In the thread about the new AutoSpin T1 router there was some discussion of modifying a router to be digitally controllable. Someone is making what looks like a pretty good option but they don’t ship to the US. I’m tempted to try and DIY this but I really don’t have time to goof around with it right now so I figured I’d dump my thoughts here in case anyone wants to give it a go.
@Sonmer linked to a forum discussion that had some good resources including a schematic and some arduino code they posted.
Basically they use an arduino to measure the voltage of the PWM output from the controller. The arduino controls a digital potentiometer which is wired in place of the dial on the router. They use an isolator between the arduino and the digital pot to protect it from the router’s power supply.
It could potentially be done without soldering anything using this digital pot board, an isolation board, and a little microcontroller.
When I woke up this morning I had an idea. I only have one router which I use in the lowrider and by hand. So replacing the manual dial with an electric one does not really work for me.
I was thinking about: Would it be possible to extent the functionality of a diy speed controller in such a way that it sits between the original dial and the router. When not powered by the cnc controller, it passes the original poti through as if it is not there. Only if powered from the cnc controller it takes over the control with the digital poti.
Again my skills with electronics are very basic and this is far beyond them.
I guess there is not really much room under the top plastic cover, but we have 3d printers to make a new fitting one.
My initial thinking for trying to make my manual router gcode controllable was to take a little hobby rotary servo print a drive wheel to mesh with the existing dial. This would preserve the router as purchased and old require some minimal work.
End of the day I think the time + materials to implement this kind of solution would just push me to build the auto router.