Light Machines TMC 1000 with Ah-ha!Artisan CNC and GriffTek Controller
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This machine was bought at an auction without electronics and retrofitted with Artisan CNC and a custom made GriffTek control. This machine has rapid rates in excess of 300 IPM with a resolution of 4000 steps per inch. The machine has been in use for over 3 years in the Mag-Tek Model-Shop and has had ZERO down time for a CNC related problem.

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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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:
 

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

 

  

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.

Pictured below are some of the various vacuum and pneumatic clamping fixtures that have been built and used on the light machine.

The mill was changed over to Artisan 4.0 from Artisan 31u in mid 2002.