My take on an ATC

[a.ash]

I just noticed that the last PDF I posted was the wrong one. So here is a corrected one showing mounting to the mill and the air cylinder for extend/retract.

[rwskinner]

Looking good. If you hadn't ordered your stuff yet you can get away with three linear slide blocks just fine, two on the top and one on bottom or visa versa. That is all Tormach used. Also, I found the extruded aluminum channel with aluminum rails molded in like Tormach but as cheap as my setup was I didn't figure it was worth going that route. It would save a few bolts and machine work though.

Also, I haven't had any issues with sag so I'm not using a the bottom brace going to the column. Your aluminum profile for the mount ought to be plenty stout as long as you make sure your bolts won't allow stuff to slide or come loose.

The weakest link in my entire setup is my triangle shape mount that mounts it all to the column and honestly that was due to me adding a 15# cover to the thing.

Richard

[miljnor]

I noticed all the Tool changers I have seen on these forums use timing belts on the rotation.

I kind of like the way Haas does it better.

They make a circular disk with a pin offset in it that spins on a motor. and a pulley hooked up to the tool carousel that has grooves in it. For every revolution the pinned disk spins it moves the carousel 1 tool position.

[Starleper1]

I noticed all the Tool changers I have seen on these forums use timing belts on the rotation.

I kind of like the way Haas does it better.

They make a circular disk with a pin offset in it that spins on a motor. and a pulley hooked up to the tool carousel that has grooves in it. For every revolution the pinned disk spins it moves the carousel 1 tool position.

This is called a Geneva mechanism. Many commercial machine builders use this for carousel style tool changers.

[a.ash]

Looking good. If you hadn't ordered your stuff yet you can get away with three linear slide blocks just fine, two on the top and one on bottom or visa versa. That is all Tormach used. Also, I found the extruded aluminum channel with aluminum rails molded in like Tormach but as cheap as my setup was I didn't figure it was worth going that route. It would save a few bolts and machine work though.

Also, I haven't had any issues with sag so I'm not using a the bottom brace going to the column. Your aluminum profile for the mount ought to be plenty stout as long as you make sure your bolts won't allow stuff to slide or come loose.

The weakest link in my entire setup is my triangle shape mount that mounts it all to the column and honestly that was due to me adding a 15# cover to the thing.

Richard

Richard,

Already have the slides and bearings. I needed to order some bearings for another project so I just ordered everything at the same time. My slides are 20" long that I am going to cut down to 14".

I agree with you that sag will probably not be an issue. I just threw in the diagonal brace as a "just in case".

Thanks for the advice however. Now questions for you.

1) Why did you use a 495ozin motor? With a 4:1 reduction I was guessing
that about half of that torque would be all that is needed.

2) How do you open the door on your cover?

3) Not being a Mach expert, is it possible for Mach to communicate via a serial port in the macros for the tool changing?

Alan

[rwskinner]

I picked the motor to fit my 72 volt power supply by doing the Gecko calculations.

The cover pivots off the center from around the spindle cartridge. I have a lever that bolts to the cover then bolts to the stationary slide base. It's a little tricky to get the length and placement just right so the ATC has full travel and the door opens and closes all the way.

I'm no Mach expert but yes, you can communicate with the serial port from inside a macro....

Attached is a macros that shows you how...

[Mad Welder]

.......Mad Welder: What part of Ireland? I spent 2 weeks in Dublin and Galway in 1998 and have to say I loved the place.

Aah but sure isn't it nice when our overseas neighbours' (neighbors') mention our little emerald isle......me the sunny south east....and Galway is a lovely spot too and this year again the Volvo Open round the world ocean race has a leg end in Galway....

and on a more serious note....I can't wait to see the finished project....