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Chapter 12: Spindle Control

By Peter Smid
From CNC Programming Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide to Practical CNC Programming, Second Edition

Both types of CNC machines, machining centers and lathes, use spindle rotation when removing excessive material from a part. The rotation may be that of the cutting tool (milling) or the part itself (lathes). In both cases, the activities of the machine spindle and the working feedrate of the cutting tool need to be strictly controlled by the program. These CNC machines require instructions that relate to the selection of a suitable speed of the machine spindle and a cutting feedrate for a given job.

There are several methods to control the spindle and cutting feedrate and they all depend mainly on the type of the CNC machine and the current machining application. In this chapter, we look at the spindle control and its programming applications.

SPINDLE FUNCTION

The program command relative to spindle speed is controlled in the CNC system by the address S. The programming format of the S address is usually within the range of 1 to 9999 and no decimal point is allowed:

S1 <i class="emphasis">to</i> S9999

For many high speed CNC machines is not unusual to have spindle speed available up to five digits, in the range of 1 to 99999, within the S address range:

S1 <i class="emphasis">to</i> S99999

The maximum spindle speed range available in the control must always be greater than the maximum spindle speed range of the machine itself. It is quite typical that virtually all control systems support a much greater range of spindle speeds than...

Copyright Industrial Press 2003 under license agreement with Books24x7
Products & Services
Milling machines move a clamped workpiece into a fixed, rotating cutter; or move the cutter itself into a stationary workpiece. There are two basic configurations: vertical and horizontal. Search by Specification | Learn more about Milling Machines
Machining centers are machine tools that are used to automatically repeat operations on a workpiece. They are usually numerically controlled. Operations include drilling, reaming, tapping, milling, and boring. Learn more about Machining Centers
Spindle repair services specialize in the repair and rebuilding of spindles, rotating components that are used to hold and drive cutting tools or work pieces on lathes, milling machines, and other machine tools. Search by Specification | Learn more about Spindle Repair Services
Lathes and turning centers cut a rotating part with a stationary cutting tool. The tool moves parallel and perpendicular to the workpiece axis to provide the desired finished shape. Learn more about Lathes and Turning Centers
Machine tool spindles are rotating components used to hold and drive cutting tools or workpieces on lathes, milling machines and other machine tools. Search by Specification | Learn more about Machine Tool Spindles
Product Announcements
Colonial Tool Group Inc. - Precision Spindles: CNC
Over 70 years of spindle manufacturing, RAS keeps Colonial in the forefront of spindle technology. Engineered solutions, optimized for all performance elements, coupled with customized proprietary... (read more)
Iseli Co. - Esco-matic Screw Machining
Primary and Secondary Equipment used in Iseli's facilities include: Primary Equipment 24 CNC Swiss Machining Centers with Automatic Bar Feeders up to 1.250" diameter 300 Swiss Type Automatic... (read more)
Heidenhain Corporation - HEIDENHAIN'S New Flexible MANUALplus 620 Control
HEIDENHAIN's MANUALplus NCs have been proving themselves in daily use on action-oriented lathes for many years now, but with the introduction of the new MANUALplus 620, HEIDENHAIN marks another step... (read more)
DATRON Dynamics, Inc. - Datron M8 5-Axis Machining Center
True 5-Axis, trunnion-style, high-speed machining center for milling and engraving on 5 sides of a part. (read more)
Zagar Incorporated - MQ150 Ball Screw Actuated
Ball Screw Feed Units A Better Way to Machine Holes... (read more)
Engineered Products - Index 32C, 32P and 52C Machines from DuPage
Full CNC multi-spindle capabilities to run the most complex parts complete in one operation. The ability to hold close tolerances, perform numerous machining functions, quick change over, and... (read more)
Topics of Interest
Feedrate is the closest programming companion to the spindle function. While the spindle function controls the spindle speed and the spindle rotation direction, feedrate controls how fast the tool... (Read More)
OVERVIEW Both types of CNC machines, machining centers and lathes, use spindle rotation when removing excessive material from a part. Spindle rotation may be that of the cutting tool (milling) or... (Read More)
Feedrate is the closest programming companion to spindle function. While the spindle function controls spindle speed and spindle rotation direction, feedrate controls how fast the tool will move,... (Read More)
Single point threading can be a relatively easy job for both programming and machining, if all goes well. Fortunately, that is the case most of the time, but there are many situations that may present... (Read More)
THREADING FEED AND SPINDLE SPEED In threading, the choice of the cutting insert, the spindle speed and feedrate selection are rather restricted. Both, the cutting tool and the feedrate are... (Read More)
See more product announcements for Milling Machines
GRAND OPENING EVENT

GRAND OPENING EVENT
Mori Seiki U.S.A., Inc.


CMS/Brembana - Vertec - CNC Machining Center

CMS/Brembana - Vertec - CNC Machining Center
CMS North America, Inc.


Saturn CNC Mill

Saturn CNC Mill
Excitron Corporation


11 See more product announcements for Milling Machines