M6 ATC carousel

[Delco]

Does anyone have a example M6 macro that uses a carousel please.I am currently using a linear rack on my machine and want to change it out to a carousel style but Unsure what to change to add the rotary component into the current macro.

Thanks

[eabrust]

Hi Delco,

Not exactly what you're after, but maybe this will get you started: http://www.forum.cncdrive.com/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=3299#p24264

This is a lathe turret macro, but might give you ideas on setting a rotary axis as 360 deg/rev, then rotating the turret by the delta angle for number of tools/360 deg.

This macro is also setup for a 'ratcheting' tool turret, so it overshoots, then reverses to lock. Would be easy to modify it to move a strict set angle and not reverse. If you want to have the ATC rotate forward and reverse (for shortest move to a tool pocket), you'd have to add some of your own logic in there for that.

regards
Eric

[Delco]

Thank Eric , I find it amazing there isnt a std M6 macro examples of a manual M6 ,a linear M6 and a rotary M6 in the software allowing the user to build of that.

[ger21]

The stock M6 macro is a linear tool change macro.
The number of people with rotary tool changers is incredibly small, and rotary tool changers can be very complex. One might have 10 steps to change a tool, and a different one might have 5, but be completely different.

The stock M6 linear tool change macro has all the info anyone should need to create a rotary M6 macro. It's just a matter of breaking down the steps required, and modifying the code to do those steps. Look at the small picture, and go one step at a time.

[Battwell]

depends how the rotary motor is commanded to how simple it is.
i have done geneva wheel (standard dc motor) and stepper driven position set as b axis.
other than shortest rotation distance to next tool they are as simple as linear changers.
just program each step- by step.
bit harder if you have to align spindle for alignment dogs!

[Delco]

Just looking for a simple , move Z up , move X move Y rotate A , drop Z release tool etc , mainly want a example to incorporate it into my current macro , but with the option of a rotate A value.

[ger21]

All of this except the rotate part is in the default M6 macro, and it has comments explaining each step.

[Delco]

All of this except the rotate part is in the default M6 macro, and it has comments explaining each step.

Yep exactly why I am asking for a example of a rotary implimentation to use as a example.

[Battwell]

its the same. but the rotate is in degrees not mm or inch.
so instead of travelling x mm pocket to pocket
its A degrees pocket to pocket

[tegi]

Here is an example macro that uses a carousel:

G90 G94 G54
M66 P4000 L20 (Rotary changeover)
T11 M6 (Carousel select 1/4-1)
M03 S500 (start spindle)
G0 X12.5 Z8.5 F10 (Rapid to 1st position)
G01 X3 Z-2 F20 (Linear interpolation)
G3 X3 Z-2 R2 F20 (CW arc interpolation)
G02 X12.5 Z8.5 R2 F20 (CCW arc interpolation)
G01 X3 Z-2 F20 (Linear)