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Help with ATC Macro for CNC Router
Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2022 3:49 pm
by justcrankinit
Posting this as a new topic as I "highjacked" another thread looking for help under similar problems. I have a CNC router that I've successfully converted over to Acorn and CNC 12 V4.82 (just did V4.82 today). My machine has been functioning properly with NC files from Fusion 360 but I am now working on my ATC. I have an HSD ES90 spindle with pnuemax 3-way monostable solenoids (this is what HSD recommends). I can run the tool release and lock functions from the PLC diagnostic menu by toggling outputs 5 and 4 which is how they are mapped in the wizard. However, I've tried running M15 from the MDI and M94 /15 with no luck. The HSD has a single output sensor (one wire) for the tool ejected, one tool locked and one for the shaft stopped. I tried wiring the tool-ejected sensor to Input 3 but never had any luck with that having modified the M15 macro several ways. I adjusted my parameters to the setting described in the 4.80 ATC instructions as follows: A) Set Parameter #6 = 1 (ATC installed)
B) Set Parameter #160 = 1 (Enhanced ATC settings, see operator manual Chapter 15)
C) Set Parameter #161 to maximum amount of tools of ATC.
With the modified M15 (attached) macro loaded I get the result (attached screenshot).
I figure I need to get the M15 macro and M16 running before I attempt the ATC macro.

Re: Help with ATC Macro for CNC Router
Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2022 5:21 pm
by cnckeith
post a fresh report.zip
Re: Help with ATC Macro for CNC Router
Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2022 6:48 pm
by justcrankinit
Sorry about that Keith! Here you go
Re: Help with ATC Macro for CNC Router
Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2022 10:11 pm
by cnckeith
Hello.
report shows output assignments as follows
OUTPUT1 IS OUT1
OUTPUT2 IS OUT2
OUTPUT3 IS OUT3
TurnClampOn IS OUT4
UnclampTool IS OUT5
SpinFWD IS OUT6
SpinREV IS OUT7
VFDResetOut_O IS OUT8
what are you using "TurnClampON" for? this is a general use clamp on/off output.
UnclampTool is the output that releases the tool from the spindle. It typically is unnecessary to have an output for holding the tool in an ATC spindle as they are spring loaded and by default are in the clamped state. An output is only used to release the tool not to clamp it.
Re: Help with ATC Macro for CNC Router
Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2022 1:23 am
by ShawnM
Not to mention, why do you have SpinRev on a router?
Re: Help with ATC Macro for CNC Router - HSD Spindle
Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2022 8:30 am
by justcrankinit
Shawn and Keith, keep in mind this is my first build and I simply followed what I could learn from the manual and videos from Marty and such. I’m pretty sure the Centroid documentation shows hooking up my VFD with both fwd and reverse, I understand reverse is not needed in my router but I wasn’t sure if the spindle/VFD needed it to function

.
As far as the toolclampon. With the 3-way monostable solenoid ( has 2 solenoid valves) one that opens the tool and the other that releases, I think this is possibly a type of redundancy for HSD. I’m open to suggestions here. I have a link and attachment to HSD info.
Regardless, I would to understand why the M15 command won’t fire the unclamptool.
https://www.cnczone.com/forums/spindles ... m-hsd.html
Re: Help with ATC Macro for CNC Router
Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2022 9:22 am
by ShawnM
Got it, keep in mind that many of the videos from “Marty and such” are for mills users. Mill users use reverse for tapping and other processes. There’s not a “one diagram fits all” so you have to weed through the details and use only what you need.
As you now know the HSD spindles have two air lines, one high pressure to unclamp the tool and the other is the low pressure cone blow. There is no solenoid to clamp the tool, as Keith stated it’s a spring return that clamps the tool so simply deactivating the solenoid clamps the tool. For the two air solenoids, just make sure the valves you use have the spring return to the normally closed position. You can wire them together so they both work off the unclamp tool output at the same time.
Re: Help with ATC Macro for CNC Router
Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2022 4:04 pm
by cncsnw
If for some reason it is impractical to replace your double-coil solenoid valve with a single-coil spring-return unit, then you could just wire both coils of the existing valve using the normally-open and normally-closed contacts of the "UnclampTool" output relay.
But it would be better to install a single-coil, spring-return valve.
Re: Help with ATC Macro for CNC Router
Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2022 7:00 pm
by justcrankinit
I’m making a little bit of progress here. I was able to combine the solenoids into one relay which worked great! Thanks for that!! Then I realized that they were producing enough kick that each time I hit them I’d get lose connection and have to restart CNC12. After adding some diodes to the solenoid valves, they seem to be working great. I was able to get a tool change executed but I’m still working out the kinks of the macro.