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Post by gdmarsh on Jan 25, 2012 11:10:41 GMT -8
Dave,
Automatic Tool Changers appear to be an up & coming feature on home shop cnc mills. There's a thread on the CNCZone titled ATC that is a very fine example. It includes some of the script & even a screen shot of the creators Mach3 ATC page.
I would like to add an ATC to my mill and am wondering if this something that could be user developed on the user extensions page or would there have to be a screen for tool changers added to the package?
Thanks
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Post by DaveCVI on Jan 25, 2012 18:43:28 GMT -8
Hi,
You can add anything you like to the user exts page - it simply exists so that there's a prefabricated place to put stuff - that page just saves you the trouble of having to create a new page in MSM.
It's also possible for you to add as many pages to MSM as you want. So it you prefer a dedicated page for tool changer stuff, you can do that too. Both approaches are possible with MSM as it ships today (See the customization sections of the MSM manual).
It's actually also be easier to interface a tool changer script using MSM than it is with stock Mach. MSM makes ATC events really easy to deal with as MSM provides pre-defined user hooks that are called by MSM for the ATC operation during the M6 sequences. The event interfaces have been used by MSM users since the MSM beta days to run ATC scripts. Look for M6ATC in the user manual for more info.
Dave
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Post by gdmarsh on Jan 25, 2012 20:39:48 GMT -8
OK, sounds good ..
I'll do some more reading on customizing and give it a shot ..
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Post by DaveCVI on Jan 25, 2012 21:33:29 GMT -8
If you decide to add a new page, give me a shout - I don't thank anyone has done that except me to test it back when... the user exts page seems to have been enough for most. I'll help with the add page exercise if needed.
Dave
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Post by danielbriggs on Feb 12, 2012 12:18:26 GMT -8
I would be very very very interested in having some ATC changing buttons / or tool selection on the Run page.  |
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Post by DaveCVI on Feb 12, 2012 12:30:44 GMT -8
Do you mean that you want to want to be able to click a button to cause a tool change? If so, you can essentially do that now.... use the mdi line to enter T#M6 ;D Or are you looking for something else? Dave I would be very very very interested in having some ATC changing buttons / or tool selection on the Run page. |
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Post by gdmarsh on Jun 18, 2012 16:42:39 GMT -8
Dave,
I've decided not to dive into an ATC project because with my foot switch operated power drawbar & TTS tooling .. tool changes only take seconds as it is. What I am working on instead is a swing-out touch plate that I want to automatically swing into position every time the machine goes to the Tool Change Position. After touching off the new tool & setting the TLO in the software I want it to retract. I'm using a pneumatic rotary actuator to make the moves so all I need is 1 relay to control a 2 way solenoid operated valve. What I'm not too sure of is how to get the tool change script to include that extra step. Wondering if you can offer any help on this?
gd.marsh
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Post by DaveCVI on Jun 18, 2012 19:10:28 GMT -8
Hi,
A couple of thoughts:
I think you'll want to still use the mach Stop&Wait Tool Change mode as that provides the opportunity for you to use the draw bar to change the tool etc.
Assuming stop&Wait, the question then becomes how to hook some custom script actions into the MSM tool change sequence. The use of event hooks by MSM make that easier than it would be with the stock mach M6 scripts. In general you want to read section 15.9.1 of the MSM user manual for more info.
There are three event hooks that come to mind as applicable to this situation:
a) M6STart and M6End user customization hooks (manual section 15.9.1.1.3) and
b) Pre-AutoTLO Measurement hook (Section 15.9.1.1.4 in the user manual).
I'm curious as to why you want to swing a TCP touch plate in and out of position... it seems to me that if the space where the plate will swing into is clear at tool change time then it's probably always clear...? It's not obvious to me what advantage the swing touch plate offers - and I like learning clever things that mach users dream up.
In any case, you could swing it into position with the M6Start user hook and back away with the M6End user hook.
One caution: you'll want the plate to be very rigid when in position. Any movement of the plate resulting from the tool touching it during the AutoTLO process will show up as an error amount in the measured length of the tool.
Dave
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Post by gdmarsh on Jun 18, 2012 21:02:43 GMT -8
Thanks Dave,
Oh yea, the manual .. Why didn't I think of that? I appreciate the pointers on where to look.
The main reason why I want to swing it in & out is because my TCP is X12,Y12,Z15 which on my machine is X@middle of table,Y@rear of table,Z@top of column. I want the TP to swing in about 6" below the spindle when in that position. (high enough to clear a vise & low enough for a TTS Tension/Compression tapping head to clear) I figure rather than take up any table space with a permanent mounted TP .. I would try this idea out. I know it's going to have to be rigid, but I believe I have a design that will work. Just have to get it all together & see!
Thanks again .. I may be back to you on this one, the mechanical I can handle, the software is not as easy for me.
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Post by DaveCVI on Jun 18, 2012 21:59:16 GMT -8
Ah, Ok I get it.
I'm so used to thinking of the TP as being on the table, I didn't think of placing it above the table. I like the idea as it could speed up the AutoTLO measurement by reducing the travel distance.
Let us know how it goes!
Dave
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Post by gdmarsh on Jun 28, 2012 5:46:35 GMT -8
I'm pretty sure I've read this info somewhere, but can't locate it now.
Is it OK to load a second copy of MSM on an computer in my office so I can work out my macros & such .. much easier than standing at the touch screen on the mill computer ..
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Post by DaveCVI on Jun 28, 2012 6:16:43 GMT -8
standard MSM licenses allow activation on two PCs. Many people do just what you asked about - so go ahead.
Dave
Sent from smart phone, please excuse brevity & typos
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Post by gdmarsh on Jun 30, 2012 21:03:09 GMT -8
So here's the prototype of what I'm trying to make work .. One of the issues is weather MSM uses the average of both touches on the plate or just the second .. the video explains why. Any info you can supply on this would be greatly appreciated! www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsB-9fDJzdYgd.marsh |
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Post by DaveCVI on Jun 30, 2012 22:15:27 GMT -8
Hi
I like it! When can I send the required dimensions for an arm for my mill? ;D ;D
And no worries re averaging - MSM only uses the result form the last probe operation (the first if only doing single probes, and the 2nd if doing double probes).
Dave
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Post by gdmarsh on Jul 3, 2012 13:26:59 GMT -8
One more question about timing if I may ..
From your previous suggestions & the manual, I managed to figure out the ProfileM6StartUserScript, ProfileM6EndUserScript, & M6PreAutoTLO to make this arm work. What I'm not sure how to do is change or adjust the timing of when it does. Swinging out is not a problem, but it doesn't want to swing back until after the spindle begins to spin up & the head begins to move back down into the cut. It hasn't crashed on me yet, but it's too close for comfort. Is there a way I can get the arm to return immediately after the touch off is complete so it is parked back along the back wall of the enclosure before the machine actually heads back into the cut?
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