johnharvey
johnharvey
Hello gentlemen,
I have read your logic for a standard umbrella tool changer and it seems that it will not work with my machine's configuration.
In your logic it assumes the rotary tool holder does the "in and out" movement to grab and release the tool from the holder similar to a Tormach? etc?
In my case, the rotary tool plate is fixed to the gantry, so it does not move in Y relative to the spindle and traverses with the gantry in X. A straight line can be drawn through the tool rotary table center, the tool holder center when in position and the spindle axis parallel to the Y axis.
The only way for tools to be dropped off and picked up on my machine is for the spindle to move in Z to the pick and place position height, raise the dust boot, then -Y axis to move the spindle to push the tool into a holder, unlock the draw bar, raise up in Z, tool rotary plate then indexes into place, spindle moves down in Z swallowing the tool, the draw bar is closed and then the spindle takes the tool out of the holder by moving Y+ to clear the tool rotary table then lower the dust boot.
I hope this description makes sense,
I am unable to manufacture any alternatives to implement an ATC other than the way the machine came from the factory.
I read where you can accommodate non standard ATC setups like I described by writing new logic?
Your help is much appreciated since the OS of MASSO is a closed system.
Also, the motor for the tool rotary table must be a DC gear motor NOT a stepper or servo? documentation is not clear.
cut from your site and modified to what I think is needed,
Cheers,
John Harvey
I have read your logic for a standard umbrella tool changer and it seems that it will not work with my machine's configuration.
In your logic it assumes the rotary tool holder does the "in and out" movement to grab and release the tool from the holder similar to a Tormach? etc?
In my case, the rotary tool plate is fixed to the gantry, so it does not move in Y relative to the spindle and traverses with the gantry in X. A straight line can be drawn through the tool rotary table center, the tool holder center when in position and the spindle axis parallel to the Y axis.
The only way for tools to be dropped off and picked up on my machine is for the spindle to move in Z to the pick and place position height, raise the dust boot, then -Y axis to move the spindle to push the tool into a holder, unlock the draw bar, raise up in Z, tool rotary plate then indexes into place, spindle moves down in Z swallowing the tool, the draw bar is closed and then the spindle takes the tool out of the holder by moving Y+ to clear the tool rotary table then lower the dust boot.
I hope this description makes sense,
I am unable to manufacture any alternatives to implement an ATC other than the way the machine came from the factory.
I read where you can accommodate non standard ATC setups like I described by writing new logic?
Your help is much appreciated since the OS of MASSO is a closed system.
Also, the motor for the tool rotary table must be a DC gear motor NOT a stepper or servo? documentation is not clear.
cut from your site and modified to what I think is needed,
When a tool change command is received, the tool changer logic works in the followings steps for my needs, I think?:
- MACHINE IS STOPPED IN THE CURRENT XY POSITION
- Z Axis moves UP to the Tool Pick & Place Z position.
- The Spindle is turned OFF and system waits for the spindle to stop as per the spindle "Spin down delay" value in the spindle settings.
- System checks if the current tool in the spindle is setup in a slot is the F4-Tools screen, else gives an error.
- System checks if the tool to load is setup in a slot is the F4-Tools screen, else gives an error.
- NA If spindle indexing is required and "Tool Changer - Input 5 (Spindle in INDEX position)" is assigned to one of the MASSO inputs then:
- NA Tool Changer - Output 3 goes HIGH for VFD to Start JOGGING spindle at very low RPM.
- NA Tool Changer - Output 4 goes HIGH for VFD to Automatically stop and lock in INDEX position.
- NA System waits for the "Tool Changer - Input 5 (Spindle in INDEX position)" to go HIGH.
- "Tool Changer - Output 2" goes HIGH to move DUST BOOT UP. The system waits for time setup in Timeout settings for the "Tool Changer - Input 4" (DUST BOOT UP) signal to go HIGH, else gives an error.
- SPINDLE MOVES IN Y TO "READY POSITION", (enough clearance to let rotary table spin into position if necessary, A DISTANCE VARIABLE SO THAT DUST BOOT CLEARS THE TOOL ROTARY TABLE)
- SPINDLE MOVES -Y TO PLACE TOOL INTO THE VACANT HOLDER
- "Chuck Clamp M10/M11" goes HIGH to unclamp the tool.
- If spindle "Drawbar Locked & Unlocked" signals are assigned to any of the MASSO inputs then:
- System waits for the "Tool Changer - Input 6 (Drawbar Locked)" to go LOW.
- And waits for the "Tool Changer - Input 7 (Drawbar unlocked)" to go HIGH.
- Z Axis moves up to the Tool holder Z clearance position.
- "Tool Changer - Output 1" goes HIGH to Rotate Tools and counts pulses from"Tool Changer - Input 2".
- Once the desired tool is in position the "Tool Changer - Output 1" goes LOW to stop tool rotation.
- Z Axis moves DOWN to the Tool Pick & Place Z position.
- "Chuck Clamp M10/M11" goes LOW to clamp the tool.
- If spindle "Drawbar Locked & Unlocked" signals are assigned to any of the MASSO inputs then:
- System waits for the "Tool Changer - Input 6 (Drawbar Locked)" to go HIGH.
- And waits for the "Tool Changer - Input 7 (Drawbar unlocked)" to go LOW.
- SPINDLE MOVES IN +Y TO "READY POSITION"
- "Tool Changer - Output 2" goes LOW to move the DUST BOOT DOWN. The system waits for time setup in Timeout settings for the "Tool Changer - Input 4" ( DUST BOOT UP) signal to go LOW, else gives an error.
- CONTINUE PROGRAM
Cheers,
John Harvey