CNC Tool Changers, Operation and Alignment

[@thomas435able]

Dude I've been trying to design one of these with CAD but didn't know how it worked, this video is perfect

[@AtManUnlimitedMachining]

Awesome, feel free to share some pictures if you get one made!

[@fungaishuhwa2965]

Very helpful thanks. Managed to diagnose the faulty on our machine after listening to your video

[@tehfade53]

These videos have been some of the best, most accessible info I've seen, please keep them coming!! (and if you could do a "how to run a Fadal" video, that'd be awesome)

[@AtManUnlimitedMachining]

Thank you, what specifically are you looking for? Just general startup, how to run a file, and shutdown?

[@tehfade53]

Well I've run plenty of Fanuc controls and never touched a Fadal. So yes, all of that, and then just the differences between them, the interface and commands, stuff like that. A tour of the whole thing maybe, stuff an operator would want to know.

[@AtManUnlimitedMachining]

Ok, I can do that one after the end mill series.

[@tehfade53]

Awesome and thanks! I'm looking forward to it!

[@shellyfasttobuy1548]

super informative. Thank you so much!

[@TheJohnmitch1]

Hello. Ive got an issue with my 4020 vmc umbrella tool changer. If the tool that is needed is already in the spindle when starting an operation, the machine tells me the atc will not move home. I have to be in a different tool position than the one that the operation starts with for me to run an operation. Any thoughts?

[@AtManUnlimitedMachining]

Sounds like the tool changer limit switch for the home position needs to be adjusted.

[@pilotauto4805]

I am also trying to make ATC. How many watts is ATC's servo motor?

[@eddrm4685]

Thank you for another fantastic video.

[@sligermachine5797]

Tool changer question. when I input the command to change the tool the carrosel comes to the spindle, the spindle releases the tool then when the spindle raises it goes up about 4 inches then drops an inch and crashes into the next tool (if it clears the previous tool in the first place.) What in the world is going on? ive checked alignment and made sure all sensors were free of obstruction. Reset the machine, the circut breakers and checked fuses. Any sugestions?

[@AtManUnlimitedMachining]

I have never heard of this my self either, is the machine e-stopping during the tool change? If power is lost to the servo motor and the counter weight is not correct the head could drift down. Is it an AC or DC machine?

[@douro20]

I once set up a VMC-15 which came from an old guy's hobby shop. It gave me trouble with the tool changer until I figured out that it used an air piston to lock the spindle! It turned out that the hose leading to the locking cylinder was loose inside the column cover.

[@AtManUnlimitedMachining]

Yes, spindle orientation lock is very important.

[@HybridiHippo]

Thanks again info blast!! Great video !!!

[@AtManUnlimitedMachining]

We are not messing around here! Need to kick under all those rocks!

[@jimburnsjr.]

Would turning the rapid over ride all the way down...and jog overide all the way down, give your hands a bit of a safety buffer?...thanks for the video.

[@AtManUnlimitedMachining]

No, tool change cycle runs at a set rate, never trust a control loop with your fingers.

[@roni7460]

How to make a automatic tool change programme in master x 5 i want to know that.Sir please,,,,

[@hurttech7593]

Not sure if you covered this in another video but, does it matter which dog on the tool holder is facing the center of the ATC pallet? I know the spindle doesn't care which way it is oriented on our cat 40 VMC40, but does the ATC care? I hope my question makes sense. Thanks for the great videos!

[@AtManUnlimitedMachining]

Hello, thanks for the question. Normally it does, however with Fadal they designed there spindle so it can use CAT and BT style holders. Just the tool changer needs different clips and the platter gets flipped. Because of this the CAT tool holders will go into the spindle and changer in either orientation. I could not find a "recommend" way to put holders in, so I put them in with the deeper notch going into the changer. The only exception with Fadal is if you have a Dual Arm changer, in that case the user manuals specifically call out the correct orientation.

[@hurttech7593]

Awesome, thanks for the reply.

[@reubenhofer6934]

how do you program 4020 fadle mill cnc to do a drill and thread cycle

[@AtManUnlimitedMachining]

Hi Reuben, I mainly use Fusion 360 but the standard post does not support rigid tapping. Your machine needs to have the rigid tapping option to do so, else you need a floating tap holder. You could also program by hand, the G commands are all in the manuals available at fadalcnc.com/tech-docs G73 is peck drill, G84 is tapping, G84.1 is rigid tapping.

[@adamvale8316]

Holy crap!!@ his hair grew back!!! And got darker

[@controlnumericomexico2778]

Hello!!!! Very nice video..... just one question.... Can you mix BT40 and CAT40 inside the 21 tool carousel? Thanks!!

[@AtManUnlimitedMachining]

No, you can not mix types as the machine needs to be setup for one or the other

[@hugomartinezcisneros1810]

HI AT MAN, BEST REGARDS, I AM FORM ECUADOR, ACTUALLY I HAV A PROBLEM WITH MY FADAL, THE X AXIS HAVE NOT CONTROL. CAN I TEST THE TACH'??

[@AtManUnlimitedMachining]

Yes, when motor testing I remove the axis motor from the ball screw. Then you can let it spin as much as it wants to take measurements. If the motor is spinning you should be able to measure the tach voltage at the servo drive board.

[@CARLOPETILINO]

DEAR TOMY, since tou have got good information about cnc components, could you please help me to pick up good information to make a cnc spindel with C and A axis? I’d like to make one for metal machining but I don’t know how tocreate a clamping sistem during machining .please show me some links , thanks a lot!

[@AtManUnlimitedMachining]

I don't think I"m going to be able to help with that one. Thanks though.

[@johnburke7253]

Another good one. The machine you are demonstrating on, how old is it? I am not familiar with the brand but that could be a geographic thingy.

[@AtManUnlimitedMachining]

Its a 1994 Fadal VMC 15, It is an older machine, but there are still machines made that use the same basic design. Dual arm tool changers are much more common now. They normally use a bucket or belt type design.

[@nadugaltamil]

Thanking you boss

[@amsterob]

Orientate is a back-formation used humorously to make the speaker sound pompous. The correct word is the verb orient.

[@L98fiero]

Amazing how often you hear it though.

[@gbowne1]

My first FADAL came to me with a built in pitching machine. Boy.. that was a struggle.

[@gbowne1]

I had to get a lot of new parts for it from fadalcnc.com

[@AtManUnlimitedMachining]

Yes, tool changers can be a PITA when they don't work correctly. The folks at Fadalcnc.com are great. Very knowledgeable and helpful. The vast majority of my parts came from them as well.

[@gbowne1]

it basically would take my tool holders and throw them against the side panels of the mill sometimes at pretty high speed, because it would intermittently lose signals. not a very fun condition.

[@AtManUnlimitedMachining]

WHAT? How was that happening? When I received my machine all the tool retainer clips where shot, and they where so bad for so long the tool holders wore a groove on the inside of the tool changer cover. Then there was the whole ripping the balls out of the draw bar issue. But throwing them? Was the draw bar releasing at the wrong time?

[@gbowne1]

Yep, Nailed it. Basically the chucking the tool at certain speed was caused by some randomness, clamp/unclamp signals, misaligned, sensors dead or shorted, weak springs, bent drawbar, broken stuff, etc.

[@laviangaria6484]

Tq sir.

[@eddrm4685]

This may be a stupid question but I'll ask anyway. Is there a reason your tool holders all have a long nose? I also have a idea for a video on setting up and saving a tool library in Fusion 360.

[@AtManUnlimitedMachining]

Hi Ed, thanks for the other comment as well, I really enjoy having the support and engaging discussion. The tool holders are actually fairly simple. I have about 24 holders currently. Need to get more so I don't need to swap out and reset tools as often, but things like ball screws and other repairs need to get done first. When I bought my first batch of holders, I wanted the most flexibility possible. The minimum distance between my spindle nose and table is 4 inches. I do flat work that is only 0.25 inches off the table. So I ordered the first batch of holders with an average of a 4" length so any tool can reach the table. I also have parts where I need to reach in down bores and other obstructions. So that was also driving the length. The next set of holders will be stub nose so I have more options and rigidity when needed. I will add the Fusion tool library to the list of suggested videos. That sounds like a good Monday or Tuesday video. The back log of suggested videos is getting pretty long. If its an urgent need for information let me know so I can bump it up the list.

[@eddrm4685]

That makes sense, I figured stub nose holders would have more rigidity but didn't think about the versatility of a longer nose. A long list of suggested video is a great thing from where I'm sitting but I don't have to figure out which ones to do first and then make the content, thank you for all the time and effort you put into this channel. There is no urgency, just an idea. My library was going pretty good then there was an update to Fusion and now...well not as good. Do you have a program you use for feeds and speeds? We use GWizard, it's pretty good and inexpensive too.

[@AtManUnlimitedMachining]

I'm not doing large numbers of parts, and I take it easy on my machine. So rigidity between a stub and a 4" is not missed to much. I try to only use about 5HP on the spindle anyway. Single phase 240V limits that to about 7HP. It was a tough summer for fusion users that do any amount of difficult cam. I kind of like where there going with the tool libraries, but everything just lacks so much fit and finish. It always seems like its rushed out the door at 90% complete. Yeah, lots of suggestions is GREAT! I try to prioritize if someone needs help with a current task. Other then that, kind of just keeping them first come first done type of thing. Maybe give patrons a bump up the list, still thinking. Gwizard is excellent, the tool deflection calculator is fairly accurate. It at least gives you an idea of where the edge of disaster might be. I have crossed it with a lot of tooling mfgr recommendations and its reasonably close. Tends to lean a little conservative if anything. Which is good for first run recipes.

[@eddrm4685]

I would have to agree with you on Fusion, parts of it are not very polished, but when they get the bugs worked out I think it will be (even more) amazing. Is there a way to make a donation on Patreon of $20,$30,$40...instead of a recurring $1 a month. I would be prefer to donate a larger amount and not have it charge my card once a month.

[@eddrm4685]

I just looked at Patreon, they take 14%? Is there a way not to use Patreon?

[@kahveciderin]

lmao is the video 15 fps or so

[@lalbabuyadav9360]

Hindi me ATC settings

[@a.kvalmik827]

dishcloth cyberculture child do fun