Messages

51

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: Ballistic ATC

« on: February 07, 2016, 04:34:26 PM »

Yes I am using the Tormach TTS tooling system.  I have used them on the mill already and have had a good outcome with them so far.  I measure all the tools in their dedicated TTS holder prior to placing in the mill so I know the height of the tool.  All of these measurements are placed in my tool table automatically when done.  I have a tool setter now though that will sit on the table at all times off to the side to measure the tool in the spindle.  The location I set it at should not interfere with my milling operations, should is the key word.  

I have had a question about the attachment of the carousel to the gear box shaft.   What I plan on doing is having a round solid 6061 piece of alum.  3" dia drilled in the center that will slide over the shaft of the gearbox.  The hub I call it will be affixed to the gearbox .5" shaft with set screws that actually imbbed themselves into the shaft, the shaft will be drilled and tapped.  The bottom of the hub that is the attachment for the 10" carousel plate will have 3 8mm holes.  Bolts will go through the carousel plate into the hub to hold it in place.  The carousel plate will have a .125 deep 1.5" diameter flange cut into the plate so the hub will sit down into it for added strength.  This will keep the hub centered to the plate along with the 8mm bolts.  I feel this will plenty strong and should handle the weight.  If my idea does not work I have another idea but more involved but similar to the way a jet engine works in the shafting just requires more work, quite frankly I'm lazy so I will try easy first.

If anyone has any other ideas about the mounting go the carousel to the gearbox pass them along,  more heads are better than one.

52

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: Ballistic ATC

« on: February 07, 2016, 09:48:15 AM »

A little note.  I should have a total build cost of $1500.  That is all the steel to mount to the mill table and powderd coated.  If I was to build another one I am sure I could save $200 to 300.  I did not need to use a Nema34 but I had it so I used it.  If I do another one after the first one is complete I will try the nema23 with the 5:1 planetary gear box.  The gecko driver was the 203v.  That did add cost but I wanted all the drivers to match.

Jeff

53

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: Ballistic ATC

« on: February 06, 2016, 11:19:50 PM »

Here is a pic of the back of the control box and the air compressor that I am using.  The air compressor is very quiet.

54

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: Ballistic ATC

« on: February 06, 2016, 11:11:16 PM »

Ok trying to fix the pic issue.

55

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: Ballistic ATC

« on: February 06, 2016, 11:08:34 PM »

few more pics.

56

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: Ballistic ATC

« on: February 06, 2016, 11:07:12 PM »

Wow that pic was big...lol

57

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Ballistic ATC

« on: February 06, 2016, 10:55:49 PM »

Ok hello to all.  My name is Jeff.  I have been building an ATC  for my G0704 Mill.  I have modified the mill a lot and should be a good long lasting mill when fully complete and machine what ever I will throw at it.  Now for the Tool Changer.  I am building a 12 tool ATC that has a Igus double bearing slide with a Nema 1200oz/in motor and a 5:1 Planetary gear box.  To move the slide is a 1.25'' 9'' stroke air cylinder.  The cylinder has a magnetic piston with an EXT. Reed Switch and a RET. Reed switch.  The reed switches are part of the M6start macro.  PDB is a Fabco air 4'' 3 stage multi power and also has the magnetic piston in it for the EXT. and RET reed switches.  I have 3 air solenoids that are 110VAC run through relays in the control box.  Air solenoid one is for the carousel slide, #2 is for the Fabco PDB sylinder and the #3 is for an air blast when the tool is put back into the carousel to clean the tool. 

I am waiting for 3 parts to be built since I cannot do it.  Parts I am getting machined and welded is, 1 Hub that will attach the carousel to the 1/2'' gear box shaft,  part 2 is the 10'' carousel that the TTS tool holders will mount to, part 3 is a metal box that will mount to the Igus rail to house the stepper motor with the gear box attached.  The hardest part so far was making the Mach3 ATC screen set.  I have never done it before but with a little trial and error I was able to get that done.  At first it was a disaster, really messed up my mach3 and just erased the whole and started over.  So word to those who are doing screen sets be careful and make a backup of your .set file   I had some knowledge of how to make the M6start macro but the real help came from a forum member   Reading a lot of old post have helped a lot as well. 

If anyone is wondering what else has gone into this let me know I will share what ever I have as in knowledge so far.  Oh yes to home the carousel i am using a magnetic reed switch.  The pickup for the reed switch is a little magnet placed into the hub of the carousel.  The reed switch when the magnet passes by will close, stop the motor and then back up 30 degrees and that will be where tool one is.  I home the mill along with the ATC at mill start up.  The air system will operate at 80PSI.  I have a pressure sensor in the ATC system so that if the pressure for the ATC drops below 75psi it will message the user to check the pressure and the procedure will stop until you hit OK.

Attached are a few pics of the parts so far.  More to come when my parts are done being made.

58

VB and the development of wizards / Re: ATC button to access Mach3 Tool Information.

« on: January 24, 2016, 05:02:54 PM »

Good then I will not do that then.

59

VB and the development of wizards / Re: ATC button to access Mach3 Tool Information.

« on: January 24, 2016, 04:06:35 PM »

I think I am going to find the VB for dummies manual and see where I get with that.  I am having trouble seening how these arrays work with Varibles and the all around language.  I do have the VB reference manual but the examples are not very good.  I will figure it out.

Jeff

60

VB and the development of wizards / ATC button to access Mach3 Tool Information.

« on: January 24, 2016, 03:35:41 PM »

I have 12 DRO's for Tool # and 12 DRO's for Tool Length Offset.  I have a Button on the ATC Screen called Get Verify Tool / Length Offset that I want to push to Load the first 12 Tools in the Mach3 Tool Table into the DRO's.  Anybody know how to do this or can someone point me to a post where it has been talked about?

Thanks,

Jeff