Use spindle torque to control feedrate?

[johnsattuk]

I used a similar idea about 15 years ago on a large saw for cutting steel, we converted the machine from relay control to PLC. To enhance the design I came up with the idea of measuring the saw motor current combined with rotation speed and carriage feed speed, the main drivers being to increase throughput and detect when the saw blade needed changing for resharpening. It never got implemented.

Did the same thing about 30 yrs ago on a flail mill granulating cement asbestos sheets, big increase in output, big decrease in jams, big success