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IMPORTANT! Please read this section before you begin installing your Automatic Tool Changer (ATC).

PathPilot You must update your controller to the latest version of PathPilot before installing and operating the ATC. If you don't, there's a risk that the ATC could become inoperable.

Purpose

This document gives instructions on installing and using an Automatic Tool Changer (ATC) for 1100M.

Product Information

Product: Automatic Tool Changer (ATC) for 1100M (PN 38400)

The Automatic Tool Changer (ATC) holds up to 12 tools in a single tray. If your program requires more tools, the ATC changes tools automatically for all tools assigned to the tray, and pauses for a manual tool change for all tools not assigned to the tray.

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NOTE: If any items are missing, we can help. Create a support ticket with Tormach Technical Support at tormach.com/how-to-submit-a-support-ticket for guidance on how to proceed.

Before You Begin

  1. If there's a tool holder in the spindle, remove it.

  2. Remove any accessories or fixtures from the machine table.

  3. Center the machine table: from the PathPilot interface, in the MDI Line DRO field, type G20 G53 G1 X9 Y-5.5 Z0 F20. Then select the Enter key.
    IMPORTANT! You must update your controller to the latest version of PathPilot before installing and operating the Automatic Tool Changer. If you don't, there's a risk that the ATC could become inoperable.

  4. Update your controller: From the Status tab, select Update. Then, follow the on-screen instructions. Once the controller is updated to the latest version of PathPilot, go to Step 5.
    WARNING! Electrical Shock Hazard: You must power off the machine before making any electrical connections. If you don't, there's a risk of electrocution or shock.

  5. Power off the machine and the PathPilot controller.

    1. Push in the machine's red Emergency Stop button, which removes power to motion control.

    2. From the PathPilot interface, select Exit.

    3. Turn the Main Disconnect switch to OFF on the side of the electrical cabinet.

Setup

Required Tools

This procedure requires the following tools. Collect them before you begin.

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  • Air Pressure Between 90 psi and 120 psi (620 kPa to 825 kPa).

  • If the air supply is more than 120 psi (825 kPa), you must use a regulator.

  • Air Volume For successive back-to-back tool changes, at least 2 cfm at 90 psi is required.

  • Exact air volume depends on the frequency of tool changes.

  • Dry Air We recommend using a compressed air dryer, desiccator, or filter between the air compressor and the machine.

  • Lubricated Air You must lubricate the air with air tool oil.
    Use the FRL Filter-Regulator-Lubricator (PN 32457) (included with the power drawbar kit) for this purpose.

Install the Automatic Tool Changer (ATC)

Complete the following steps in the order listed:

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  1. Remove the four preinstalled M8 × 1.25 - 16 mm socket head cap screws and washers from the bottom of the ATC electrical cabinet. Then, set all aside for later use.
    CAUTION! Team Lift Required: You must have the aid of more than one person to lift and move the object. The object is heavy, and lifting it by yourself can cause serious injury.

  2. Lift the ATC main assembly on to the mounting bracket.

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  1. Align the locating pin on the ATC main assembly with the matching hole in the mounting bracket.

  2. Secure the ATC main assembly to the mounting bracket with the four M8 × 1.25 - 16 mm socket head cap screws and washers that you set aside in Step 1.

Level the Automatic Tool Changer (ATC)

This section gives instructions to roughly level the ATC on the machine by using a long, straight rod. More adjustments are made later in the installation procedure.

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  1. Remove the tool holder from the fork, and set it aside.
    NOTE: You'll need this tool later in the installation procedure to make further alignments.

  2. Power on the machine and the PathPilot controller.

    1. Turn the Main Disconnect switch to ON on ON on the side of the electrical cabinet.

    2. Twist out the machine's red Emergency Stop button, which enables movement to the machine axes and the spindle.

    3. Press the Reset button.

    4. Bring the machine out of reset and reference it.

  3. Verify that the ATC is all the way forward (toward the spindle), and then slowly move the Z-axis down (-Z) to examine the clearance of the carousel door opening.

  4. Verify that the carousel door opening is approximately equal to the front back and left of the spindle mounting flange:

    1. If the carousel door opening is approximately equal, go to Step 8.

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  1. Adjust the carousel door opening as required:

    1. If the Carousel Door Opening is Contacting the Front Pivot the ATC around the locating pin on the bottom of the mounting bracket toward the front of the machine (closer to you).

    2. If the Carousel Door Opening is Contacting the Back Pivot the ATC around the locating pin on the bottom of the mounting bracket toward the back of the machine (closer to the machine column).

    3. If the Carousel Door Opening is Contacting the Left Loosen the four flange nuts that attach the mounting bracket to the column to move the bracket forward or backward.
      NOTE: Moving the ATC mounting bracket could change the position of the tilt standoff (on the Z-column). If you move it, you must verify that the ATC is still correctly installed; go to "Examine Perpendicularity in the Y Direction".
      Repeat this step as needed.

  2. Tighten the socket head cap screws and the flange nuts (if you loosened them in Step 5).

  3. Move the tool tray to its retracted position.

  4. Center the machine table: from the PathPilot interface, in the MDI Line DRO field, type G20 G53 G1 X9 Y-5.5 Z0 F20. Then select the Enter key.

  5. Power off the machine and the PathPilot controller.

    1. Push in the machine's red Emergency Stop button, which removes power to motion control.

    2. From the PathPilot interface, select Exit.

    3. Turn the Main Disconnect switch to OFF on the side of the electrical cabinet.

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  1. Cut the cable tie that secures the ATC cables and plastic tubes together with snips.

  2. Route the loose ends of the two 1/4 in. plastic tubes connected to the ATC main assembly through the enclosure knockout, up the energy chain, and toward the Power Drawbar.
    WARNING! Crush Hazard: If the ATC isn't completely retracted, it could move once the air is reconnected. When you reconnect the air, you must keep your hands away from the ATC.

  3. Trim and connect the loose ends of the 1/4 in. plastic tubes in the following order:

    1. Connect the Retract (PDB Bottom) airline to the bottom push-to-connect elbow on the Power Drawbar.

    2. Connect the Advance (PDB Top) airline to the top push-to-connect elbow on the Power Drawbar

    3. Connect the air supply line from the FRL to the air in port in the ATC main assembly, as shown in the following image.

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  1. Route the ATC power cable and the USB cable toward the rear of the machine and out of one of the enclosure knockouts.

  2. Put the USB cable in the access hole in the rear of the stand toward the controller.

  3. Put the USB cable into an open USB port on the PathPilot controller.
    IMPORTANT! Do not connect the ATC USB cable to a USB hub. Make the connection directly to the PathPilot controller itself. If you don't have any free USB ports on the controller, connect a different accessory to a USB hub.

  4. Connect the ATC power cable to the ATC Power connector on the side of the electrical cabinet (below the Enclosure Lights Power connectors).

Verify the Installation

  1. Power on the machine and the PathPilot controller.

    1. Turn the Main Disconnect switch to ON on the side of the electrical cabinet.

    2. Twist out the machine's red Emergency Stop button, which enables movement to the machine axes and the spindle.

    3. Press the Reset button.

    4. Bring the machine out of reset and reference it.
      IMPORTANT! You must update your controller to the latest version of PathPilot before operating the Automatic Tool Changer. If you don't, there's a risk that the ATC could become inoperable.

  2. If you have not yet done so, you must make sure that the PathPilot controller is updated to the latest version of PathPilot: From the Status tab, select Update. Then, follow the on-screen instructions.

  3. From the PathPilot interface, on the Settings tab, select the ATC radio button.

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The ATC tab appears in the PathPilot interface.

NOTE: If prompted, you may need to update the firmware for the ATC. Follow the on-screen instructions.

  1. Load a tool into the spindle:

    1. Push and hold the collet open button on the side of the ATC.

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The collet opens.

b. Load a tool into the spindle.

c. Release the button.

The collet closes.

  1. From the PathPilot interface, on the Main tab, in the RPM DRO field, type 1000. Then select the Enter key.

  2. Select FWD.
    The spindle starts.

  3. From the Status tab, make sure that the VFD Running green light comes on.

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NOTE: If the VFD Running light did not come on in the previous step, we can help. Create a support ticket with Tormach Technical Support at tormach.com/how-to-submit-a-support-ticket for guidance on how to proceed.

  1. Select Stop.
    The spindle stops.

Adjust the Power Drawbar

If you have not yet done so, you must adjust the Power Drawbar. Complete the following steps in the order listed:

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  1. Put the hex head screw back in, and then tighten it completely with an adjustable wrench.

  2. Pivot the Power Drawbar cylinder to the original location.

  3. Push in the quick-release pin.

  4. Reconnect the shop's air supply to the Power Drawbar button.

  5. Examine the space between the hex head screw on the Power Drawbar cylinder’s rod and the top of the drawbar.

  6. Verify that the gap is between 3/64 in. and 1/8 in. (1 mm and 3 mm). Depending on the size of the gap, do one of the following:

    1. Between 3/64 in. and 1/8 in. (1 mm and 3 mm) You have completed adjusting the initial setup.

    2. Less Than 1/8 in. (1 mm) Go to Step 14.

  7. Find the three provided M14 flat washers.

  8. Put one M14 flat washer under each mounting post on the Power Drawbar cylinder.

Make Final Alignments to the Automatic Tool Changer (ATC)

Complete the following steps in the order listed:

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  1. Verify that there’s no tool in the spindle.

  2. From the PathPilot interface, on the ATC tab, select Ref Tool Tray.

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The tool tray spins.

NOTE: You’re only required to reference the tool tray once, unlike the mill axes' referencing procedure.

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  1. When prompted, select OK
    The tool tray moves forward. 

  2. Put the tool holder with the rod into the fork. 

  3. From the PathPilot interface, slowly jog the Z-axis down (-Z) to bring the spindle nose toward the tool in the tool tray. 

  4. Make sure that the tool’s shank is aligned concentrically with the collet in the spindle. 

  5. If the tool's shank isn't aligned, do the following: 

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  • Adjust the Alignment of the Tool in the X Direction (left or right) Determine if the tray must move left or right. Use two wrenches to loosen the jam nut on the end of the cylinder rod, making sure that you don't spin the rod end when adjusting the jam nut. Then, either turn the rod end one-half turn further on to the cylinder rod to move the tool tray to the left, or turn it one-half turn off of the cylinder rod to move the tool tray to the right. Once finished, tighten the jam nut. 

 

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Repeat adjustments until the tool's shank is concentric with the collet in the spindle. 

  1. From the PathPilot interface, on the ATC tab, select Retract

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  1. From the PathPilot interface, slowly jog the Z-axis down (-Z) over the tool. Stop jogging when the spindle nose just makes contact with the shoulder of the tool holder. 

  2. On the ATC tab, select Set TC POS

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The tool change position is set. 

Adjust for Rotational Play 

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Tip! Use the Spacebar key to pause the tool change, if needed. 

Operation
Anchor
Operation
Operation

NOTE: You must always have a tool holder in the collet while the machine is not in use. Retracting the Power Drawbar to the clamped position with no tool holder in the collet will eventually fatigue the collet, and may shorten its service life. For more information, refer to the Power Drawbar documentation.

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  1. Load a tool into the spindle.

  2. From the PathPilot interface, on the ATC tab, type the tool number in the Tool DRO field. Then select the Enter key.

  3. Select Store Current Tool.

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The tool is assigned to the nearest open slot. The ATC fetches the tool from the spindle and stores the tool in the tray. When stored, the tool number displays on the tray image in the center of the screen.

  1. Click Retract.

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The tray returns to the machining position.

Automatically Unload a Tool From the Tool Tray

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  1. From the PathPilot interface, on the ATC tab, type the tool number in the Remove DRO field. Then select the Enter key.

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  1. Select Remove.
    The ATC fetches the tool from the tray.

  2. Unload the tool from the spindle.

  3. From the ATC tab, select ATC FWD or ATC REV.

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The tray moves to the next location and fetches another tool.

  1. Select Retract.

The tray returns to the machining position.

Load a Tool into the Spindle

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  1. Push and hold the collet open button on the side of the ATC.

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The collet opens.

  1. Load a tool into the spindle.

  2. Release the button.

The collet closes.

Manually Load a Tool Into the Tool Tray

  1. From the PathPilot interface, on the ATC tab, select Go To Tray Load Position.

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The spindle head moves up and the ATC moves into the door open position.

  1. Load a tool into an open fork on the tray.

  2. From the ATC tab, type the tool number into the Insert DRO field. Then select the Enter key.

  3. Select Insert.
    The tool is assigned to the exposed tray slot.

  4. Select Tray FWD or Tray REV.
    The tray moves to the next slot location.

  5. Select Retract.

The tray returns to the machining position.

Manually Unload a Tool From the Tool Tray

  1. From the PathPilot interface, on the ATC tab, in the Insert DRO field, type the tool number. Then select the Enter key.

  2. Select Go To Tray Load Position.
    The spindle head moves up and the ATC moves into the door open position.

  3. Select Delete.

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The tool is unassigned from the tray and the tray moves to that tool.

  1. Select Tray FWD or Tray REV.
    The tray moves to the next slot location.

  2. Select Retract.
    The tray returns to the machining position.

Retrieve a Tool From the Tool Tray

  • Depending on your workflow, do one of the following from the PathPilot interface:

    • Type the command directly into the MDI Line DRO field DRO field using the following format: T T[TOOL NUMBER] M06
      For example, T1 M06

  • Type the tool number in the Tool DRO field. Then select the Enter key.

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  1. From the PathPilot interface, slowly jog the Z-axis down (-Z) over the tool. Stop jogging when the spindle nose just makes contact with the shoulder of the tool holder.

  2. On the ATC tab, select Set TC POS.

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The tool change position is set.

Switch to Manual Tool Changes

From the PathPilot interface, on the Settings tab, select the Manual Tool Change radio button.

The Automatic Tool Changer (ATC) is prevented from making tool changes.

Troubleshooting

If you're having issues with the ATC, read the following sections:

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You must adjust the tool tray rotation again: go to Adjust the Tool Tray Load Position.

Schematics

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To view a PDF version of your manual, go to Tormach document TD10426.

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