WHOA! Power drawbar/toolchanger for X2??

[InspirationTool]

Holy #$%#$%!!!! Have you all seen this??

http://www.littlemachineshop.com/pro...ProductID=2936

http://www.littlemachineshop.com/pro...ProductID=2937


-Jeff

PS: I searched cnczone to see if anyone mentioned this, and they haven't yet.

[digits]

Originally Posted by InspirationTool Holy #$%#$%!!!! Have you all seen this?? http://www.littlemachineshop.com/pro...ProductID=2936 http://www.littlemachineshop.com/pro...ProductID=2937 -Jeff PS: I searched cnczone to see if anyone mentioned this, and they haven't yet.

That is very nice! It looks like it'd preclude the use of a belt drive though...

How hard would it be to make a powered drawbar with a meaty stepper motor?

[InspirationTool]

According to the PDF, you can use the Sterling belt drive kit with the power drawbar.

[daedalus]

thanks for the link, they look great! do you know who manufacturers them?

[digits]

Originally Posted by InspirationTool According to the PDF, you can use the Sterling belt drive kit with the power drawbar.

D'oh - I just looked at the pics oops!

[daedalus]

does anyone know roughly how much force the compression spring washers in this produce to hold the tormach collet when running?

[philbur]

CAD drawings only. Why no photos. At what stage of development is it. Is there a running example. How about a video.

Its backordered so who out there has one. On sale as well.

My sceptical nature must be showing by now I guess.

Regards
Phil

Originally Posted by InspirationTool Holy #$%#$%!!!! Have you all seen this?? http://www.littlemachineshop.com/pro...ProductID=2936 http://www.littlemachineshop.com/pro...ProductID=2937 -Jeff PS: I searched cnczone to see if anyone mentioned this, and they haven't yet.

[bill south]

Looks like the power drawbar/tool changer costs more than the mill. Go figure!
Don't forget the $$$$ for the Tormach tool holders. Guess I need a second (or maybe 3rd) job!
Bill

[daedalus]

well its too expensive for me, but i would like to build something similar.

[digits]

Originally Posted by daedalus well its too expensive for me, but i would like to build something similar.

I hear that! Do you think a stepper might be up to doing the drawbar? I'd rather it were screwed in and out than just pulled back in by a spring...

[austin.mn]

from the looks of it i would say that the drawbar itself is springloaded and that is a fat air cylinder on top of it.

i have been wanting to build something similar, but i just haven't put down the cash for the tormach tooling yet.. maybe someday, just not today.

[philbur]

I think the main issue is that the driver needs to be disconnected from the draw bar when the spindle is rotating. This is easily done with a spring and air cylinder. It becomes mechanically more complex if you want to - connect to draw-bar, rotate, then disconnect. Of course it is doable but coming up with a simple reliable mechanical system will challenge your design skills.

The down side of the air cylinder/spring arrangement is you need a compressed air supply and, unless you complicate the design, the considerable force require to compress the spring when releasing is taken on the bearings.

I guess you could replace the air cylinder with a stepper motor combined with some kind of a cam/lever arrangement in order to gain the considerable mechanical advantage necessary to compress the spring. But that still leaves the spring.

Regards
Phil

Originally Posted by digits I hear that! Do you think a stepper might be up to doing the drawbar? I'd rather it were screwed in and out than just pulled back in by a spring...