I've been asked for plans for my toolchanger quite a few times, but I've always been a little reluctant to distribute them since I'd never really used it, and wanted to make sure there weren't any fundamental design flaws. Well, that all changed Friday night (yes, Friday night -- I know how to party), when I finally battled through Mach3's somewhat non-functioning (for me anyway) tool offsetting system. I had two tools loaded, and made a small part successfully. All tool changes completed flawlessly, and I'm looking forward to getting the changer decked out with a full complement of tools.
Now, a couple of caveats:
I think the toolchanger is a little over-engineered. While it feels rock-solid (which is the idea), it's also very heavy and quite big. The size is an issue because it soaks up x-axis range, effectively using up part diameter. I can improve this straight away by redesigning the 'Base' part on which the changer sits. Currently this extends 15mm beyond the toolchanger side. You screw the two together, then screw the entire assembly onto the lathe cross slide through holes in the overhang. It would be better to screw the base to the cross slide, then have through holes on the tool changer to allow it to be bolted to the plate, eliminating the need for the overhang. I've worked out how I can modify the toolchanger I've built to accommodate this, but it would be better still to slightly redesign it this way from the start. And generally I think it could be a little smaller and less heavily built without much if any compromise to the performance.
So, with that in mind, here's a zip containing a step file with the whole assembly.
If you use these or they inform the basis of your own design, I'd be grateful for a credit and a link back here. Thanks!
Now, a couple of caveats:
I think the toolchanger is a little over-engineered. While it feels rock-solid (which is the idea), it's also very heavy and quite big. The size is an issue because it soaks up x-axis range, effectively using up part diameter. I can improve this straight away by redesigning the 'Base' part on which the changer sits. Currently this extends 15mm beyond the toolchanger side. You screw the two together, then screw the entire assembly onto the lathe cross slide through holes in the overhang. It would be better to screw the base to the cross slide, then have through holes on the tool changer to allow it to be bolted to the plate, eliminating the need for the overhang. I've worked out how I can modify the toolchanger I've built to accommodate this, but it would be better still to slightly redesign it this way from the start. And generally I think it could be a little smaller and less heavily built without much if any compromise to the performance.
So, with that in mind, here's a zip containing a step file with the whole assembly.
If you use these or they inform the basis of your own design, I'd be grateful for a credit and a link back here. Thanks!
toolchanger_assembly.zip |