The machine is housed in a glass box (1/4" safety glass)
with lighting provided by 4 fluorescent bulbs from the top. The front door
is raised and lowered pneumatically using M-Codes. |
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The Lista cabinetry that the machine is setting upon
provides ample storage for all of the tooling as well as a fan cooled
computer cabinet, which houses all of the electronics. A battery backup unit
which is capable of running the machine long enough after a power failure to
get the machine shut off without loosing position.
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The operator control panel provides the following
controls:
E-Stop, Spindle Enable-Disable, Feed Hold, Mist Coolant
CPU-Off-On, Clamp On-Off, Aux. On-Off, Door Up-Off-CPU, Spindle-Speed, Cycle
Start, Air Blast Momentary-Off-CPU, Light On-Off, Vacuum On-Off-CPU, Door
Down-Off-CPU
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Click on thumbnail for larger view. |
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On the rear of the cabinet you can see the vacuum cleaner
manifold, power cords, air regulators and solenoid valves. Dual air pressure
regulators are provided, one for the air actuated door system and another
for the coolant systems. The machine requires 2 separate AC circuits, one
15-amp circuit for the machine and control components and another separate
15-amp circuit for the vacuum system. This prevents having excessive current
draw from a single circuit while using a large industrial vacuum cleaner.
The yellow cables are illuminated AC Outlets which are controlled by the
Vacuum and Aux. switches on the control panel. |
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Recently, the machine was upgraded with a complete rotary
4th axis. With Artisan CNC programming the rotary axis using
macros saves time and makes counting incremental moves a snap. The following
is a sample program used to rotate the 4th axis 90 times 4
degrees each rotation while using a jewelers saw to cut slots in the
periphery of an aluminum disc: |
Click on thumbnail for larger view. |
M03
%Counter=0
%Start:
G90
G01 Y.1 f20.
G00 Y-.025
G91
G01 W4.F200.0
G90
%Counter=%Counter+1
If(%Counter GE 90 goto
%End
goto %Start
%End:
M05
M30
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view. |
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The latest additions to the light machine include a
pneumatic vacuum generator. Vacuum is generated using compressed air and the
vacuum is then used in vacuum clamping fixtures for part fixturing. The
compressed air to the vacuum generator is controlled by a solenoid valve
with an M-Function code. A vacuum switch is used to check that proper vacuum
has been applied to the part before machining operations can continue. This
switch is monitored via the M-Function that opens and closes the solenoid
valve supplying the vacuum generator. This same M-function also ensures that
the operator has both hands out of the machine path by requiring that 2
cycle start buttons mounted on the front of the machines enclosure are
operated simultaneously. This system has been used successfully to machine
literally thousands of parts to date and is a real time saver.
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Click on thumbnail for larger view. |
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The mill was changed over to Artisan 4.0 from Artisan 31u
in mid 2002. |
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