Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / Re: Tool sensing with ATC

« on: February 15, 2015, 10:21:04 AM »

br549

Originally, I was planning to use a variable like #501 etc. But when I looked into brains, it only shows Local Variables, and I'm not familiar with them. Do they work the same?

I use variables in many of my programs, but I've never worked with the local variables. In brains, variables used as a termination, it lists V1 through V99. It also talks about using bits. I'm not sure I would know how to set it up. I do have an old Fanuc 6T control on a Hardinge CHNC and I've read various parameters which are listed through bits. IE for a particular parameter, bit 3 would be the 5th one from the left and it would be a 1 or 0 for on or off.

Would the Local Variables be similar? If so, how would I read them in a Macro? It's always the language and syntax that gets me.

What I was able to come up with using brains is this:

1. I made a brain, a really simple one, that watched the input for my optical switch. When it sees the trip, it uses a timer to turn on an output for 5 seconds.
2. In my macro for the tool change, I can program all the moves to go to and pass through the gate.
3. Immediately after passing through the gate, I can use an If-Then statement to read the output that is held high for 5 seconds, and then program accordingly.

I can use this whether I need to see a tool or not, and I don't need to reset it as it turns back off after a programmable time.


I'm  very interested in your methods for using the variables. I like to learn, and doing it both ways will help me to learn more than just using one. I think I can make the brains side of it work, but if you could point me in the right direction to do it using macros and variables, I'd really appreciate it.

Just a note about me. I'm definitely a rookie with all this special programming and I don't have any formal CNC training. I do learn well, and am not afraid of work. I built from scratch most of the machines that I use.

I look forward to any direction you have to offer.


Thanks

Royce

2

General Mach Discussion / Re: Tool sensing with ATC

« on: February 14, 2015, 02:29:43 PM »

Well, I think 10 times a second should be ok.

I was able to make a quick simple little brain that took the input, and created a timed one shot control of an output.

I'll pass through the gate, and then read whether the output is on or not.

I'm waiting on some opticals big enough for my largest tool to pass through. Once they get here, I'll give it a shot.


Thanks for all your help

Royce

3

General Mach Discussion / Re: Tool sensing with ATC

« on: February 11, 2015, 07:33:28 PM »

You are only limited by your imagination (;-) Go for it.

Now keep this in Mind Mach only looks at the inputs 10 times per sec. IF you pass through fast enough considering the very narrow wideth of the beam Mach may NOT see the input. That is WHY I suggested a stop and look approach.

(;-) TP

TP

I'll have to go back and look, but I was pretty sure that brains run very fast. Like 10 times, or even 100 times faster than just the regular Mach stuff like modbus.

It may be a little bit before I get it all setup, but when I do, I'll post about it here.

Here's a link to a video of my current tool change system with the Precise spindle.

I did have one mounted on an inlay machine at one time. I now have 2 NSK's on one machine, and a Fischer Precise on the other. All with ATC. I've got the single Precise working very well right now with fully automated tool changes. Here's a video of it in action. It's really cool.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scZmBhma3fU

Royce

4

General Mach Discussion / Re: Tool sensing with ATC

« on: February 11, 2015, 11:47:24 AM »

BR549

Yes, I knew that I could just stop in the beam and then read the input as to whether it was active or not. I'm sure this is what I'll end up doing. As long as the smallest tools still block enough of the beam I'll be ok.


I guess I just wanted to be fancy and see if I could just pass it through and trip a flag.

I guess I could setup a brain to constantly monitor that input, and when it saw it active, set a variable to a given number, say 10. Then, during the tool change macro, I could just set the variable to 0 before passing through the gate, and then look at it afterwards to see if it's now 10.

I might try that.

I've been very happy with using brains for various things. I have one that monitors all the spindle amplifier's signals. If it sees any faults, it essentially presses the stop button. I have the safe Z turned on, and set above my work. It will actually save a .020" cutter working at 50 ipm if the spindle faults!

Thanks for all your input.


Royce

5

General Mach Discussion / Re: Tool sensing with ATC

« on: February 10, 2015, 11:00:24 PM »

I do reference the machine at start up, so that's not a problem. I'm able pick up a .125" diameter tool with a collet, so I only have a few thou to work with as it is. I have 6 tools that I choose from, and they are all at the other end of the table from the home switches. I don't have any issues with being in the right place

What I'm not familiar with is how to make a move, and watch for a signal while it's moving. That's why I thought of the "flag" concept. I'm not a normal computer guy, so much of the language is new to me.

How do I program a move, in machine coordinates, and during that move, recognize a signal or not? All in a macro, of course. I'm not well versed in VB.


Royce

6

General Mach Discussion / Re: Tool sensing with ATC

« on: February 10, 2015, 10:28:40 PM »

BR549

I really like your screen name!

I completely understand what you're suggesting. Actually, I've considered doing exactly that. But, and there's always a but isn't there. Some of the tools I use are very small. I'm not confident that the smallest ones would completely block an optical beam. I mean, I'm talking .005" with a tiny depth of cut. For the same reason, I don't really want to come down on top of a touch plate either. They're kind of pricey and the tiniest corners of the bits can break and ruin the cut.

As for the tool holders, I don't really have any holders. The spindle just uses an air powered draw bar attached to the actual collet. My tools, all with 1/8" shanks, are dropped off and picked up by the shanks. Just the collet and the tools, no holders necessary.

In typing this, I realize that if my tool won't block a light sitting still, it might not block it while moving through it either. I guess I need to take a closer look at the optical switches and their specs. I currently use them for homing, and they are extremely accurate. Much more so than mechanical switches. I currently use the Optek OPB941W51Z for the home switches. They do offer a wider version, and the sensor aperture is only .010", so it just might work. It typically only requires about 40 to 50% of the light to be blocked for activation.

I would still like to learn how to turn a flag on and off though if possible. I think it could come in pretty handy at some time or another.

Royce

7

General Mach Discussion / Tool sensing with ATC

« on: February 10, 2015, 06:11:41 PM »

Hello all!

I have a CNC router with a Fischer Precise spindle with ATC capabilities.

I recently set it up as a fully operating ATC system using the macro from the machsupport site and small spring loaded grippers as tool holders. The grippers grab the locating collar on the small end mill tools I use. (pool cue inlay work on this machine)

It was pretty straight forward. I only had to incorporate some of the spindles extra features like "spindle>0" and "RPM Low". It does work very well, and saves a ton of time.

What I want to do now is really more of a problem prevention thing than anything else. I want to pass my current tool through an optical switch to make sure it's not broken before I do the tool change. I'd also like to pass through the gate again to make sure it did release the tool, and I'd like to pass the new tool through the same gate to make sure it picked up the tool as it was supposed to. I don't need to really measure the tool for Z because I use the depth collars on all of the tools. They're all small 1/8" shank tools, and I have a depth ring installer already.

I've looked into the G31 function used with touch probes, but I'm not quite sure how it programs, and I've heard of issues with the smoothstepper. I do use an ESS on this machine.

So, if anyone has any suggestions as to how to program something to work, I'm all ears. I would think that I could create some sort of a "flag" of some kind so that when the tool is passed through the gate any signal would trip the flag. I just don't know how to setup anything like this.

I've also heard of a "high speed skip". I think that's something similar to the G31, but I'm not sure.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Royce

8

General Mach Discussion / Re: .txt files

« on: December 19, 2013, 01:18:49 PM »

That's funny because that is what I do.

I always just drop down the box and select all files.

But, when I reopen Mach, it's always back the same way.


RBC

9

General Mach Discussion / .txt files

« on: December 19, 2013, 12:23:11 PM »

I create all my gcode files with notepad and they all have .txt extensions. Can I have Mach3 see them when I choose the load file button?

RBC

10

General Mach Discussion / Re: step and direction spindle control

« on: February 17, 2010, 05:35:12 PM »

Thanks!

The other thing that was a big problem is my xylotex board must have a short.

I have it jumper'd for micro step, 1/8th, but it must be shorted because I have to program 400 steps per unit instead of 1600 to make it work right.

go figure!

With it all set right, I was actually able to get 1000 rpm out of my little Pac Sci stepper I am using for the spindle. I have never been able to get over 650 or so before. I also had intermittent issues with positioning, and those are gone now. I am assuming they were parallel port issues as I don't think it was missing steps due to load or acceleration or anything like that.

I have 4 machines total, one 4 spindle 2 axis that uses 4 table saw blades to do the cutting. Boy can it make some sawdust! 2 smaller single spindle machines using routers to cut with and one 2 spindle that uses routers. The 2 spindle is vertical and is basically in a closet on wheels. I can roll it to where I need it, hook up dust collection and power and cut away!

Thanks again for your help.

Royce Bunnell
www.obcues.com