Anyone used Power Feed setup for CNC?
Factory neighbour has a large Hafco mill (BM-40 or 30) that he has asked about adding some CNC abilities to. He is not real computer savvy, so I will be looking for a non-PC based solution. Maybe a tablet, or LinuxCNC on an embedded device.
The easy way would be to add big stepper motors and some toothed belts, but that prevents manual use unless they are disconnected again.
I'm looking at the Power Feed motors, and DRO scales, and wondering if LinuxCNC could be configured to use these already attached motors instead of steppers?
(I know real CNCs use DC servos, and high end ones also have additional closed loop feedback, but has anyone ever heard of one without direct feedback from the screw motors?)