I am a total newb, but I was hoping to use my arduino mega as an automatic tool changer for my cnc mill. I would be using this similar to a plc, and would have to make it compatible with mach3 kind of. I believe I can use mach3 to send signals to the device letting it know when to make a tool change and what tool. Any thoughts and opinions would be greatly appreciated.
good luck
I don't understand the role you imagine for the Arduino?
Can you not do it directly with Mach3 - I thought that could do EVERYTHING?
In mechanical terms, how is a tool changed on your machine?
...R
If you have all the mechanical devices to do the tool changing, and they are all electrically controllable, there is no good reason why you couldn't control that process with the arduino.
the process needs to be defined.
in most tool changers, the spindle with tool is moved to a location, the tool is removed.
the spindle is moved to a second location, a new tool is inserted.
the means of unlocking the first tool and locking the second tool are often done with either levers and solenoids or by the movement of the axis pushing on a fork that releases a locking ring.
if you work out the mechanical details of the locking mechanism, you might find you can do it by moving the axis of the spindle. or, you may find that the signal to change tools can be applied directly to the device.
if your design has more complexity, there is no reason you could not use an Arduino.
it can be done and its has been done.
just work out what type of tool changer you wont.
what moving parts it needs.
it can be done through modbus or plc.
**Mach 3 is a dumb system it needs to be told what to do and it will do it, yes it can do everything if it has all the bits a bobs on it to do every thing. **
Ok what I'm wanting to do is use the arduino like a PLC kind of sort of. The ATC will be an arm with a rotary tool holder all the spindle move will be is to be still. I would use just 2 axis but I have every intentions of building a full trunnion table. So I found out through the modbus on mach3 it can do a lot of things including the ATC but the only walk through I've seen have been with PLC's. Basically when prompted with the m6 T? The automatic tool changer will move the arm to where all tools can be accessed by the rotary tool holding plate rotating the proper tool into position. That being said the arduinos only responsibilities will be to always turn the arms motor to the exact same position and rotate the tool holding plate to the right tool position. I'm under the impression this could be accomplished through the modbus on mach3 but other than that I barely know up from down. Thanks for all the speedy responses sorry it took me so long to get back on here. I'm busy getting a house ready for our first baby. The wife and I are super excited. Thanks for the help everybody hopefully I can start my new business venture soon if I get this ATC figured out.
Of course the z axis will have to move to the proper position too but that has nothing to do with the arduino.
There is at least one vital piece of information missing from your description...
What is it that makes the tool holder move?
Is it a stepper motor? Is there a stepper motor drver board? Do you have links to the datasheets for those products?
...R
he will be using modbus to run the tool changer as that work on mach3 he has found the info he needs on mach3 forum for modbus he just wont suggestions of how to go about it like go look hear g0704.com there are plans for hosss atc in his web site. search through cnczone and mach3 all the info for atcs is there. info to get the arduino working properly is here look up modbus
http://www.cadcamcadcam.com/toolchanger.aspx
this style will move the spindle over the open slot, drop the existing tool, retract the Z, move to the selected slot, drop the Z onto the tool, then lock.
all control from inside of Mach.
only needs to make and break solenoids to lock and unlock the tool in the spindle.
the rotary holder still uses the spindle mounted lock/unlock. the only difference is that the tool holder has to be presented to the Z. if it retracts fully from the work envelope or is in a section of the work envelope would only add some small complexity.
mechanical locking to hold the position would be important. be that by a motor or alignment pins.
LMS used to offer one. not sure why they discontinued or who made it (they only sell stuff that others make)
There was an ATC that was offered as plans at one time. due to the complexity, I think few were ever successfully built.