any sort of understanding on what the differences are between stepper motor A and B or controller this or that I don't want to try source things that won't work.

Along with this, I am curious if I should be looking at possibly upgrading the motor on my lathe currently it is a 750 w.

Thanks for taking the time to help an "electronically challenged" fella out.
 
I have designed and plug and play type ELS that I plan to sell. I have been using it for a couple of years. The issue that is holding me up is supply line on the microcontroller that I chose. It was readily available when I designed it but has now been back ordered for more than a year.

When I say plug and play, you will need to enter a few parameters via the touchscreen menu, for example your encoder and stepper resolution, lead screw TPI and and gear ratio. You will also need to to the following:
1) choose and install a stepper motor and driver to drive the leadscrew
2) Mount the encoder to get the spindle speed and direction info
3) Wire the ELS to the encoder and stepper motor driver

No soldering required.

I have asked and TI will not give a firm delivery date on the uC.

Is it worth the effort, YES and for much more than threading.
 

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slow-poke said:
I have designed and plug and play type ELS that I plan to sell. I have been using it for a couple of years. The issue that is holding me up is supply line on the microcontroller that I chose. It was readily available when I designed it but has now been back ordered for more than a year.

When I say plug and play, you will need to enter a few parameters via the touchscreen menu, for example your encoder and stepper resolution, lead screw TPI and and gear ratio. You will also need to to the following:
1) choose and install a stepper motor and driver to drive the leadscrew
2) Mount the encoder to get the spindle speed and direction info
3) Wire the ELS to the encoder and stepper motor driver

I have asked and TI will not give a firm delivery date on the uC.

Is it worth the effort, YES and for much more than threading.
Click to expand...
This seems to be right along the lines of what I'm looking for.
Now for the questions... sorry the answers are probably very obvious to some, but as I said, electronics is something I have not been able to wrap my brain around.
-What specifications do I need to choose a stepper motor and driver and encoder?
-Do they come with the required connectors to accomplish the wiring? schematics?
-Is a belt/pulley drive system the easiest/functional way to drive the system? (that's what I understood from the Clough42 series)

Thanks for your help. What would you charge for your kit? What would all be included?
 
gerritv said:
This looks to be what you are looking for:
Click to expand...
Thanks for that link. As best as I can tell from this video he sends just the box. I will investigate a bit further, but I feel I would need some significant help with the programming part
 
I look forward to seeing what you determine is the best method for yourself as I am in the same boat when it comes to electronics.
What sort of lathe are you wanting g to install an els to?
 
DPittman said:
I look forward to seeing what you determine is the best method for yourself as I am in the same boat when it comes to electronics.
What sort of lathe are you wanting g to install an els to?
Click to expand...
20230514_083145.jpg

It is an MV210 8x16 model. One of the biggest issues from day one has been the gear on the spindle is 40 tooth and everything supplied (lables and documents inclded)was for a unit with a 56 tooth spindle gear. So none of the threading works...
 
Brian H said:
One of the biggest issues from day one has been the gear on the spindle is 40 tooth and everything supplied (lables and documents inclded)was for a unit with a 56 tooth spindle gear. So none of the threading works...
Click to expand...

Why wouldn't you just replace the 40 tooth gear with a 56 tooth? If you can't find one, there are guys on here who would make you one. If your gears are modulus 1.25, I'll do it for you. But it's likely that they are a finer pitch.

Regardless, you could also recalculate the threading and feed charts. That would not get you all the optional tpi but it would get you more than you have now.
 
gerritv said:
you can order it fully soldered and assembled: https://kachurovskiy.com/products/1-axis-electronic-lead-screw-controller-kit
Click to expand...
I just spent some time going through his YouTube videos. He has the identical lathe as I do. I think I will try to contact him for more information. Since he has the identical machine, he may have some very useful information on what works best for this install.
Thanks again for that link. I wish my "google-fu" was better. I never seem to be able to find the information I am looking for.
 
DPittman said:
Oh boy that's gotta be frustrating. An ELS should be a great fix!
Click to expand...
Yes it has been a journey. Although somewhat frustrating, it has been a great learning experience. When I have successfully repaired/overcame an imperfection (and there have been a few) has been very satisfying.

My advice to anyone importing a machine directly from overseas would be to go with a company that has after sales support. I got zero help from the seller when I tried to resolve the issues I had. Sent many emails and got no response.

All that being said, I am hoping that when I am done I will have a good piece of machinery. I am able to sort out the machanical side of things with out to much trouble, but understanding the electronics side of what I want to do doesn't come easy...LOL

What kind of lathe are you running?
 
Susquatch said:
Why wouldn't you just replace the 40 tooth gear with a 56 tooth? If you can't find one, there are guys on here who would make you one. If your gears are modulus 1.25, I'll do it for you. But it's likely that they are a finer pitch.

Regardless, you could also recalculate the threading and feed charts. That would not get you all the optional tpi but it would get you more than you have now.
Click to expand...
I happened to be able to pause a video on "Ades Workshop" on YouTube (he has the Warco lathe very similar to mine) and copy his threading chart. I 3D printed a couple of gears but when I tried to assemble them they don't reach the drive gear on my spindle. (about 1/2" short of contact) so I had to put that on the back burner. The biggest issue I've run into is getting the feed rate slow enough to get a good finish.

Thanks for the offer on the gear. I'll hold off for the moment on that. I think an ELS may be the best solution.
 
DPittman said:
I am running a BusyBee 10x22 lathe. I have been quite pleased with it overall but think an ELS would just make it that much easier and pleasant to use. I'm not particularly interested in figuring out a prototype els for it and would much rather buy a ready to use bolt on system.
Click to expand...

TorontoBuilder said:
yeah I caught that after.

not that it matters. I'll use rocketronics when I get a new lathe just for an ELS system
Click to expand...
May I ask why you would choose them over other options?
 
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