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Weiss VM32 CNC Conversion

Linux can do power tapping with 60 which in quadrature is 240 edges per rev. A 600 line encoder would result in 2400 edges per rev. Since it's handled in hardware by the MESA that's fine.
Looks like I have choices of 100, 200, 360, 400, and 600.
 
Linux can do power tapping with 60 which in quadrature is 240 edges per rev. A 600 line encoder would result in 2400 edges per rev. Since it's handled in hardware by the MESA that's fine.
Some quick math here. If your spindle is turning 3000 RPM that's 50 RPS. So 2400 edges per rev is 120,000 edges per second or one every 8.3333 uSec.
The standard BASE PERIOD in LinuxCNC is 24000 nanoseconds or 46,666.66 Hz Or in other words it can only accumulate pulses every 24uS during which time 3 encoder edges will have gone by. Add the time it takes to get that information out of the MESA and it shows that even a 600 line encoder is more than large enough.
 
How many pulses per revolution should I be looking for in a rotary encoder? 600?
600 is good, but make sure your input circuit can handle that rate for your max RPM, some inputs are fast and some are slow MESA spindle input is fast. I don't recall my max spindle RPM but IIRC it's closer to 2500 and no issue with my MESA card. That's the beauty of a FPGA based control card.
10MHz
235FA203-80FA-408E-AC58-B88B8CE57DFA.jpeg
 
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I ordered a 600ppr encoder. Peter Wallace of Mesa advised that for operations that involve reversals like rigid tapping higher resolution is better.
Make sure your encoder that you ordered can handle the spindle speed.
Edit: Also verify it has an index pulse output. Not all of them have that.
 
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This is what I ordered. I can't tell from the specs if it has an index.

Based on the fact that this one has five wires; one marked index and the above only has four wires, +/- A and B, I'd say the Aliexpress one does not have an index. Good thing Aliexpress gave it to me for free :) Alas this one has 200 rpm max.
 
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This is what I ordered. I can't tell from the specs if it has an index.
That one is missing the Z which is why they are cheaper. Fine for a custom MPG made from an Arduino for example.

This is also comparably priced and has the index (Z).
https://vi.aliexpress.com/item/1005006064262467.html choose the E6B2-CWZ6C

Also available are the KOYO encoders. Here's info on them

However shipping is expensive

There are other places that sell the same thing (traders) a bit cheaper or cheaper shipping but if they don't list the specifications it's hard to say if you will get what you ordered.
 
Mesa 7i96 board should be here tomorrow. Already have LinuxCNC installed on my target PC.
Really like the Probe Basic interface but the dev's recommendation is to get a working machine under Axis and then switch to Probe Basic. So that's the route I'll take.
I'm going to put the Masso from the mill into my CNC router. Since that's the default controller and software on the Infinity Elite it should be a good fit.
I'll sell the AXBB-E controller, wireless pendant and UCCNC software as a package.
 
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I'm hoping to avoid a rotary encoder simply because of the extra faffing with mounts, pulleys and belts but it may be a moot because I need to fabricobble a sensor for the ring. Maybe rotary is the way to go as my electronics skills are well, non-existent.
I prefer optical encoders over rotary, electronics skills are not any more necessary than for a rotary encoder. I'm traveling at the moment otherwise I'd share the ones I got from Digikey, pretty inexpensive and with 3D printing should be a snap to mount.
 
I prefer optical encoders over rotary, electronics skills are not any more necessary than for a rotary encoder. I'm traveling at the moment otherwise I'd share the ones I got from Digikey, pretty inexpensive and with 3D printing should be a snap to mount.
I'm interested as long as it the soldering/assembly is minimal :)
 
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