Hi All.

Looking for some advice on an idea I had to use 2 steppers on each axis to get over the high resolution and low rapids vs the low resolution and high rapids problem.

To start with this is for a small mill that will be used for stainless steel and Ideally Alu, the spindle is limited to 4000/5000 rpm so cant get near optimal surface speed for Ali so don't need crazy fast cutting speed but would like decent rapid speeds.

Initially I was looking at belt drive and picking a set of pulleys to give 1:1,1:2, 2:1 that had the same centre spacing so it would just be a case of changing the pulleys to change the machine performance depending on what I was cutting.

Then I thought that it could be possible to have dual motors, one geared at 1:2 for high resolution cutting and then the other geared at 2:1 for fast rapids. both motors would be driven for one driver and have the motor wires switched by relays on a rapid command from the controller.

So good idea? all ready done or pie in the sky?

Cheers