Are there any centroid (or ajax) users here with tool changing mill?

[Grifftek]

I have an Atrump b5ac machining center with 16 pos tool changer. I want to have the tool changer macro modified to allow me to use more than 16 tools. In otherwords, if I call a tool above the 16 bins, it will put the current tool away in a bin (if it came from a bin) and then ask you to insert the next tool

Id also like to have access to the tool eject button when setting offsets without exiting from the offset screen.

Anyone else have any input on this?

Thanks

Bill Griffin

[tsutt]

Ajax, no tool changer. But how do you like the atrump? Todd

[Grifftek]

I like the Atrump machines just fine. They have been very robust and accurate for my needs.

At my day job I have the Atrump B5AC w/Cantroid M400AC and a YCI Supermax Knee mill w/Centroid M50 control. BOth are running same rev software. The flat panel monitor on the M400 is awesome compared to the CRT on the other machine. In my little shop I have the Atrump B5ACW w/Cantroid M400AC. All machiens are 4 axis, the day job machines share a yuasa rotary table and my machine has the Centroid rotary table.

What kind of parts are you guys making?

Bill

[tsutt]

How About tech support, parts and service. Reason I ask is that were looking to get a cnc at work but they don't want spend a lot of money. and i have an ajax on my partner2 milltronics and out of the 6 or so controls that i have run i like this the best. Todd

[tsutt]

I make all kinds of different stuff, Airplane parts, hotrod parts,tooling for myself, 2d parts for work. got an injection mold place wants me to do some mold work, which i have never done before So i'll see where that goes. Is the post for your m50 the same as the m400? I have 3months of free sprutcam and thay only have the m50 post. What kind of parts are you making, especially with the 4th axe. never done that either, but i'm going to put one together for mine. Todd

[Grifftek]

Todd
My post is the same for both controls with the exception of spindle speed and some of the tool change stuff I believe.

Sprut cam is pretty neat, i have the dolphin 3d cam which is a renamed version of sprut cam.

I have only used the 4th axis on some pretty simple positioning parts. Have dreams of doing more with it, but the need hasnt come up yet.


You can see some of the parts I have machined at http://tinyurl.com/6t2oa

I use the machie in my shop for making parts for cnc retrofits and what ever else comes along. Here is one of the machines I am currently working on: http://tinyurl.com/dzlxv

Regards
Bill

[tsutt]

Wow! Very impressive. What control software are you using on the little dyna? Todd

[Grifftek]

I am using the ahha artisan software. I have been usint it for a very long time on my own machines as well as my customer machiens. I have everything from sherlines to 25 hp turret lathes and 2 sheetmetal punches automated with the software. I even have a Bridgeport BTC1 tool changing mill automated with it. Here is a cheesy video I made with the windows movie maker from digital camera video: http://tinyurl.com/a6a8p its about 20 mb so broadband is recommended.

You had asked about parts and services in a previous email which I failed to answer at 2am. I have had a couple of control issues that were handled by the local field service guy Doug Larson, Machines in Motion. As far as the machien goes, I have not had any problems requiring parts support.

Regards

Bill Griffin

[tsutt]

That was not a cheezy video. Thanks for the info. I really like my ajax conversion. Tool check has saved my butt several times. Todd

[Grifftek]

I just figured out that the tool check works while the program is running by mistake. Said WOW, thats a great feature wish I knew about it before. I always have kept my finger on the feed hold button the first time around.

I run everything through the verifier in my cam program so I rarely see a problem with my programs. What I do see is tools already set up may not be quite long enough or the depth of cut may be a littl etoo deep and I may hit the vise jaw.

Speaking of jaws, have you used any of the snap jaws http://www.snapjaws.com/
These things have paid for themselves many times over in time savings on projects. I can usually find a way to hold parts with some combination of jaws instead of making a fixture. And no parallels to dick with..... Maybe Im just spoiled

[tsutt]

I've seen them ,but never used them. Guess I better get some. I push my mill a little to hard sometimes and break a cutter, hit feed hold setup and touch off the new cutter hit resume BAM! right back to where you were. works great. Todd

[TR MFG]

grifftech,
Nice looking work.
We have a mill with an Ajax control, use it for all kinds of stuff. mold parts, electrodes and the like.