Winerack Style Tool Changer

Overview

The MachMotion plugin has supportsupports a wine wine-rack tool changing system. 
It workscombines by taking user user-defined rack positions andwith a pre-programmed tool changingtool-change sequence andto combining them intorun a toolreliable tool-change routine.
The Commonplugin placeincludes common safety checkschecks.

are

Wine-rack builttool in.changer: a fixed array of tool holders arranged in a rack.
Tool-change sequence: predefined machine motions that pick up or return a tool.

Orientation

The tool changerrack willmust work with the tool changerbe parallel to Xeither the X-axis or Y.the Y-axis.
The plugin works with both orientations.

Configure the Correct Orientation

The

user

should
1. determine

   Determine which axis the rack is parallel to and(X thenor deleteY).

2. Open: C:\Mach\Profiles\Router\ToolTables.

3. Keep the non-applicable file locatedthat in:matches C:\Mach4\Profiles\Router\ToolTablesyour rack orientation.

4. Create an archive folder and move the other tool changer files to the archive folder.

Enable Macros

If you get this error, macros are not enabled. Follow the procedure below:

Navigate to Tools->Options->LibreOffice->Security. 

Press the Macro Security button. Set security to Medium. 

Restart LibreOffice. When it opens up press Enable Macros. 

To confirm macros are working, when you save the file you should see this dialog and "ToolChangerData.csv" should appear or update in C:\Mach4\Mach\Profiles\PROFILE\ToolTables.

Example: Wine-Rack Tool Changer SetupParallel to X

WineWhen the rack tool changer example with Tool changer rackis parallel to Xthe shown below.  In this case, you wouldX-axis, use the Tool Changer X Parallel to Rack.ods file.

Steps

1. Open C:\Mach\Profiles\Router\ToolTables.

2. Keep Tool Changer X Parallel to Rack.odsfile.

   and
delete

3. Move the oneother fortool Ychanger (The extra file does not needfiles to bean deleted..Archive folder.

4. Archiving is optional. It just makes it cleaner for support downkeeps the roadfolder toclean.

   only
have one file in there.)

Edit the file with Libre Office. In the file, there is a graphic detailing the sequence and positions. 

Keep in mind, all positions are absolute and must be machine coordinate(G53) values! the "Description"Description block values should be set before any others! The default values usually do not work and can result in machine crash. 

The rest of the values are tool pocket position values. These are set by carefully positioning the tool in the holder and then recording the machine cord. position. It is very important to set each position individually! Almost all machines will have significant differences in pocket positions even though they may seem very similar.  Setting the positions to "Nil" or "0" will disable them. You should not have more pocket positions than pockets.

You might find that the tool is picked up more easily if you set the clamp position to be 0.002" lower than the pocket position.

After entering any positions you must save the document and the CSV conversion macro must run. You will see this dialog if it is successful in updating the settings:

All positions are exported to a .CSV file at that point. If the macro does not run when you save the file, the changed positions will not have any effect. 

Mach Setup

To operate the tool changer it must be enabled in the MachMotionMachPro Plugin.settings. 

Pull down Configure -> Control and select the Settings tab at the far right side.

Click the fast search button for Tool Change. 

The first group of settings should match this.. Obviously, the number of pockets will vary from machine to machine. 

The second group is just I/O mapping for Drawbar, airpurge, ect. 

Some IO is required for operation. Ones that are optional are highlighted in Yellow and rare cases in Orange. 

Keywords: Router Tool changer wine winerack rack style mach4 tool auto tool changer