Multiple Independant Z and C Axis Control Possible?

Yes, the multi-line boring heads on larger CNC wood routers would be a good analogy to the way I think I'd control the multiple placer heads on a pick and place. (I work with such routers a lot, but I know nothing about pick and place.)

I am very unfamiliar with how most pick and place hardware works though. Does each air actuated placing head have it's own C axis control? Is it a fine angular control or just 0, 90, 180.. indexing?

tommylight post=237331 userid=17274most wood machines have 20 or more drills on the same Z axis.
 

that's part of what I was thinking . I just haven't seen any LinuxCnC code showing how to deal with that challenge yet.
 

Todd wrote:

Yes, the multi-line boring heads on larger CNC wood routers would be a good analogy to the way I think I'd control the multiple placer heads on a pick and place. (I work with such routers a lot, but I know nothing about pick and place.)

I am very unfamiliar with how most pick and place hardware works though. Does each air actuated placing head have it's own C axis control? Is it a fine angular control or just 0, 90, 180.. indexing?
 

Any of the Pick and Place's I have seen use full Z control for placing smd parts using stepper or servo. The air actuated stuff is for simple glue or solder placing dispersion and don't need angle control. I should have clarified earlier. sorry.

Todd wrote:

Yes, the multi-line boring heads on larger CNC wood routers would be a good analogy to the way I think I'd control the multiple placer heads  (I work with such routers a lot, but I know nothing about pick and place.)

I am very unfamiliar with how most pick and place hardware works though.
 

I see Pick and Places as just another CNC but with some add-on's. My problem is I am still VERY inexperienced on the
software end of things. This forum has been a God send when it comes to that issue though.

Thank you to Todd Zuercher and tommlight your comments thus far did give me an idea. Although I haven't tested
any of this, it should work in theory . Use 1 air actuator  per placing head all placing heads can be connected to a
single C axis via cogged belt and pulley with splined shafts and all mounted to the Z axis. Since you can still
only place a single component at a time anyway you will only have to deal with C and Z offsets for each placing head.
That way the air actuators only needs to be responsible for full extend and full retract. The single Z axis would handle the
final precision heights.

Good question. I have never seen the one I have access to show G-code while its operating. I think even Openpnp
just uses coordinates for placing parts.but I am not sure