We want to start using the ATC. When the ATC is under the spindle the Z-axis should move down onto the tool.
We are trying to find from where to set this distance. We checked the program and found references to stg25. We could not find this label in program.
Where can we find the associate file which contain the stages?
Is there a place where to set the Z axis distance?.
We tried M codes 21 (Move head Home) and 22 (Move tool change position) the machine did not do any movements?
Regards
Reno Cassar
Finding out how the ATC work
Moderator: cnckeith
Re: Finding out how the ATC work
All of this depends very much on what PLC program you are running. That in turn depends on what type of control you have and what type of machine you have.
Suppose, for example, that you have a late-model import VMC with an "umbrella" type tool changer; and that you have an M400S control based on the All-in-one DC control unit plus a PLCADD1616 board; and that you are running the October 2012 version of Centroid's "allin1dc-atc-umbrella.src" PLC program.
In that case, STG25 is named "ATC_MOVE_Z_AXIS", and signifies the point in the PLC program where, having received an M6 request and verified that various tool-change components are in their ready state (drawbar clamped, carousel out, carousel aligned at a tool pocket, no left-over flags from previous tool-change operations still set), the PLC signals to the M6 CNC macro that it is time to make sure the head is moved to the carousel level.
Axis movement is in the hands of the M6 macro file, named "mfunc6.mac". The M6 macro which is bundled with allin1dc-atc-umbrella.src appears not to use M21 and M22. Instead it uses G30 when it is time to move to the carousel level; and G53Z0 when it is time to move up to clear the tapers.
Most Centroid ATC programs -- even those that do define and use M21 and M22 codes for head movement -- use the G30 position (reference return point #2) as the tool-change level. Therefore you need to figure out (by advancing the carousel and very carefully jogging down on a tool holder which has had the retention knob removed) what the appropriate Z level is for tool changing, then enter that value (in Machine Coordinates, measured down from the machine home position) as the Z position under return point #2 (G30) on the return points menu. That is found at F1/Setup -> F1/Part -> F9/WCS -> F1/Return.
Suppose, for example, that you have a late-model import VMC with an "umbrella" type tool changer; and that you have an M400S control based on the All-in-one DC control unit plus a PLCADD1616 board; and that you are running the October 2012 version of Centroid's "allin1dc-atc-umbrella.src" PLC program.
In that case, STG25 is named "ATC_MOVE_Z_AXIS", and signifies the point in the PLC program where, having received an M6 request and verified that various tool-change components are in their ready state (drawbar clamped, carousel out, carousel aligned at a tool pocket, no left-over flags from previous tool-change operations still set), the PLC signals to the M6 CNC macro that it is time to make sure the head is moved to the carousel level.
Axis movement is in the hands of the M6 macro file, named "mfunc6.mac". The M6 macro which is bundled with allin1dc-atc-umbrella.src appears not to use M21 and M22. Instead it uses G30 when it is time to move to the carousel level; and G53Z0 when it is time to move up to clear the tapers.
Most Centroid ATC programs -- even those that do define and use M21 and M22 codes for head movement -- use the G30 position (reference return point #2) as the tool-change level. Therefore you need to figure out (by advancing the carousel and very carefully jogging down on a tool holder which has had the retention knob removed) what the appropriate Z level is for tool changing, then enter that value (in Machine Coordinates, measured down from the machine home position) as the Z position under return point #2 (G30) on the return points menu. That is found at F1/Setup -> F1/Part -> F9/WCS -> F1/Return.