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Adding a digital tachometer system to a lathe?
- Thread starter HMF
- Start date
I picked up a "Tachulator" from LMS. It will display spindle RPM -or- you can input the diameter of your workpiece, and have it display SFM. Very handy if you have variable speed on your lathe as you can adjust the spindle rpm as needed to keep your SFM in range as the diameter gets smaller. I mounted the display just below my VFD control so I can watch the SFM as I turn the speed knob. 
At minimum you need a single reflective stripe for the IR photo sensor to pick up the rpm from a shaft. In my case I made an encoder ring for my spindle with multiple segments. The more segments you use, the more accurate the display will read at low rpm's. I can dial mine down to 2 rpm on the spindle before the display drops out.
You only get the display and the sensor in the kit. You may need to fabricate a mounting bracket for the sensor as well depending on your installation.
At minimum you need a single reflective stripe for the IR photo sensor to pick up the rpm from a shaft. In my case I made an encoder ring for my spindle with multiple segments. The more segments you use, the more accurate the display will read at low rpm's. I can dial mine down to 2 rpm on the spindle before the display drops out.
You only get the display and the sensor in the kit. You may need to fabricate a mounting bracket for the sensor as well depending on your installation.