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I crashed my spindle speeder hard today. Going to have to start using my air spindle instead. I'd have done this sooner but can't think of an elegant solution to handle the air delivery.

How are you guys hooking up the air to your air spindles? I'd like to leave mine in the tool changer but can't leave an air line hooked up to it if I do. Leave a short line and add an M30 command before and after the operation to plug and unplug the tool?

You would want to use an M00 rather than an M30. M00 is a program stop where an M30 is the end of program and resets the machine. But that seems like a good solution to me. Just do a simple

M00
(DISCONNECT AIR HOSE)
T_ M06
M00
(CONNECT AIR HOSE)

What's the difference between M00 and M01? I've been using M01 with Mach 3 and it does what I need but it looks like maybe they behave the same in practice.

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http://www.birkonium.com CNC Products for Luthiers
http://banduramaker.blogspot.com

A M01 is an optional stop. On some machines you have an optional stop button. When this is turned on it will stop at all M01 when not turned on it will skip over the M01.

A M00 is a program stop. The machine will always stop when it reaches an M00.

I always put a M01 before tool changes so that when verifying the machine is setup correctly on the first part it will stop before moving to the next operation. But then I turn off the optional stop for production and it skips over it. Makes verifying the program easier IMO.

I've never used mach3 but I assume there is probably an optional stop setting or parameter somewhere. If so you may want to get in the habit of using M00. Just in case that parameter gets set to off accidentally the machine will not stop where you want with an M01. Also if in the future you use a machine with the op stop feature it would be good to already be in the habit of using M00. Just a thought.

I hope that helps some. If ya got any other gcode questions feel free to ask. It's my second language. I rarely use CAM, but I write Gcode nearly everyday.

Thanks Zeke

No problemo glad that I could be of assistance. Hope that solves your problem.

I only you could rig up an automatic air hose connect/disconnect. That would be sweet

I never found a need for more than 12 tools, and I left my turbine in the last position with the hose running out a hole in the back of the machine. Never got tangled.

You should also get a solenoid and a relay and use one of the optional M codes on the Fadal (M60 or M61 was what I was using before the KFLOP) to turn it on and off.

If you have more than one air turbine, it gets more complicated, but you can probably use one at each end (T1 and T12) if you make sure to use coiled hose.

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Bob Garrish
Former Canonized Purveyor of Fine CNC Luthier Services

Thanks Bob. Do you have a photo of that setup?

Side note: ran air to my rebuilt spindle yesterday and found it spins in reverse. I'm going to be down longer than I thought.

Sorry, no pics. The air line ran through the back wall of the machine directly behind the ATC and the solenoid was mounted there. There's stuff in the manual on how to wire them up IIRC.

It's funny that they put the 'turbine' on upside down; they usually have some writing on them from QC or somesuch so it should be obvious which way is up. They're somewhat annoying to get apart, since they use a nut requiring an unobtainium spanner wrench to hold the nose in, but if you do get it apart the turbine (white plastic disc) screws on and off the top of the shaft so you can just screw it off and flip it. OTOH, then you'd have the company claiming you screwed it up in the first place

_________________
Bob Garrish
Former Canonized Purveyor of Fine CNC Luthier Services

Thanks Bob. I'm shipping it back to them today. I should have it back before week's end if all goes well.

Mine's an old 201JS, I can't believe the cost on a new 602JS. Ouch.

The 602 is a pretty hardcore tool; the 201 only has one nose bearing. OTOH, you can get four 201's for the price of a 602 and since it's usually a crash that ends up leading to a reman, those ceramic bearings aren't going to help...

_________________
Bob Garrish
Former Canonized Purveyor of Fine CNC Luthier Services

201's are now discontinued. They told me today that this will be the last rebuild. Crashes from here on in will cost $2.5K. Makes me wonder if one of these would work as well if it was adapted to a tool holder.

http://www.automationtechnologiesinc.co ... ng-spindle

Bob,
In your opinion, what's the life expectancy for this type of spindle (602 or 700 series)? Say compared to 48-60k rpm Colombo:



http://www.gcolombo.eu/prodotto.htm?p=33

It comes down to bearings in the end on this stuff. I suspect the Colombo is going to have beefier bearings, but it's also going to have more rotating mass. No idea what the cost is on those Colombo spindles, but I can say for sure the operating cost will be much lower. Running a "0.1hp" air turbine eats up 3hp worth of compressed air, so you'd be looking at a big pile of compressed air to match the 0.6hp that Colombo can put out.

I can only go on my experiences with the lower end turbines (201JS) and my gut on this, but I'd say you're probably better off in general with an electrospindle at 1.5-2X the price VS a turbine. Once you see the guts of one of the air spindles you'll get awfully tempted to just make one yourself, given the costs...

_________________
Bob Garrish
Former Canonized Purveyor of Fine CNC Luthier Services

Thank you!