Wiring and Spindle

March 26, 2025

Cable Management and Spindle VFD

Install three (3) cable hanger clips along the length of the rear crossbeam. Insert the hanger into the T-slot horizontally and rotate 90 degrees clockwise to lock the hanger into place. 

Cable hanger installation

Cable hanger location along crossbeam

Insert the Y2 wire harness through the opening of the cable hangers. Leave both Y-axis motor cables unplugged from the motors during this step. 

Securing Y2 wire harness in cable hangers

If you purchased the Sienci Labs Spindle Kit, the following instructions are related to Spindle and VFD set up. 

If you are using a third party spindle / router, follow the instructions for your specific spindle and come back to this assembly manual when you have mounted your spindle and are prepared to route the wires through the drag chains.  

Fasten the VFD to the VFD mounting bracket using two (2) M5-16mm socket head screws and M5 nylock nuts. The VFD is fastened to the long flange of the mounting bracket. 

Note: The side of the included custom wrench can be used to hold the nylock nuts while tightening.

 

Aligning holes between VFD unit and mounting bracket

Fastent the VFD Mounting bracket to the inside of the front left table leg of the machine using two (2) M5-16mm socket head screws. 

VFD mounting bracket in position on front left table leg

VFD unit correctly mounted, control panel accessible through leg cutout 

Loosen the spindle clamping screws on the front of the spindle mount to allow the spindle to fit into the bore of the mount. 

Loosening clamping screws on spindle mount

Place the styrofoam packaging on the front crossbeam of the table underneath the spindle mount. Adjust the height of the spindle mount, so that the distance from the bottom of the spindle mount to the top surface of the styrofoam is 110mm / 4.5 inches. Turn the ball screw using the motor coupler to adjust the height of the spindle mount.  Insert the spindle into the bore of the spindle mount until it rests on the top of the styrofoam. 

Spindle mount height adjustment

Bring the spindle cable attached to the VFD around the back of the table leg, and moving from the front of the table to the back, bring the cable underneath the gantry, plugging the cable into the top of the spindle from the back of the gantry. 

Note: It is important that this cable is routed in this path to allow it to be run through the drag chains. 

Note: Match the keyed features on the cable connector with the slots of the spindle body receptacle, allowing the connector to mesh. 

Cable routing

Connector keys to mesh with spindle body receptacle

Thread the connector onto the receptacle by rotating the collar on the cable side clockwise.  Pull on the connector to ensure it is secured.

Spindle cable collar threaded onto spindle connector 

Place the 47 link drag chain on the X rail. Fit the spindle cable and the Z-axis wire harness into the open drag chain. Press the clips down to secure the cables. To save on time, it is recommended to remove half the clips from the chain, if you need to open the drag chain again. 

Note: Check the drag chain ends to ensure they will interface correctly with the drag chain. Remember one link has a knobbed flange and the other a holed flange. 

Note: Ensure the Z-axis wire harness is oriented such that the motor side connectors are exiting the drag chain opposite the X-axis motor.

Routing through X-axis drag chain

Install the drag chain onto the drag chain end links. 

X-axis drag chain secured on drag chain end link

Place the 50 link drag chain on the left side Y rail. Fit the Y-axis wire harness, Z-axis wire harness, and spindle cable into the open drag chain. Press the clips down to secure the cables. To save on time, it is recommended to remove half the clips from the chain, if you need to open the drag chain again. 

Note: Check the drag chain ends to ensure they will interface correctly with the drag chain. Remember one link has a knobbed flange and the other a holed flange. 

Note: Ensure the X-axis wire harness is oriented such that the motor side connectors are exiting the drag chain at the X-axis motor, not the opposite.  

Routing through the left Y-axis drag chain

Install the drag chain onto the end links. 

Securing left Y-axis drag chain on drag chain end links

Sensor and Motor Connections

Plug the black connector exiting the X-axis wire harness into the plug of the inductive sensor. 

Plug the power and signal connectors from the X-axis wire harness into the motor.

X-axis power and signal connectors plugged in, sensor connector secured

Use a small flathead screwdriver to fasten the screws of the power connector into the motor plug.

Tightly securing screws on power connector

Remove the top-left and bottom-right M3-40mm screws from the X-axis motor. 

Removing 2 motor screws at a diagonal

Install the motor cover onto the back of the motor using the previously removed M3-40mm screws. Orient the motor cover so the wires exit upwards.

Note: Install the motor cover gently to avoid damaging the wires attached to the connecters.  

Motor cover installation

Repeat the previous steps for the Z, Y1 and Y2 motors. 

Assembling motor cover onto Y-axis

Assembling motor cover onto Z-axis