I really would like to figure out how this individual was able to make the drill come on for only the down stroke. I understand all the mechanicals but I cannot figure out for the life of me how he programmed it. This could be used for so much more. Compressed air for chip removal, Coolant only coming on when actual cutting is happening.

Not to sound like a penny pincher but think of the cost savings. Lets say you have to drill 2 holes that are 90" apart. The amount of air/coolant that is dumped in-between the 2 cuts is significant.

On the shopbot forum they mentioned modding the PP but what would you add or do to make this happen. Thanks for the help.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7HK4Lks2J0

One of the nice things about Mach is that there is always more than one way of doing things. This is just one suggestion:-

If the air supply to the selected drill was controlled by a valve/relay operated by Output #1 then the addition of the M11P1 /M10P1 commands at the appropriate place in the GCode would do the trick (M11P1 turns Output #1 on and M10P1 turns it off).

A simple example.

F50
G0 M11P1
G1 Z-5
G0 M10P1
G1 Z0
G0 X10 Y10
G0 M11P1
G1 Z-5
G0 M10P1
G1 Z0
G0 X0 Y0
M30


Tweakie.

Air is very expensive to use for tooling so I see why this would want to be done.
To me it looks like its just a physical switch that is operated as the Z goes below a certain hight and that switch operates  a solenoid for the air.

Hood

To me it looks like its just a physical switch that is operated as the Z goes below a certain height and that switch operates  a solenoid for the air.

I agree with Hood - this is probably the easiest and best way to do it.

(I think the video shows that the air is cut at the start of the drill retract operation though).

Tweakie.

Quote

To me it looks like its just a physical switch that is operated as the Z goes below a certain height and that switch operates  a solenoid for the air.

(I think the video shows that the air is cut at the start of the drill retract operation though).

Tweakie.

Yes certainly seems that way when you watch it with sound.

Hood

Hood,

It is perhaps not a good idea to cut the air before the drill is fully retracted, what do you think ?

Tweakie.

Hood,

It is perhaps not a good idea to cut the air before the drill is fully retracted, what do you think ?

Tweakie.

Personally I would keep it rotating until its clear, more chance  of the drill getting pulled out of the chuck if its still as the flutes could be filled with swarf (or whatever you wood guys call it )


Hood

that vid shows a air spindle that is turned on and off not a air coolant setup.he has a air solenoid setup that he switches on
and off as it runs through the code.

bill