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Hi guys I'm not sure if this is the right area for this but here goes:

I'm currently trying to retrofit an old automatic metal horizontal band saw.
The main components of the machine consist of the following:

1. A stationary pneumatic vice
2. A moving vice with a 1M stroke

The problem is when I need to cut a length of material that is longer than 1m, for example if I want to cut a length of material to be 1.5m I need:
1. the stationary vice to clamp the material

2.once the material is clamped, the moving Vice has to move to 1m and clamp

3. after this the stationery vice needs to unclamp

4. the moving vice then clamps and moves the material by 1m and un-clamps

5. The stationery vice clamps the material again

6. the moving vice un-clamps and moves to 0.5 m

7. The moving vice moves material by 0.5m

8.finally the stationery vice clamps the material and the cut can begin

I'm not even sure where to start with this, can anyone give me some advice or has anyone done anything like this before

I reckon you could do this easily with UCCNC and writing a macroloop or plugin, but really a relatively simple PLC will probably be better.

Google for Click PLC and see if they have a stepper or servo driver add on module.

Not sure how the vice clamping is sensed. Perhaps it's done with pressure switches.

The first thing I'd do with a project like this is try and get hold of a service manual or two for an existing automatic bar feeding saw. That should give you some insight into mechanisms, sensors, etc.

I'm going to try to set it up with a macro loop, hopefully, it should'nt be too difficult.

I just thought it may have been a common enough thing to do and wanted to see how others went about it before I dive into writing a macro for it.