Re: To tool change, or not tool change

Rab,

There's a fairly easy way to implement an automated tool change on
small mills. That is, provided the mill has some sort of draw bar
pulling the toolholder/collet up into the spindle.

Fit the mill with a Kurt type pneumatic draw bar assembly. These are
not much more than an inexpensive air rachet wrench. Chances are
you'd have to fabricate this yourself, I doubt Kurt & others make
these for the small mills. You'd need a spare M-code to activate the
pneumatics.

Fabricate a rack, mount on the back or end of your mill table to hold
a few toolholders (note, this rack will use up some of your machine's
travel). To retrieve a tool move into position so the empty spindle
is over the tool, bring the spindle down over the tool and activate
the power draw bar. The tool will be pulled up into the spindle and
locked.

To change that tool, position back over the empty tool rack position
and drop the tool out by activating the power draw bar in reverse.
Then move over to the next tool and repeat the above change procedure.

If your mill has a key (like R8) or locating tabs (like 40 taper) in
the spindle those would have to be removed since you have no way to
orient the spindle to align with toolholder.

This isn't the most elegant tool changer, but it's far less
complicated than those used on high production machines.

Doug

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@y..., "rainnea" <rab@r...> wrote:
> Does anyone know of any toolchangers or even plans for one of a
size
> that would be suitable for the mini-mills and small routers that
many
> people here use ?
>
> Rab