I previously wrote the forum about a potential problem with the placement of the ATC. any place you put it on either the journeyman or foreman it will interfere with tiling. no one seems to have a solution. I am now going to propose one. What about having it move in and out from the side? or a lift system like a router table only automated? surely some of you engineers could come up with something?
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I have been thinking about this also. I am thinking about using location pins for the tool holder. that way I can remove it when I need the space for material. Then relocate it with the pins when I return the bit holder to the work space. As I do not have the ATC yet, and I am brand new to CNC, I look forward to what other have done or thinking about doing.
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This problem also rattled my brain when I was setting it up too. I opted to have the ATC at the back of the machine so I can preserve the 48" width. That way I can load almost half the sheet on the machine and “feed” the sheet into the machine as parts are completed.
I designed my ATC with removable sections. Some removable screws allow my 12 tool rack to be reduced to 4 tools, or be removed altogether. A plate that remains lower than my spoilboard remains in place to locate the rack when reinstalling.
The racks that move in and out are neat, but don’t you need the space to be clear anyways? Otherwise the cutters will strike the material loaded? I guess short cutters on thin material would work- but that seems pretty limiting. Also gets pretty complicated pretty quickly.
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that’s why I am thinking lift. Linear actuators controlled by Masso ? like the way rolls royce hides their hood ornament when the car is parked lol. of course that also would preclude it actualy working . NEVER MIND! lol
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I’m pretty sure Masso supports that type of ATC, with linear actuators.
I’ve seen some that lift the tool up from a “carousel”.
Super complicated.
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