CNC Spindle synchronization

[Leadhead]

Guys still trying to get my head around what I have got and what I have not. - Mach diagnostics do not show an active encoder light.
The speed is apparently being displayed, but checking with optical tacho, 200rpm set and 208rpm actual given on Mach3 screen read out on the tacho at 240. So not too accurate.
I guess I will buy a new encoder head and make a Mach3 single slot disk to run on the back of the spindle.
Any suggestions for a UK encoder purchase appreciated.

[Chaz]

Guys still trying to get my head around what I have got and what I have not. - Mach diagnostics do not show an active encoder light.
The speed is apparently being displayed, but checking with optical tacho, 200rpm set and 208rpm actual given on Mach3 screen read out on the tacho at 240. So not too accurate.
I guess I will buy a new encoder head and make a Mach3 single slot disk to run on the back of the spindle.
Any suggestions for a UK encoder purchase appreciated.

There is a guy in Iver Heath that sells good quality encoders for around £40. Search for Hengstler on Ebay, you will find him. I bought my encoder from him for my Harrison M300 CNC lathe.

[Leadhead]

Chaz - Thanks. Did you use the rotary encoder?

[Chaz]

Chaz - Thanks. Did you use the rotary encoder?

I do use a rotary encoder. Its bolted on a shaft that comes out of the gearbox of my machine (1:1 ratio). Im not using Mach however.

[Leadhead]

Chaz THanks again. Has anyone connected such a rotary encoder to Mach 3 please?

[Chaz]

Chaz THanks again. Has anyone connected such a rotary encoder to Mach 3 please?

Im sure, certainly that's the way that you deal with speed checking and indexing on Mach 3 too. I tried via my Pokeys board but gave up with Pokeys and then Mach 3.

[Leadhead]

Where did you go after Mach 3?

[JohnHaine]

One thing to watch out for is that if your new motor is not controlled from M3, M3 won't know if it's running. You need to start the motor AND press the "Spindle" button.