ATC Macro / PLC Help please <success!>

[Chaz]

Hey Chaz and Graham, finally ive made it to this stage! its been a long journey lol
I think im using a similar atc to you guys, boxford 125 - no sensors just an axis and pawl to back up onto.
Is this macro complete? I dont understand most of the parameters yet.

Ive yet to learn where to put this yet, its my next job, I just wanted to ask first if this is working as is or if i need to add anything for when I do ?

Hi, it does work, but its clunky and you need to be sure to switch your machine off when the turret is in position 8 etc so that the maths works when you need to restart it etc.

Thanks Chaz and thanks for doing the hard work, clunky or not if it works it works! there is a note in the code that makes me think ive another step other than adding this into the plc, "Turns/rev must be configured 1 = 1 turret position change" . I assume I need another code section to add the 3rd axis too? Maybe i'll read back through the thread and ask questions after eh!

Read through the full thread. What this means is that in your Axis setup, you determine a turns ratio of 1. You have to set the 'steps' (not the Mach 3 way) to ensure that A1 to A2 does move the turret 1 tool position. Check the earlier pics for wizard setup. Not complex at all.

[Chaz]

Couldnt find a pic, so just hacked someone else's quickly.

Basically the 3rd or 4th Axis must be marked as A.

And you need to set the numbers so moving from A1 to A2 allows 1 movement of the ATC. In my case I made the one number 1, and then just kept changing the question mark one until I got the ratio right.

[osrix25]

Got it! Nice one.
Since my post this morning Ive had some time to feel more at home with the Acorn system, funny you should say that about Mach though when i was putting in my axis config for the X and Y I put in Steps per mm and took me longer than it shouldve to work out it was steps/ rev

Homing now sorted with sensors, so should be ready to roll with the atc and have some fun with it

Thanks for taking the time to post, I really appreciate it. id be lost I think with the code. Ive learned to compile the plc today and got note++ setup.

The atc was working in Mach so im hoping it should just run with a bit of luck

Cheers

Ben

[Chaz]

Got it! Nice one.
Since my post this morning Ive had some time to feel more at home with the Acorn system, funny you should say that about Mach though when i was putting in my axis config for the X and Y I put in Steps per mm and took me longer than it shouldve to work out it was steps/ rev

Homing now sorted with sensors, so should be ready to roll with the atc and have some fun with it

Thanks for taking the time to post, I really appreciate it. id be lost I think with the code. Ive learned to compile the plc today and got note++ setup.

The atc was working in Mach so im hoping it should just run with a bit of luck

Cheers

Ben

Hi, dont need to touch the PLC code. This is just what goes into your tool change file - look for cnctch.mac in the root directory of your Acorn install.

[osrix25]

Got it! Nice one.
Since my post this morning Ive had some time to feel more at home with the Acorn system, funny you should say that about Mach though when i was putting in my axis config for the X and Y I put in Steps per mm and took me longer than it shouldve to work out it was steps/ rev

Homing now sorted with sensors, so should be ready to roll with the atc and have some fun with it

Thanks for taking the time to post, I really appreciate it. id be lost I think with the code. Ive learned to compile the plc today and got note++ setup.

The atc was working in Mach so im hoping it should just run with a bit of luck

Cheers

Ben

Hi, dont need to touch the PLC code. This is just what goes into your tool change file - look for cnctch.mac in the root directory of your Acorn install.

Oh!! bloody hell I thought it went in the PLC file , thanks man

[osrix25]

@Chaz

Sorry one last question I promise. the original first 3 lines in the cnctch.mac file. do I leave them in and then start your code below or copy take them out and replace with the code? Im sure it should be obvious but thought i would check.

IF #9006 != 0 THEN GOTO 200
M225 #100 "Please Change to Tool Number %.0f\nThen Press Cycle Start to continue" #4120

N200

sorry for the hand holding. i'll get up to speed with it and maybe even post something helpful at some point you never know!

Ive now read through the thread at least, i'll read it few more times before I can take it all in properly but we really do need the software team to give some feedback on this eh!

[osrix25]

and it lives. call t0100 and tool 1... etc hurrah very pleased thanks for all you help Chaz. very much appreciated.

I do have one problem..well im not sure if its a problem really. the DRO doesnt read as I expected. it reads -3 after homing, and then every tool after is -3 , t8= 5 ...im sure I need to reset an offset a home point but can I find it?!

I will attach the log and report tomorow as ive left my stick in the workshop.

im sure its something simple.

[martyscncgarage]

and it lives. call t0100 and tool 1... etc hurrah very pleased thanks for all you help Chaz. very much appreciated.

I do have one problem..well im not sure if its a problem really. the DRO doesnt read as I expected. it reads -3 after homing, and then every tool after is -3 , t8= 5 ...im sure I need to reset an offset a home point but can I find it?!

I will attach the log and report tomorow as ive left my stick in the workshop.

im sure its something simple.

Are you looking at G54 part position. Or machine position? (Press Alt plus the D key to toggle machine home) the control usually remembers the last job. Look at the top of the screen above the dialog box. Post a screen shot. Of the main screen for us to "SEE" what YOU see.

[Chaz]

It also be that your logic is reversed (each application is different). That might mess with the logic in the maths.

[osrix25]

Thanks for your replies! I am a div. Yes Marty. G54!
I was thinking last night "maybe this is the part DRO rather than machine but convinced myself otherwise....despite it seems the lefthand corner reading to the contrary. honestly I worry sometimes


Its fine then, perfect even , switch to Machine DRO and the A axis reads as it should, and a fully working ATC.