Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: rasta on April 19, 2013, 03:37:37 AM

Title: lathe tool changer
Post by: rasta on April 19, 2013, 03:37:37 AM

hi; im converting a micro lathe to cnc, and made a 8 position tool changer, that uses a taper dog clutch for positive location
before the controller energise the stepper to rotate to the next tool it must push the toolchanger head as per the "real "ones to clear the dog clutch slots
can someone please point me where I can download a macro that will be close to implement this figure?

thankyou
mariano

Title: Re: lathe tool changer
Post by: Hood on April 19, 2013, 01:15:01 PM

Might get some clues here
http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,17567.0.html

Hood

Title: Re: lathe tool changer
Post by: rasta on April 20, 2013, 04:52:10 AM

Thanks, Hood, I have tried the macro on another computer and looks like that it works, ill see if I have a bit of time and post couple of pics of the toolchanger
thanks again
Mariano

Title: Re: lathe tool changer
Post by: Hood on April 20, 2013, 10:17:53 AM

Look forward to seeing it :)
Hood

Title: Re: lathe tool changer
Post by: rasta on April 22, 2013, 03:39:17 AM

Quote from: Hood on April 20, 2013, 10:17:53 AM

Look forward to seeing it :)
Hood
[/quote
can you please guide me on how to post the pictures of the toolchanger in the forum?

Title: Re: lathe tool changer
Post by: Hood on April 22, 2013, 03:45:43 AM

Use the additional options button on the reply page. You will then be able to browse your computer and attach the pictures.
Hood

Title: Re: lathe tool changer
Post by: rasta on April 23, 2013, 03:40:33 AM

I have tried to upload the photos and the forum timed out, when I did it again it told me that there is a photo with that name in the forum..
can you please enlighten me on what is happening?
regards
mariano

Title: Re: lathe tool changer
Post by: Hood on April 23, 2013, 03:52:05 AM

Images may have been too big for the forum hence the time out. The forum only accepts a file name once so now it has seen your pictures it will not allow a file of that name, you can rename them and it will accept but may be best to use something like ScreenHunter to take screenshots of the images to reduce them in size. If you google wisdomsoft screenhunter free you should find it no problem.
Hood

Title: Re: lathe tool changer
Post by: rasta on April 23, 2013, 04:15:02 AM

here are some pics of the toolchanger I made for the micro lathe that im converting to cnc
mariano

Title: Re: lathe tool changer
Post by: Hood on April 23, 2013, 07:07:49 AM

Looks very nice :)
Do you have any pics of the clamping system?
Hood

Title: Re: lathe tool changer
Post by: rasta on April 23, 2013, 03:20:39 PM

the clamping system  of the rotary tool changing system is a pair of rings with a taper dog clutch that is spring loaded when in normal state, the round part on the back of
the changer is a air piston that has a ball at its end , in the toolchanger shaft is another ball bearing  , when the piston is pushed forward by the air if pushes one ball again the other
eliminating spring friction and pushing une half of the dog clutch away from another, in the pic you can see the dog clutch rotating
regards
Mariano

Title: Re: lathe tool changer
Post by: Hood on April 23, 2013, 04:19:52 PM

Sounds like a nice simple setup and also one that is inherently safe being that it is held tight via spring pressure :)
Hood

Title: Re: lathe tool changer
Post by: rasta on April 23, 2013, 05:13:09 PM

there is still a lot to do, like installing a limit switch in the piston to let the controller know that the lock is fully engaged,
also im intending to fit live tooling to it,(very hard), you see I program at work a Mori-seiki NL2500 with twin spindles and a turret that
has live tooling , and I get carried away easily.lol
regards
Mariano
 

Title: Re: lathe tool changer
Post by: Hood on April 24, 2013, 02:56:18 AM

I have often thought about live tooling also, might get round to it one day but unlikely.
Hood