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Pneumatic ATC tool holder/rack

Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2022 7:21 pm
by ryanjg11
Finishing up a gantry-style CNC router build, using Avid PRO4896 hardware but my own control cabinet with Acorn. Also utilizing an ATC spindle. I'm interested in using the "dead space" on the surface to house a rack for my toolholders, akin to this example on YouTube:

I'm curious if anyone has done similar and might have ideas for the components and sensors involved, as well as how to interface with Acorn?

Re: Pneumatic ATC tool holder/rack

Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2022 9:44 pm
by avp
Man, I just got done doing exactly than. I can give you any info you may need.
Bill

Re: Pneumatic ATC tool holder/rack

Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2022 10:39 pm
by ryanjg11
Bill, wow! Looks to be very similar machines too, but you have a custom spindle mount?

Would love to know it all!

* What extrusion you're using
* How you are connecting it to the Avid frame
* What you're using for motion
* Sensors?
* CNC12 macros
* Bill of materials (now I'm just getting greedy)
* 3D models (now I'm just being ridiculous)

Re: Pneumatic ATC tool holder/rack

Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2022 11:07 pm
by avp
The whole machine is custom built. When I decided to do the ATC upgrade it kind of snowballed. I had to built the whole Z axis to accommodate the larger ATC spindle.

So the extrusion for the tool holders is 2"x4". It is mounted to the y rail extrusion with custom brackets and linear rails, driven by an air cylinder on either side.

There are not any sensors involved for this. It's just a few air solenoids connected to the acorn relay board to control the rack extend and retract and the dust shoe lift and drop.

As for the macros. All of it is being handled by swissi's probapp with the ATC add on module. It is a wonderfully written app for both probing which I do not use at the moment and all the tool offset heights, coordinate positions and macros to go along with it. I would be pretty lost without that app. It integrated into CNC12 real nice.

This was quite an endeavor, I can't even begin to think about how many parts I either built or bought for this. haha
IMG_5326.jpg
IMG_5325.jpg

Re: Pneumatic ATC tool holder/rack

Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2022 2:15 pm
by RogDC
Here's a link to my post with an older video with my pneumatic sliding ATC Rack, need to find the time to put an updated video up with the upgrades to the dust shoe for laser, mister and dust blower.

https://centroidcncforum.com/viewtopic. ... 350#p47350

Avid Pro 60x72 machine, CNC Depot S30C Spindle, Acorn, Ether1616, and ClearPath Nema34s.