Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Rotary indexer - Lathe Tool Changer

You might want to consider a different approach than CNC if you can find
an indexing drive real cheap someplace. Go this route and you can
index the tool holder with a simple DC motor. You would need a PLC to
take care of control and position sensing but that can be rather cheap,
you also have the option of doing the control on a spare PC.

Implemented right all you would need is the tool postion value from
whatever CNC controller you are using. So if you are talking tool 5
you just drive the indexing motor until position 5 locks in. The
biggest problem is tool position sensing which can become a pain if you
have much more than sixteen positions.

I see some advantages to keeping the indexers control out of the CNC
code, but frankly that depends on what CNC package you are using. Some
like EMC are trying to integrate PLC control into the CNC package.
Potentially a good thing.

Dave


roboticscnc wrote:

>
> Hi Group,
> I'm in the process of making a Lathe Tool Changer and am wondering how
> this would be controlled in Mach 3.
> Would you use a normal encoder with 1 Index pulse per rev for a home
> position as well as A,B channels ?
> Has someone written a program to run in Mach 3 to control this ? It
> could be just considered a rotary axis but would be easier to use if a
> "T" Command went to the appropriate tool position.
> Thanks,
> Glen.
>
>