Dual Z axis and Dual Spindle

[Adamj12b]

I am working on a project for my knee mill where I am going to be mounting a high speed spindle next to the actual spindle. I will use this for finish pass's and running small cutters.

First question I have is how can I set it up so that I just tell mach 3 to use a different tool, which will be in the high speed spindle, and have it automatically offset for it?

I am also working on making the machine a dual Z axis. I already am using the knee as the Z but I am working on doing the quill up also.

Second question I have is, How can I get mach 3 to recognize the code that it is reading and use the different Z's accordingly? I want the knee to be used for pocketing and rough moves, then want to use the quill for drilling and finner Z moves like threading.

Are these things possible? -Adam

[ger21]

For your first question, you might want to use the swapaxis command, and then call a work offset. That should allow you to cut with the other spindle without changing the code.

The second one is trickier. You may be able to do it similar to the first way. Have the knee be the B or C axis, and the quill the Z. Whereever you want to switch, do a Swapaxis again.

[Adamj12b]

Is there any way I can do the answer to the first question automatically? Like inside a macro or a brain or something? I dont want to have to make the code special for the machine, just have to run it and let it take care of it all.

-Adam

[ger21]

I think so. You'd use two macro's, one to swap the axis and change the offset, and another to reset the axis swap and change the offset back.