Service Home How To Procedures Lathe - Spindle Inertia Load Type Setting
Last updated: 06/25/2025

Lathe - Spindle Inertia Load Type Setting

Introduction

SETTING 413 and Setting 414 are available for machines with the New Mocon enabled and with software version 100.21.000.1111 or greater.

New Mocon: is a Motion Control algorithm that uses more parameters to better control the axis of the machine. 

 Note: At this time we are not enabling the New Mocon in the field.

To determine if you have the New Mocon enabled:

Press [Diagnostic] and navigate to the System tab. The Mocon version will be in the Software section. Mocon version 1.16  .S. is the New Mocon. If the Mocon Version is 1.16 or 1.16  .K, then you have the old Mocon Version.

Settings 413/414 allows the user to calibrate the main spindle or sub spindle performance across different chuck and part sizes. The choices are:

  • Default - Recommended when using a standard size chuck and part.

  • Calibrated - Recommended when using a large or small size chuck or collet and a large or small part.

 

Important: Not using these settings will result in the following symptoms/alarms:

Symptom Alarm
Overvoltage during spindle deceleration
C - Axis engages alarms 
Unstable Spindle Orient / Spindle Orient Fault

Note: Refer to the Spindle - Lathe - Troubleshooting Guide to see the corrective action for these symptoms.

Main Spindle Load Type

1

After powering up the machine and zero returning all axes. Install the workholding and part on the machine that will be calibrated. Press [SETTING] and navigate to Setting 413. Select [Calibrated Load].

2

A Load Calibration popup will appear. Press [Y] to Go to Test. This will navigate you to the Maintenance tab and Load Calibration tab.

Note: This window can be reached by pressing Diagnostic > Maintenance > Load Calibration. Navigating to this screen will prevent the popup from appearing again while changing Setting 413. Make sure Setting 413 is set to Calibrated Load before running the calibration.

3

Press the down arrow key to select axis S (SPINDLE) and press [F2] to start the load calibration. The spindle will spin roughly 100rpm very briefly and then the Improvement Rate will be calculated based on the new inertia calibration.

Note: As the screen explains, this tool allows the user to tune the performance of the machine when the default settings are not satisfactory. This is ideal for radically changing mechanical loads, such as changing chucks or machining parts of significantly different weight.

Warning: If the load calibration is incorrect the most likely symptoms could be unstable spindle orient, C axis engage failure, or a spindle drive overvoltage alarm.

Sub Spindle Load Type

1

After powering up the machine and zero returning all axes. Install the workholding and part on the machine that will be calibrated. Press [SETTING] and navigate to Setting 414. Select [Calibrated Load].

2

A Load Calibration popup will appear. Press [Y] to Go to Test. This will navigate you to the Maintenance tab and Load Calibration tab.

 Note: This window can be reached by pressing Diagnostic > Maintenance > Load Calibration. Navigating to this screen will prevent the popup from appearing again while changing Setting 414. Make sure Setting 414 is set to Calibrated Load before running the calibration.

3

Press the down arrow key to select axis SS (2ND SPINDLE) and press [F2] to start the load calibration. The spindle will spin roughly 100rpm very briefly and then the Improvement Rate will be calculated based on the new inertia calibration.

 Note: As the screen explains, this tool allows the user to tune the performance of the machine when the default settings are not satisfactory. This is ideal for radically changing mechanical loads, such as changing chucks or machining parts of significantly different weight.

 Warning: If the load calibration is incorrect the most likely symptoms could be unstable spindle orient, C axis engage failure, or a spindle drive overvoltage alarm.