W-axis angular function suggestions

[MidniteMachinist]

I'm adding a rotary encoder to my rotary table, and have a couple of suggestions to improve functionality in the app.

More places after the decimal for the angular display would be great to allow for higher-resolution encoders. At least 4, like all the other axis readouts. Degrees/minutes/seconds would be cool, too, if that's possible to implement.

I searched and found Yuriy mention gear cutting functionality would be incorporated in later versions, but just a general dividing function similar to the hole pattern function would be awesome. Just enter the number of holes, and the starting and ending angles. Having the encoder completely obviates messing with dividing plates and the associated math to find the right disc with the right number of holes, counting turns/extra holes, sector arms, etc..

Apologies if this is all already in the works... Just wanted to get ideas written down while they were still fresh in my head.

[Yuriy]

Hi,
One of those things are in the "works" for the next version:
"Gear Cutting" is basically what you described (I'm an engineer, so I am required to suck at naming things to distinguish myself from marketing people )
I will see if I can make angular axis display format configurable separately (I think I can). This is a good idea.
Please post your setup when you finish it. I'm about to do the same thing to my Phase II rotary table, so I'm curious how you do yours.
Thank you
Yuriy

[MidniteMachinist]

Thanks, Yuriy

The basic gist of my idea uses that hollow-shaft rotary encoder I asked about last week. I'm going to make an adapter that fits it to the crank handle shaft of my rotary table. The 90:1 reduction of the table, combined with the 3600ppr encoder, should give me single arc-second resolution (360° / ((3600ppr * 4) * 90) = 0.0002777° = 1 arc-second). Using the encoder on the crank handle (rather than driving it by the table directly) makes backlash a concern, and I'm going to use a keyed 1-way bearing (sprag clutch) to mitigate that by preventing me from turning the handle backwards.

I'll definitely post up when I've finished the build.