Centroid Community CNC Support Forum

Searching the documents and the forum I can not find any info on coding for a drill bank. Does CNC12 directly support a drill bank with a B code. B1 for first drill and B3 for the first and second...

No. On Centroid controls, outside of the arguments list of a G65 call, 'B' is only used as an axis address (typically a rotary axis, aligned with Y).

Calling tools from a drill bank typically requires some creative CNC macro programming, probably with some support on the PLC side.

I infer from your example that B_ is a binary combination, so it would be possible to use any combination of drills from, for example, a 9-drill bank using B0 - B511.

With the necessary support in your PLC program, you could write a G65 macro that could be called with such a code. For example: The macro could then transmit the value to the PLC program via a machine parameter, then raise a strobe bit to signal the PLC that there is a new value that needs to be implemented. For example: The PLC program, in response to the strobe bit, could read the parameter value and use it to activate the necessary solenoids. Of course, final code that does everything it needs to do would have a few more conditions....

give me a good definition of what the drill bank action/features would look like and i'll add it to the to do list.

Thank you cncsnw. You understand exactly what I was looking for. Should be fairly straight forward to handle. Did not what to reinvent if the function was already in place.

CNCkeith,
The drill bank I will be using has 7 drills in the Y and 10 drills in the X. Each spaced 32mm. This would be used for cabinetmaking to drill a series of holes at the same time. Line boring.

Attached is a file currently used on a Fanuc system. Most controllers handle a drill be in a variation of the attached file.

Also a video showing the logic.

thanks! this is great.

what is the most common mechanical drill bank deployment scheme? I've seen all of these methods below being used,

i'm trying to get an idea if one is more common/standard than the other.


1.) a main drill bank deploy/retract air slide and then individual drill deploy air slides, then move Z to drill

1a) a main drill bank uses a 2nd Z axis to deploy/retract and then individual drill deploy air slides, then move Z2 to drill

2.) individual drill deploy air slides, then move Z to drill (spindle is sometimes on its own air slide and retracts )

2a.) individual drill deploy air slides, then move Z2 to drill (spindle is on its own Z axis and retracts )

or did i leave out the most common?

I cannot say what is most common, because I have only seen three, and no two were alike.

1.) a main drill bank deploy/retract air slide and then individual drill deploy air slides, then move Z to drill

This was the case for a Bulleri FMP3218. The drill bank was in an 'L' pattern, so one combination of drills could align with X, and another combination with Y.

2.) individual drill deploy air slides, then move Z to drill (spindle is sometimes on its own air slide and retracts )

This was the case for at least one RapidCNC model. The main spindle (router motor) air slide put it below the drills when extended, and above the drills when retracted. The drill bank was in an 'L' pattern, so one combination of drills could align with X, and another combination with Y.


I also did a Shoda NCW-516 a few years ago. Each head had a bank of ten drills. They were not individually selectable; instead, one air slide moved all ten down together. The main Z axis servo was then used for drilling. The ten drills were in a straight line, and the machine had a pneumatic solenoid for 0°/90° rotation to align with either the X or the Y direction. I am pretty sure that the first drill in line was at the pivot center, so a single set of XY offsets could be used for either orientation.

thanks. i'm seeing the HSD drill bank unit seems to be the most popular , some mount it on a slide, some mount it to a 2nd Z while others have the spindle on a slide that retracts...so many ways to do the same thing... the macro is editable to its gonna be up to the integrator to tailor it to how the machine operates as usual. I'll make the head shift code and the drill bank code to support individual drills like ryan demonstrated above and we should be off and running.

The last Holz-Her router I retrofit had the drill block on a air cylinder to lower it below the HSD spindle and then each drill was also on its own air solenoid to extend and retract each drill as I used them. Then you drill by moving the Z axis.

The Weeke router machine I'm currently working on with Acorn Six has the drill block on its own Z2 axis and is operated independently from the spindle and Z1 axis. It has 10 drills, 6 in X and 4 in Y. The drills are powered by a 3 phase electric motor and then extended and retracted via an air solenoid.

I'm preparing to retrofit a Biesse Rover 346 with Centroid Oak and am exploring these forums for insights on implementing ATC, drilling operations, multiple spindles, and similar advanced(?) features.

To contribute to the discussion: Many Biesse machines feature drill banks equipped with individually controlled air cylinders, relying on Z-axis movement for actual drilling. Some (most?) models also include drills on the X and/or Y axes, which descend below the spindle(s) using air cylinders and use X/Y movement for drilling.

The Rover 346 has 19+12 vertical drills in a T configuration, as well as 6+4 horizontal drills.

Will there be any programs / documentation to assist with implementing drilling support?