Hello,
I have my MASSO wired up, and the ATC is fixed to my spoil board. I have only roughly setup the X/Y for pocket 1, and because my z-axis unexpectedly crashed into pocket 1, I’m now reading ahead.
I am following the manual, and I am confused by why the “Enable auto tool zero” is turned on (page 56 / Chapter 4 / F1 Setup)? It conflicts with page 101 / Chapter 9 / Understand the Routines, in that #5 says, “Every time the CNC and Masso are powered up all inputs reset to zero (0) indicating to the subroutines that the spindle has no tool.” If the subroutine doesn’t know of a tool, why measure the tool height on startup, which may or may not be installed?
I bet you want to know how I crashed into pocket 1? I had completed the setups through Chapter 4, and roughly setup the X/Y location following the video tutorial. I stopped for lunch. When I returned I powered up the MASSO and after it homed Z/X/Y, it flew over to the tool setter that was attached to the ATC. I had no idea “Enable auto tool zero” changed the powerup process, and I hadn’t run the spindle over to the ATC yet. Well, the bottom of the Z mounting bracket hit the top of pocket 1, causing a fault. So, now I’m curious why it needed to be turned on in the first place.
The instruction to turn it on in Chapter 4 is because it is required for the correct functioning of the ATC, which is what the initial chapters are focused on.
There is no conflict to the information in chapter 9. Chapter 9 is letting you know that Masso and the Easy ATC need to always be synchronized after every power cycle of the controller. It is the subroutines, not Masso, that need to be ‘told’ at this point what tool if any is in the spindle, and what pocket if any is therefore now empty. The only thing Masso really ‘controls’ after that is the tool length offset measure (Tool Setter). With the ATC, it is better to have ATZ enabled than disabled, and forgetting to turn it on, IMO.
I am not understanding how the Z mounting bracket crashed into the tool pocket tower. Having completed setups through chapter 4, would the Z height not have been established such that the Z axis assembly would clear the Easy ATC magazine and towers?
I understand your surprise when the ATZ kicked in after homing and and rapidly headed towards the ATC, especially if unaware it would happen. I think the biggest concern and issue is the lack of clearance for the ATC - unless I misunderstood your description.
It looks at though the ATC is sitting to high, the first thing you need to address is the position of your Z slider. What bolt holes are used on the Z slider? If you can, jog it over towards the toolsetter and take a picture of them close together and see if we can tell what is going on with that.
For the WW and JM, the manual shows the correct installation and placement using the supplied Z20 spacer plate and highest mounting position - I forgot what page. I do not believe the FM is as limited WRT Z clearance.
Hello,
You are correct, #4 caught me off guard. I guess adding something to the directions on what checking that box does to the startup process might help.
Regarding #3, I was watching the video and following in the manual. The video estimates the x/y location from the work surface riser mount, and doesn’t check the values until the end of the video. In the manual the same types of calculations are done in Chapter 2. It isn’t till Chapter 7: Determining Z Position Value that you first run the gantry over to the ATC. I was hungry after Chapter 4.
My Z mounting bracket was as low as you could put it. Why? Why not. The installation manual for the Elite on page 35 said I could put it wherever I desired. I really didn’t have an opinion at that point. I do now.
Regarding the Z20 spacer plate post, I don’t have a QCW, and I do have a Foreman, so the manual starts on Chapter 2, and the Z20 spacer plate isn’t included with the ATC.
I don’t disagree that my Z-plate was too low for the newly installed ATC. I’ve since raised it up. It was that the instructions, by Chapter 4, gave me no reason to run the gantry over to the ATC to measure this, and the shock of what was a normal power up homing routine shooting over the ATC that caught me off guard.
All valid points, and you taking the time to share your experience here in the forum, as well as the responses, will no doubt inform others.
Perhaps Onefinity can add a caution in Chapter 2, Work Surface mount section, that it is advisable to mount your Z20/Z axis assembly in the highest position possible (at least for the installation process).
Do you have a Foreman? My understanding from user feedback was that the Z20 spacer plate shipped with ATCs for Journeyman and Woodworker series machines.
Excellent, as that model seems to provide greater clearance compared to the other two models ( and explains why your ATC did not ship with the extra plate).
