Prototype Lathe Toolchanger

[Pilotltd]

Hi Guys

Here's a link to a prototype lathe toolchanger we've been working on. Hopefully it will be available commercially later this year. The toolplate may well change for an alternate design before then, but the general design, mechanics and control work extremely well. The design is adaptable for various center heights, so should be suitable for many different lathes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dvLbb-HNsE

Steve Blackmore

[Peter Homann]

Steve,

I can't believe you've crossed over to the Darkside.

Nice change BTW.

Cheers,

Peter

[ftomazz]

Very nice toolchanger.

I also made a toolchanger some time ago, but insted of calling T0101 or T0202 and so one, I call a sub program in my gcode program that unlocks the disk, moves the dish to a determined position angular position (axis A in my case), calls a rely to lock the disk. All this code lines appear on the Gcode file that I upload to mach.

To make it more user friendly it is more nice only to call T0101, and the machine does all the rest, like it is shown on the video, and like all machines.
I really do not have an idea how this is done. For sure it have to be programmed, but were it is programmed ?

Thank you,
ftomazz

[Benny]

Great work Steve.
Do you have any photos that show more detail?
Does the motor hold the position or is there a locating lock pin too?