The Centroid controller is up and running.

Axis control is established.

The Centroid and all axis drives run from a single 110 v power source. This part can be programmed, parameters set and axis control established before the spindle is ever connected.

The spindle is powered from a 3 hp inverter with 220 single phase coming in and 220 3 phase going to the spindle motor. Controls for the inverter are connected to the Centroid, but the current running the inverter and the current running the Centroid are completely separate.

A quick look at the Centroid control.

The inverter is installed but not wired in on the input side. The inverter is mounted to the left side of the Bridgeport head. It is adjustable for angle. It can be seen in context in the first picture on this page. The mill will be wired so the spindle speed can be controlled from the console two different ways. First the speed is controlled in the normal way using the air operated pulley system. That involves two buttons on the Centroid control panel. That speed will be set prior to part manufacture.

Secondly the inverter can be controlled from the Centroid console to alter the inverter output thus altering the spindle speed. That is done using the "S" command, spindle speed, in the G-code of each part program. Doing it this way I think I can let the controller alter the spindle speed as necessary for corner radius and different tools while keeping the actual motor speed well within the running speed for proper cooling. ---- Previous Page - - - Next Page (It's making $$$) ---- Site Map