Using a vertical and a horizontal spindle with Acorn

[Timothy Clement]

Hello all,
I am using Acorn mill ultimate to control a router with vertical and horizontal spindles. Vertical spindle programs run in the usual way in the XY plane but the horizontal spindle set up has been challenging. I have attempted to set up the horizontal spindle for YZ plane machining by configuring motor labels to Z, X and Y for axes 1, 2, and 3.This works fine for linear moves but even with G19 plane set circular interpolation (with I, J, K) is not handled properly. Is there a solution for this? Should I instead use an entirely different approach to machine with the horizontal axis? Transforming the wcs doesn't seem to be a viable alternative.
Thanks

[suntravel]

I never configured a machine this way, but from the manual TWCS is made for a articulated head rotating in B-Axis.

So I would try to configure the gantry as Y axis and moving the gantry as X-axis.

But since it is designed for the 5th axis B, not sure it will work with a 4 axis Acorn.

Uwe

[Black Forest]

Do you want to use both spindles in the same job? If not you can configure your machine with two different configurations. I asked this question regarding my universal milling machine. I was told to have two totally different machine configurations of the Acorn. I never set it up as I have a horizontal mill also.

[Timothy Clement]

Thanks for the replies. I have been experimenting with the two machine configurations approach but without a workable regime yet. If I am successful I will post some info about what worked.

[suntravel]

With a second setup it is easy, use axis configuration so Z is in direction with the horizontal spindle.

You can use a batch file to rename the c:/cncm folders from vertical to horizontal.

Drawback is you have to restart Acorn anytime you want to use the horizontal spindle.

Uwe

[Timothy Clement]

Hello all,
I have had success with vertical and horizontal spindles by having separate cncm files as suggested by Marty and suntravel. They have to be renamed every time I switch from one to the other but that is doable. I also had to install a bank of double throw switches to switch the signal from Acorn to different axes (with the Acorn turned off). To use the horizontal spindle for the yz plane I have x become y and y become z and z become x. This works and allows proper circular interpolation which had been an issue with another approach. It does make for some confusion when doing the setup in the wizard but it is all doable.The vcp is not labelled properly for jogging in this situation but if you think of it from the perspective of the spindle it is right.
So now I can once again cut compound angled tenons on long pieces of wood with no problem. Thanks for the input.
Tim

[cnckeith]

Hello all,
I have had success with vertical and horizontal spindles by having separate cncm files as suggested by Marty and suntravel. They have to be renamed every time I switch from one to the other but that is doable. I also had to install a bank of double pole switches to switch the signal from Acorn to different axes (with the Acorn turned off). To use the horizontal spindle for the yz plane I have x become y and y become z and z become x. This works and allows proper circular interpolation which had been an issue with another approach. It does make for some confusion when doing the setup in the wizard but it is all doable.The vcp is not labelled properly for jogging in this situation but if you think of it from the perspective of the spindle it is right.
So now I can once again cut compound angled tenons on long pieces of wood with no problem. Thanks for the input.
Tim

cool. lets see some video!
related...you can edit the vcp to your liking on each install.
https://www.centroidcnc.com/centroid_di ... manual.pdf