Adding a spindle

[partspeddler]

Hello I have a PRT with the old style black control box that looks like a desktop PC.
I would like to add a spindle & VFD to my unit. I was wondering if anyone knew how to wire the spindle to the control box?

[waynelocke]

I don't think that you can control the speed with the software unless it is a Yaskawa? vfd which SB provided with the spindles it sold. SB used to sell a relay which you could use to turn a router or spindle on or off.

I put a Chinese spindle on mine and turned it on or off and changed the speed manually.

[partspeddler]

Thanks for the info.

[robtown]

Hello I have a PRT with the old style black control box that looks like a desktop PC.
I would like to add a spindle & VFD to my unit. I was wondering if anyone knew how to wire the spindle to the control box?

Building a new controller and adding a spindle made my 2004 PRT into an entirely different machine.

If you can do either or both of those things, I would recommend it.

You can either build your own controller, or there’s a couple folks selling “drop in” replacement kits.For me, building was the option because I’m a hobbiest these days, so I didn’t have to worry about shutting down production or anything.

The spindle I purchased was a take off from another machine that someone had sitting around.This was one of those things that jusst kinda fell into my lap as I was investigating my options and asking questions.

[waynelocke]

Ditto to Robtown’s post. I ran for years manually controlling the spindle. Warming it up for 10 minutes while increasing the rpm’s was a pain but the spindle was such an improvement over the router. I also changed the controller in the last few years and it made a completely new machine of my 2001 PRT. I bought an assembled box and changed the stepppers. I no longer have washerboarjd marks on the curves and my basic speed is 6”/sec and I have run files at 7. Oh. It is great to push a button on a touch screen to warm up the spindle. The rotary implementation is top flight and a great improvement. With the use of different post processors the controller automatically runs the dust collector, vacuum table, both or neither while running a file. Also, the wireless pendant is unbelievably great.

[partspeddler]

waynelocke where did you get your control box?