Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: comet on November 18, 2012, 06:53:57 AM

Title: ATC set up on milling machine?
Post by: comet on November 18, 2012, 06:53:57 AM

I would like to build a 6 or 8 tool carousel ATC for my cnc'd BF 30.
  Fairly certain that to begin with ill use a torrmach/Hoss type gripping assembly (20 mm dia) that might be dogged for drive. But will be moving on to bt30 dogged in stage 2.
So I will need to know about indexing the spindle (maybe a opto sensed and a bicycle hydraulic disk brake actuated by air)?
Firstly what is the preferred method for the auto draw bar? belleville washers,air wrench,stepper motored I'm guessing ill need 2500kn for an un dogged and 1200 kn for a dogged?
   I have aquired a mitsubushi PLC if that is the way to go.
Mechanically/ electronics/pneumatics  im ok with building the mechanism, its the software side im going to struggle on.
Is there a definitive methodology on controlling an ATC from mach3?
 I do have friends that are wizz's at industrial control software but non have had anything to do with mach3.
Is there a Tutorial on the subject to get me started?

   Regards
      Tony

Title: Re: ATC set up on milling machine?
Post by: ger21 on November 18, 2012, 08:07:27 AM

There's a tutorial video and sample tool change macro used in the video available.
macro is here. http://www.machsupport.com/downloads/M6Start.zip
video is here http://www.machsupport.com/videos/

Title: Re: ATC set up on milling machine?
Post by: comet on November 18, 2012, 09:00:24 AM

Great thats a good start.
  so Im assuming I can change the tool positions to an absolute  degree on a rotary axis to be the carousel ?
I would initially have to put another output signal into the code to pivot the mechanism into position under the spindle how do I do that?
Just write a similar line of code to the draw bar code with a differant output pin?

that should get me a basic non spindle indexed ATC?

Title: Re: ATC set up on milling machine?
Post by: comet on November 18, 2012, 09:25:21 AM

Ive unzipped the macro now where do I put it in the software?

Title: Re: ATC set up on milling machine?
Post by: comet on November 18, 2012, 10:37:08 AM

OK have got the script working as downloaded,but if I change the tool no position from x-y to A (rotary) the rotary dosnt move? am I missing something?

Title: Re: ATC set up on milling machine?
Post by: comet on November 18, 2012, 11:44:24 AM

seem to get a "unknown word where unary operation could be"
Also if I enable homing on a it justs spins and dosnt stop like xyz do on 0.00 ?

Title: Re: ATC set up on milling machine?
Post by: comet on November 19, 2012, 05:09:47 AM

sorted it myself,couldnt wait for reply,this will do a 6 tool carosell changer, remove (delete) from title and drop in macro mill folder,its set for a as carosel for testing but change all instances to c  if you prefer similary divide 360 by the number of tools required for carosel positions