retract button on Delta 20

[dingo0722]

Can some one explane what this does and how to use it?

[jagardner4]

Both the mill and lathe version of the control have Retract buttons, but they function quite differently. Are you talking about a mill or a lathe control?

[dingo0722]

Mill.

thanks

[jagardner4]

From the Delta 20 Customer Information Manual (CIM):

'While running the program, the RETRACT pushbutton will withdraw the tool from a quill cycle feed. If you retract while tapping, the spindle direction will be reversed as the tap is retracted. The tool withdrawal motion continues as long as the button is pressed. When released, the control will revert to MOTION STOP.'

The quill cycles being referred to are either G81 - G89 if you are using G code programming, or G1 - G8 if you are using a Position Event (event type 0) in conversational.

[dingo0722]

good to know. I give it a try. I was hopping it woud allow you to change a tool in the event of a tool failure without having to reload code

[jagardner4]

Unfortunately changing out a broken tool will depend on how the control was interfaced to your machine. The 'Retract' pushbutton will move the Z axis away from the part and drop the control out of cycle. You would then need to physically change the tool, presumably by shutting the spindle off and using a manual tool unclamp/clamp button. If you have not pressed the control's 'Reset' button, then you should be able to re-start the program by simply pressing 'Cycle Start.'

A couple things to be mindful of:

The control will try to finish the block that was interrupted. To get the control to skip to the next block, press 'Abort Event' before 'Cycle Start.'

If the tool is not the same length (and length is important), you may have to adjust the tool length compensation in Mode 6. The new value then has to be activated. Under this circumstance, it would be best to sequence number search to a "safe start block" that re-establishes modal M codes, tool length and diameters, etc., then go back into cycle with the 'Cycle Start' pushbutton.

I recommend testing this scenario without a part or tool in place so that you know which buttons to press and in what sequence.