Feature request - spindle load

[netmagi]

Was thinking it would be cool to be able to see the spindle load on a lathe or mill, represented as a percentage. This should be able to be achieved fairly easily with a current transformer. I'm imagining a scenario where you add the current transformer onto (one) of the hot leads for the spindle motor, and then configure in TouchDRO what voltage generated by the CT represents 100% load. Lower voltages could then be used to calc a % load on the spindle.

-Rich H.

 

[Nutfarmer]

My old K and T mill used an amp meter to indicate the load on it’s 10 horse motor

 

[rwm]

This would be cool.

 

[stupoty]

I mostly leave my lathe vfd display in current (amps) mode, is quite interesting sometimes.

Stu

 

[benmychree]

I used to occasionally use an Amprobe clamp on ammeter on one of the leads of my old (1916) American lathe with 2 HP motor when roughing; it is interesting to observe what 2 HP is capable of in making chips. Most of the lathes at work had ammeters, and we were expected to use them to the company's advantage.

 

[ycroosh]

I don't know if I want to add this as an official feature (people have enough trouble with tachometer sensors, which I though were braindead simple) but TDA-400/420 can read serial data (BIN6 and SPC). If someone designed a current sensor that sent the data in one of those formats, I can add some secret way to the app to show a free-form output. I'm probably going to be adding another display row anyway for things like feed rate, surface speed, etc.).

 

[mksj]

Do not see the value of a load meter at a hobbyist level where you are not pushing a machine for maximum load, and this is usually detectable by listening to the machine and a drop in RPM. CNC is different where you are trying to maximize performance and material removal. VFD's if used can directly output on the display or to a separate display, I have done this with a few system builds, one can also use it to scale an RPM readout. I previous used a graphical multi-function meter that one can customize to display additional VFD information. It might be something down the line that one would add something like a 0-10V scalable input and and that could have customizable units in the Touch DRO, that would be a more universal input similar to what is seen with VFD's analog outputs.