[travis_farmer]

i have attached the data plate picture from my Perske spindle, if needed.
i would like to upgrade my machine to ATC, but can't find anything available that will mount right on...
as an alternative, if somebody has a 4KW or down to a 3HP ATC spindle they would trade... as long as my 3PH 220V VFD will drive it...

i am just getting sick of manual changes, even when doing test signs and such. as the machine is not yet making me much money, i don't have a lot to spend... but TAX return season is coming...

maybe i am just dreaming, but i love to dream big.

as another alternative, is there a way somebody could machine out an ATC adapter for my Perske? i would likely have to make a alignment plate to mount the adapter and spindle in excellent alignment... there is room on my Z-axis, and it already has a stepper brake, so the resting weight of the ATC shouldn't be an issue, i don't think.

~Travis

[Jim Dawson]

Well you could take out a second mortgage on your house and buy a Perske ATC spindle, then it would bolt right on.

But to stay within a reasonable budget you are most likely going to be looking at the eBay 3kW ATC spindles. All of those seem to be round, 100mm diameter. I didn't search for the 100mm spindle mounting bracket, but they are available.

[travis_farmer]

think this one is worth saving (very slowly) for?
https://www.amazon.com/Automatic-Spi.../dp/B091CJH9LH

i have a VFD already...

~Travis

[travis_farmer]

this is my spindle: https://www.cncpd.com/product/perske...spindle-motor/
well, not MINE exactly, but the same model and collet. anybody want to buy my spindle so i can afford an ATC spindle? i have 1/2" and 1/4" collets for it.

~Travis

[Jim Dawson]

think this one is worth saving (very slowly) for?
https://www.amazon.com/Automatic-Spi.../dp/B091CJH9LH

i have a VFD already...

~Travis

That looks like an OK motor. Should work for you. Is your VFD capable of at least 600Hz?

[travis_farmer]

Hmmm, maybe i will save for the one with the VFD... just realized my VFD is only a 4KW... and i can't find the model number right now, so no idea on max frequency. i don't think it was 600Hz (4KW HY 220V). maybe 400Hz, rings a bell.

one of these days, my machine will be just what i want. but that will be after i die...

~Travis

[Goemon]

There are bolt-on ATC adapters for regular MTC spindles but the ones I have seen max out at 2.2kw.

More importantly, they are all either awful or too expensive to be worth it compared to just buying a Chinese ATC spindle.

All these ATC "adapters" really are is another (small and crappy) spindle with a draw-bar driven by your existing spindle.

There are a few examples of people making clever ATC mechanisms for MTC spindles though. E.g.:



I've also seen a Chinese company offer "ATC" by installing 4 MTC spindles (on pneumatic slides) on one cnc router.

It's cool but, unless your time is worth nothing you'll probably conclude that it's not worth the effort.... I could do a lot of manual tool changes in the time it would take me to make that.

ATC is one of those things that pays for itself when it's necessary - i.e. For business where you're making the same part over and over. It's hard to justify for occasional hobby parts.

[travis_farmer]

ATC is one of those things that pays for itself when it's necessary - i.e. For business where you're making the same part over and over. It's hard to justify for occasional hobby parts.

as i plan to make a business out of my machine, it is my hope that the whole machine will pay for itself, eventually.

the greatest hardship is that i currently have just a non-full-time $14 per hour job that i am trying to fund everything with. hence why i was hoping to sell the spindle to help pay for the ATC spindle. and now i really have the ATC bug in my head, and it is all i can think about, as i think about the last few times busting a knuckle on the machine, changing out a bit.
thinking of either going with a carousel or chain tool holder system. depends on how much money i have available after i get the ATC spindle...

heck, if somebody bought my 5HP spindle, i would even throw in my HY VFD free, as it wouldn't really work with the new spindle anyway... i would certainly have to build a small crate to ship it all safely... i would hate to ship something, and have it show up damaged... maybe i will try selling through local sales first... see what turns up.

~Travis

[pippin88]

Do you have a tool length sensor / plate?

A very worthwhile accessory that doesn't cost much.

The biggest time in changing tools is getting Z offset / tool length offset correct - automate this

[travis_farmer]

yes, i do have a tool length sensor. i really should check it for repeatability sometime too. i think it claimed 0.01 repeatability, or better, but i am skeptical, until i check for sure.
and i already have an automated M6 remap in LinuxCNC to take care of it.

~Travis