How to build ATC Carousel in linuxcnc ?

This is very helpful, thanks.

I think I'll setup in the following way:
- make the axis B as carousel stepper
- override the M6 command so that it will figure out which tool it try to move to and issue command like G0 B3 to move pocket to position 3
- more spindle movement and drawer bar command to pick up the tool

now, that will make carousel as a standard axis in the UI right? Is there anyway I can hide it as a regular axis from UI?

thanks

Hi Andy,

I'm following your carousel setup, I have a stepper to go into position for my ATC that is not set up as an axis. I also dont have an encoder set up(just home) for this stepper. Is it still possible to use the component?

If not, how can I drive the stepper fast from my gcode? I'm looping this but the dwell does not seem to go small enough, my stepper is still slow,no matter how low I go:
M64 P0;ON
G4 P0.00002
M65 P0;OFF
G4 P0.00001

Thanks

Some reason I didnt get a notification of this reply. I just ended up wasting an axis on my carousel and making it servo. I'll probably never get around to making this a 5 axis machine anyway. If I do, Ill look into this component again. Thanks!

eneias_eringer wrote:

Look at my!!!

I use subroutines like Andypugh post !!

I have a major question. I see you are using a bt30 spindle and toolholders. I am looking to buy one myself, but how do you align the toolholder with the spindle so that the forks fit (aligning those notches ) and the tool can be fixed. I can't really find this googling. Is the spindle handling this itself by turning the toolholder till it fits or do you need to set them perfectly in the toolholder and the spindle orients always the same way or how is this working because my second way of thinking seems like a problem going to happen.

Thx, so it has to be placed in the correct position. Thanks that explains the next point of action.

I don't mean to hi-jack this thread. I am planning on building my own vertical ATC for my mill. Mine will be similar / close to the org. from the manufacturer. The mill has an extended X axis to reach the tool changer.

Picture from the manufacturer:

It's vertical 2 by X Tool Changer. So, for example 24 tools in total: tools 1 - 12 on the left side and tools 13 - 24 on the right.

Still trying to figure out what the best approach would be accomplish this type of tool changer.

Any feedback is welcome.