Battwell wrote:are you trying to make it hot swap like the haas machines?
this is basically how i have my linear rack set to work- but everything is tracked and written to profile as the m6 progresses
mainly so if something goes wrong during a change- the macro has already written the status of each slot- ie tool 6 in slot 9 or slot 9 empty and available.
all the cam programs ive used only call the tool number- so thats all i look for to confirm the correct tools are available for the program running (loaded in a slot)
my carousel changer is being modified to this method too. (doesnt have a hot swap arm ) also doesnt have tool in slot sensors so the content must be tracked in software.
i just use field numbers for each slot and read and write to these. the length/diameter is read from tool table - as tool number after the tool change and probing if these values are 0.
( i started all this when we only had 20 tools and no slot numbers- but decided it was a nice easy way to go with it all- and pretty bombproof so far)
at the moment- apart from running the carousel motor to the next tool required before or after a change this can all be done in uccnc quite easily. ( ie motor is not out of bounds)- but hey-that only takes a second.
ps. i laugh at all the chaps who say they are going to use acrn to run their complex machines- good luck with only a few io and a silly complex scripting language.
That is the eventual plan - Haas like ferris wheel and dual arm. But as I mentioned in an earlier post, just feeling out what works, how difficult the coding will be and the best methods to run the ATC. Sounds like maybe staying all in UCCNC might be easier than running a stand alone pic or arduino for the actual change process. The thing about it is I'd really like to stick either to all 24v or pneumatic (which will also be 24v solenoids). My thought was why have two components when you can do it with one. A 2" linear actuator is pretty cheap, use a stepper for turning, run it and all functions required from an Arduino and only use UCCNC to drive the ferris wheel and tell the arduino, tools there go change it. I don't have specific plans for 5th axs anytime soon, but just can't see wasting an axis for the arm. Or go full air with an air rotary actuator and cylinder, but then we still have to control them all via solenoids. Not sure if there is any real advantage other than the linear actuator is pretty slow moving the arm up and down (5 secs), which isn't that big of a deal. So sorta curious what other folks are using for arm rotation and pull up/down?
So is your hot swap code in the macro section by chance? Hoping this weekend to get in some play time with UCCNC macros. While I've not written any from scratch, I've modified several to suite my needs. Trying to link up all my computers right now....freakn damn Win10. I don't feel like working on the computers in the tool room...LOL...so remoting them all. Screw it, think I'm just going to use TeamViewer as the Win10 built in remote desktop sux.
Yeah, I think a lot of people buying Acorns have no idea what a mess they're getting in to. 8 - I/O sux on all but the most basic setups. I'm using all my inputs between the turret, dual Z ref homing and a couple other things. LOL...they've also been promising an I/O addon card for well over a year and still nothing. To me, everything about Acorn seems beta (which is funny as I'm in their beta program and see what messes they create).