8 Spindle Gang Router

This 8 spindle gang router with 8 independent Z axis (using closed loop stepper motors), tandem servos for the Y axis gantry, and a servo on they X axis.
 
This machine has evolved a bit over time.  It was my very first Linuxcnc(EMC2) retrofit.  I have shared some details of it through the years.  Here is a link to what it looked like when I was first setting it up on Linuxcnc.
forum.linuxcnc.org/38-general-linuxcnc-q...-help?start=50#11052
The machine originally only had 3 joints, with a single servo moving a large (2ft x 8ft) aluminum plate up and down via a centrally mounted lead screw.  All 8 spindles were bolted to that plate with a hand actuated screw to fine tune each spindle's depth.  The Y axis was moved by a set of helical rack and pinion gears on each end of the gantry, connected together by a 12ft long torque tube drive shaft, then a 12:1 belt reduction to the servo motor.  The X axis was driven by a servo/lead screw combo.  After 20years of use all of the linear components needed refreshed, so we decided to redesign most of it.

X axis received the least change, changing from a high lead lead screw connected to the servo via a belt reduction, to a new 25mm x 5mm lead ball screw directly coupled to the servo, and new linear ways.

Y axis, got new larger linear ways, and replaced the rack and pinions with two 25mm x 10mm lead ball screws and 2:1 belt reduction to the old Y and former Z servos.

For the Zs, I removed the large 3/4inch thick by 2ft x 8ft plate, cut off 8 pieces 5inch x 24inch and milled them to mount a pair of linear ways and a ball screw for each spindle and a NEMA 23 closed loop stepper motor for each.
Here is a link to a Google photo album containing some photos of the pieces I milled for each of the 8 Z-axis joints.
photos.app.goo.gl/Tx2oYkS272xBUMvZ7

Then I'm attaching a copy of my config directory so others can see how I implemented the individual Z axis joints.  The Z axis is set up as a dummy master joint that automatically homes.  Each spindle joint is set up as an "extra" joint.  There is a GladeVCP panel that lets the operator enable and disable each of the spindles.  When a spindle is enabled, that spindle's Z-joint is connected to the dummy master's position plus a tool offset.  When it is disabled the spindle's joint is moved back up to it's home position.  This way only the spindles actually being used are ever moved with the Z axis. 

There are also buttons on the Glade panel for tool probing routines for each of the spindle Z-axis.  These disable all of the other spindle Z-axis and enable the one being probed, then sets the tool offset for that spindle according to the probe results.

Then I created a GladeVCP tab window for displaying and manipulating the tool offsets for each of the spindles.
 

 
 

I have sad news. The company I work for is going out of business. I worked on refitting this machine for a little over a year, in my spare time at work. And now it appears that I've completed it just in time to see it sold off (most likely at auction) before ever being put back into production. It's all very depressing.

The company buying us out has no interest in our production facility or machinery, and is merely buying our name and intellectual property. A different company who is buying the property (and all left over machinery) will not want to use it, so will most likely dump it at a dispersal auction after they take possession of the property. Considering the uniqueness of the machine I would not be surprised to see it cut up for scrap. I'm almost sadder about that, than having to find a new job.

Todd wrote:

most likely dump it at a dispersal auction after they take possession of the property

Buy it at auction and strip out the good parts?  You know nobody else will bid on it.

Or make an offer to the existing owner to purchase the components out of the machine before the deal is finalized.

Sorry to hear about the job and situation.

There are no "special" parts there that I want or are worth much on their own. It is all of the time I put into building it that I hate to see go for naught. (There is a lot of "me" in that machine.)

Todd wrote:

There are no "special" parts there that I want or are worth much on their own. It is all of the time I put into building it that I hate to see go for naught. (There is a lot of "me" in that machine.)

Gut-punch understood.

So sorry about that Todd.

Sorry to hear that Todd. I'm sure many of us who you have helped over the years will feel the same,