Electricity and Control March 2016

ENERGY + ENVIROFICIENCY: FOCUS ON DRIVES, MOTORS + SWITCHGEAR

Figure 1: General view of the machine.

Computer Control of a small lathe A mechatronics case study

Glyn Craig, Techlyn

This article shows how the mechanical parameters can be calculated and matched to appropriate drive motors and controls. Programming methods are also described.

B uilding on the information contained in previous articles… this one describes practical, real-life implementation with the customer requiring the machining of a large number of cutting discs to form part of a production machine. Each part required different curved properties. This ruled out conventional lathe practice due to the complex simultaneous axis movements (interpolation) needed to machine the workpiece. In ad- dition, high repeatability was called for. A good quality second hand lathe was procured, and the cross travel (X) and long travel (Z) axes were discarded and replaced by high accuracy linear slides and backlash-free ballscrews. Figure 1 (main image) shows the general view of the machine and Figure 2 shows the drive end of the Z axis with the motor protective cover removed.

Figure 2: Drive end of the Z axis.

Electricity+Control March ‘16

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