Proper methods for a lathe tool changer?

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10 years 6 months ago - 10 years 6 months ago #73065 by Fastest1
I am very new to LinuxCnc. I had quite a bit of experience in Mach3. There is no similarity between the 2 that I can see. Just different.

Presently I have LCNC version 2.7.4 installed and connected via parallel port to a Dyna Mechtronics DM3000 with a 6 position turret tool changer.
I have control of X and Z,. Limits and homing are working as intended. My spindle is operable and accurate to within a few rpm's with no index sensor so far. That was all pretty easy to set up and was similar to Mach.

I am not sure of exactly how to obtain or set up control of the 3rd axis (tool changer). It appears I might have to use Gmoccapy and or Glade to customize my GUI. If this is the case. Is the macro that I used in Mach able to be used with LCNC? It would seem the commands and GCode would be the same. Is there an advantage to using Glade or Gmoccapy? Is one safer?
Last edit: 10 years 6 months ago by Fastest1.

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10 years 6 months ago #73074 by BigJohnT
I used Classicladder to handle the tool change on my Harding CHNC.
gnipsel.com/shop/hardinge/hardinge.xhtml

JT

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10 years 6 months ago #73107 by andypugh

Fastest1 wrote: I am not sure of exactly how to obtain or set up control of the 3rd axis (tool changer). It appears I might have to use Gmoccapy and or Glade to customize my GUI. If this is the case. Is the macro that I used in Mach able to be used with LCNC? It would seem the commands and GCode would be the same. Is there an advantage to using Glade or Gmoccapy? Is one safer?


It is hard to know how to control the tool changer without a little more information on the tool changer hardware and how it is configured.

Is it configured as a G-code controlled axis, or as a separate motor? How does the changer report-back carousel position?

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10 years 6 months ago #73120 by Fastest1
Andy, Thanks for the question. Sorry I didn't provide the info. The lathe itself is a Dyna Mechtronics DM3000
It is a 6 position vertically oriented changer. In the past when working with Mach I had it configured as an axis with steppers. The turret rotates 60 degrees per tool, then backs up against a pawl. Though the changer itself does have some various types of switches and solenoids that would even allow bidirectional access to tools. I have never seen anyone use it that way. I am not even sure I ever saw them do it running the original software (which I never had). To this date I have never had verification of tool position. Merely verify the correct tool was indicated at start up and work away.
During my conversion I have equipped the cabinet with the proper power supply and relay to operate the solenoid for the future. I do have a working copy of the Mach tool changer macro if that would help.
I have no clue as to how to rewrite a macro that would select which direction the turret would rotate for the fastest tool change.
I am using a Leadshine MX3660. I have the tool changers steppers connected on pins 6&7 (step/direction)

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10 years 6 months ago #73122 by andypugh
A stepper backing-up against a pawl sounds a lot like the Boxford changer:

wiki.linuxcnc.org/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?Contri...oolchanger_component

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10 years 6 months ago #73124 by Fastest1
That does sound like a possibility with a few changes due to the 8 vs 6 tool changers.

Now if I can only figure out what to do with all of those files and how.

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