Does Camsoft support "hot swap" tool changers

[cnc-it]

Just wondering if anyone has done a hot swap tool changer yet with Camsoft.
The kind of system that puts the tool back in the next available pot and remembers where it has put it for the next time it calls the same tool.

I'm looking at a floor standing unit Something like this to give me more tools..
Not using Camsoft but this might tempt me to change!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

John.

[Karl_T]

The beauty of Camsoft is that any sort of custom routine is easy to do.

That said, the closest empty spot is always going to be where you just took the tool from. If you needed to get tricky you could look at all empty spots and find the empty spot closest to your next tool and preposition the tool changer while you're still cutting.

Large changers from the era of the one pictured often ran only one direction. Rebuilding the unit for both directions could save a ton of tool change time.

Karl

[cnc-it]

Thanks Karl. The type I had in mind like you rightly say puts the used tool back in the pot the new tool is taken out of and updates the tool library to show tool in it's new carosel slot but with the same tool number.

It's how all machines seem to do it these days but I have seen 80's machines with this method too so it's nothing new.

That said a slower system that puts the tool back where it came from would be much easier to programme I expect!

YouTube- 0.9 Second Tool Change on a Makino Horizontal Machining Center Automatic Tool Changer (ATC)

YouTube- 0.9 Second Tool Change on a Makino Horizontal Machining Center Automatic Tool Changer (ATC)

John.

[camsoft]

We do offer 2 pre-written logic routines that put the tool back in the next available pot and remembers where it has put it for the next time it calls the same tool called "random access" tool changer routines that are fully user
customizable.

These include chain driven tool changer routines much like the one in the photo. There are also hydraulic turrets, ones for un-equal tool spacing and routines takes the shortest route to next tool.

Tech Support
CamSoft Corp.
support@camsoftcorp.com
PH 951-674-8100
Fax 951-674-3110
www.cnccontrols.com

[cnc-it]

Thanks guys random access was the word I was looking for..and now I know I can do this with Camsoft sounds great.

Does Camsoft also do pitch error comp along an axis travel like the Fanuc controls ?

John.

[Karl_T]

Originally Posted by cnc-it Does Camsoft also do pitch error comp along an axis travel like the Fanuc controls ? John.

you betcha

Karl

[HillBilly]

These type of toolhangers require the tool changer to do operations while the CNC is preforming motion to save time. For instance they usually prestage tools with a T# call with no M6. It would seem imposible for the PC to process the I/O events for this while issuing motion commands to the Galil, especially if the G code were small segment code.

The non random ones would start machining as soon as the new tool was in the spindle and the PLC would take care of putting the old tool back where it goes in the magazine.

Darek

[HuFlungDung]

Originally Posted by HillBilly These type of toolhangers require the tool changer to do operations while the CNC is preforming motion to save time. For instance they usually prestage tools with a T# call with no M6. It would seem imposible for the PC to process the I/O events for this while issuing motion commands to the Galil, especially if the G code were small segment code. The non random ones would start machining as soon as the new tool was in the spindle and the PLC would take care of putting the old tool back where it goes in the magazine. Darek

I'm not sure of the technical details, but I'd conjecture that you could put some logic in the timer.fil that will execute simultaneously with a running program. Of course, you'd probably want to provide an exit for any logic loop designed to oversee completion of prestaging.

I do make use of the timer to get real time rpm off the spindle encoder (lathe). The logic runs whenever the spindle is turning, so gcode is being executed.

I think most of the other camsoft provided files tend to execute in sequential fashion, for example the gcode, mcode or macro.fils

[camsoft]

We offer some further advantages that allow the user to go beyond the 256 point equally spaced pitch table Fanuc provides.

Our tables break the 256 point limits and allow un-equally spaced compensation point to be entered.

We also have other error correction tables that work in conjunction at the same time with the pitch error table.

1. Bi-directional lead screw error compensation

2. Pitch error variation when the ball screw threads are not of equal proportion

3. Lead screw bowing compensation for bent screws

4. Misaligned or titled angle comp when the screw in mounted at an angle

5. Reverse direction error compensation

6. Volumemetric 3D compensation for table sagging in the Z axis


Tech Support
CamSoft Corp.
support@camsoftcorp.com
PH 951-674-8100
Fax 951-674-3110
www.cnccontrols.com

[camsoft]

Yes, it is possible to perform the tool changer sequence while cutting in a routine that runs separately & independently from the other processes. We have been doing this for Tool Changers, Pallet changers, Part catchers, Robotic arms ect...at the same time XYZABC axes are cutting the part for several years.

The system can process many events at the same time in everyday situations within the INPUTIO.FIL or TIMER.FIL files as HuFlungDung mentions. We posted yesterday how the CNC can do more than one task at a time.

When a routine needs special attention or focus on a task the BACKGROUND command will process a logic sequence in the background while cutting the part. There's also a POSITION command that can move another separate axis for example a tool changer servo while XYZ are cutting with independent motion and control.

These commands are unique commands to CamSoft's Professional version.

Recently we showed a gentleman how his CNC could do texting as fast as a school girl of cycle status information to his cell phone in a background process while the CNC was cutting.

Tech Support
CamSoft Corp.
support@camsoftcorp.com
PH 951-674-8100
Fax 951-674-3110
www.cnccontrols.com

[cnc-it]

I see so the carousel chain could be putting the next tool in position whilst the present tool is still machining..that way the tool change arm will do an instant straight swap when the tool change is called in the G code and not have to wait for the carousel to position the tool before doing a tool change..sounds great.

The pitch error comp sound excellent also..seems to have everything that the Fanuc controls have.

At the moment my encoders go to the master board on my Fanuc and there is a frequency to velocity converter so the control can read speed and position from one encoder..no tach needed.

Does the Galil card do the same thing..I just wire my encoders to it and it controls the drive accordingly..?
I have Fanuc differential encoders 2000ppr and analogue dc drives.

John.

[HillBilly]

I'm not saying it can't be done, I would love to see the code to do it.

What I am saying "by the time you get it working right you will wish you had used a PLC instead". That is based on my experience with your software and these type of tool changers.

Darek