GuiHue
commented
8 months ago Hi, since an older of my repos was linked here, allow me to chime in. I have since build a tool changer with a carousel in a slightly older version of PB (need to update this). Everything to be found here: https://github.com/GuiHue/kondor
Specifically:
- I used carousel.comp to control the carousel
- A bunch of custom mcodes to clean up the macros and provide wrappers for the carousel pins
- Distinguishes between tools in the carousel and those that are not
- Does not do random tool insertion in the carousel but requires fixed pockets instead. E.g.: During the run of a NC program, the status of the carousel prior to hitting cycle start is referenced. All tools present in the carousel at the time will be taken from and returned to the carousel. All others will the picked up and dropped off at a defined position for manual tool change.
- Uses the probe_basic approach to storing pocket information in numbered parameters
- Master Macro: https://github.com/GuiHue/kondor/blob/main/subroutines/atc_toolchange2.ngc
- I DID NOT use probe basic tool length setup (due to having my own previously proven macros and not wanting to fuzz with that).
- Short video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CAK0Wm-rUI
I will perform a major redesign of my cnc control (moving to EtherCAT) and in the process will update the control PC. I am not sure yet on how to approach applying my changes to PB again (I changed quite a few GUI things).
Would be nice if we could support changing to tools not in the carousel But fear this would not be possible with out first completing the work in the ATC_Remap branch to use pocket numbers in the tool table rather than tracked using numbered parameters
Since the most common way I've seen to support this is that any tool in a pocket number higher than the ATC size is called for and returned using a manual change
I know of a rack example here that might one day help https://github.com/GuiHue/myfenjalinuxcnc/blob/master/macros/rack_change.ngc