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 Uploading ....Installing the ATC Software and ATC Setup Setup and TestingInstalling the ATC Software  Make sure you download the latest SB control software from the ShopBot website http://www.shopbottools.com/controlsoftware.htm. If an earlier version of the SB control software (SB3) is present we will need to delete the SbParts folder from C:\SbParts and then reinstall the latest version of the SB3 software. Deleting this allows for the Custom Cuts needed for the ATC to be updated. Custom Cuts must be deleted or moved to another location in order for these updates to occur. If there are personal files that are within the SbParts folder, rename or move this folder so that this info is not lost.  Now that the latest SB3 software is installed we will need to make sure that all the inputs and outputs are being recognized by the Automatic Tool Changer (ATC).
Test Drive Now that the ShopBot ATC installation is complete and the ShopBot control software has been installed, it is now important to understand how it works. We will start off with learning what each of the inputs and outputs do then move on to some of the files that are at the core of the ShopBot ATC.
Input 1 – The Z zero plate and the fixed Z zero are connected on this input. When either of these plates are grounded, a circuit is closed and input 1 on the ShopBot position screen will light up. The ShopBot ATC requires that the grounding clip be used during any zeroing of the Z-axis.
Input 2 – The X-axis prox switch is connected on this input. When working properly the input 2 light is ON in the ShopBot position screen, when the X-axis prox switch passes the prox targets the light will turn OFF. These will be used most often for homing the X&Y positions and for limiting the safe table cutting boundaries.
Input 3 – The Y-axis prox switch is connected on this input. When working properly the input 3 light is ON in the ShopBot position screen, when the Y-axis prox switch passes the prox targets the light will turn OFF. These will be used most often for homing the X&Y positions and for limiting the safe table cutting boundaries.
Input 4 – Stop switch
Input 5 – The Z-axis prox switch is connected on this input. When working properly the input 5 light is ON in the ShopBot position screen, when the Z-axis prox switch passes the prox targets the light will turn OFF. These will be used most often for homing the X&Y positions, a reference location in zeroing the bits in the tool rest, and for limiting the safe Z cutting boundary.
Input 6 – NA
Input 7 – Draw Bar (Closed) Tool in Place
Input 8 – Draw Bar (Open) No tool in place
Output 1 – Switches On / Off the spindle.
Output 2 -NA
Output 3 – Toggles the ATC dust skirt gate open / close.
Output 4 – On during machine operation (safety flashing screen).
Output 5 – NA
Output 6 -NA
Output 7 – NA
Output 8 -Toggles the spindle draw bar open / close (releases tool holders from spindle). Caution when the spindle is not spinning it is possible to drop the tools from the spindle if this output is triggered.
In order to setup the ShopBot ATC we will need to do some initial house keeping. First we need to check that all systems involved are working properly. Let’s start with the prox switches. | Make sure that the prox switches are triggering as they should. In KeyPad mode (K) move the X-axis into the prox target using the left arrow on the KeyPad. The prox will be showing Red (LED) until it comes across the prox target, at which it will then turn off. Moving off the top of the target should cause the LED to come back on. This should also be evident in the ShopBot Position Screen when looking at Input 2, the light will turn from Green w/ Yellow Ring (Normally Closed) to solid Yellow (Open). |  |
| Using the same logic as above, test the Y-axis in the same way. In KeyPad mode (K) move the Y-axis into the prox target using the down arrow on the KeyPad. The prox will be showing Red (LED) until it comes across the prox target, at which it will then turn off. Moving off the top of the target should cause the LED to come back on.This should also be evident in the ShopBot Position Screen when looking at Input 3. |  |
| Finally, test the Z-axis. In KeyPad mode (K) move the Z-axis into the prox target using Page Up on the KeyPad. The prox will be showing Red (LED) until it comes across the prox target, at which it will then turn off. Moving off the top of the target should cause the LED to come back on. This should also be evident in the ShopBot Position Screen when looking at Input 5. Input 5 will appear green until the target is hit then the input goes black. |  |
Test the Zzero plate, the fixed Zzero plate, and the Calibration Clip. Using the grounding clip, touch the Zzero plate. On the ShopBot Position Screen Input 1 should light up green each time that the grounding clip comes in contact with the plate.
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Now let’s do the same thing at the fixed Zzero plate located on the tool rest. It may be necessary to move the gantry over to the end of the tool to accomplish this, use KeyPad mode (K) if necessary. Using the grounding clip, touch the fixed Zzero plate. Input 1 should light up green each time that the grounding clip comes in contact with the fixed Zzero plate. |  |
Insert the plug end of the Calibration Clip into the plug that is located near the wiring of the Zzero plate, on the YZ car. Tap the Calibration Clip and the grounding clip together and make sure that Input 1 is lighting up green on the ShopBot Position Screen.
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| If the air supply has not been turned on, do so. This will provide air to the pneumatics in the system. On the front of the spindle, there is a Green button on its side. |  |
When the button is pushed in, the internal draw bar will open (release/accept tool holders). A rush of air will be heard and Input 8 will be lit.
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When the button is released the tool bar will close (captures tool holders). With the tool holder in place Input 7 will be lit and Input 8 will go off.
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Also test the gate on the dust skirt. Open the KeyPad mode (K). Locate the toggle switch for Output 3. Flip the toggle from Off to On. The gate on the dust skirt should open.
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The gate should normally be in the closed (down) position when Output 3 is Off.
Note: If the gate is open when Output 3 is off, turn off the incoming air supply and switch the air lines coming into positions 6 & 7 on the dust skirt. This will correct the situation.
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If all the systems above checked out OK then we are now ready to move onto the next portion of the ShopBot ATC setup. If all the connections do not work as described, review connections and the electrical installation portion of the ATC manual before continuing.
ShopBot Setup (TS) Run the ShopBot Setup (TS) from the SB3 software. This should be a one time setup that will configure the SB3 software for the ATC and setup the Zzero plate thickness, as well as defining the home location for the tool. Make sure that the check box for Zzero plate, Prox switches, and ATC are checked at the front end of this routine and that the “I’m done” button at the end of the routine is clicked; (this saves the settings). C3 Homing the Machine Once the ShopBot Setup (TS) has been executed, type (C3) in the SB3 software. This calls up Custom cut #3. On the ATC the C3 command will first move the Z-axis up to find the Z prox switch, then bounces the X-axis off the prox targets and then to home, and then does the same for the Y-axis. This should be at the location that you set to be the home location in the ShopBot Setup routine.
Calibration Routine (CN74) The calibration routine (CN74) is the file needed to find and record the clip locations. In the SB3 software type custom number (CN74) and the routine will begin. You will be prompted on what to do along the way.
Before you begin you will need the calibration clip and drill rod that came with the ATC. Connect the Wago plug to the mating plug on the Z-axis. This is the same plug that the grounding clip is attached to.
The calibration tool connects to input #1. This clip will be clipped to the bottom of an empty tool holder as it is moved thru all of the clip positions.
The Grounding clip will also be used. The grounding clip will look exactly the same but it is an integral part of the ShopBot and therefore is wired into the wago plug and travels with the machine at all times. The grounding clip will be used to ground tool holders and bits held within the spindle during Zeroing. |
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| Enter the number of tool clips that you have on your ATC. |  |
| This should have been done before you started with the C3 command, if you are following along. If not click No and do this now. |  |
Press the green button located on the side of the spindle and insert an empty tool holder into the spindle. |
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| Place a second, empty tool holder, inverted in clip position #1. | 
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Using the KeyPad move the spindle over the inverted tool holder in clip position #1. Position the two faces about 1 inch apart from each other. Try to visually center the top tool holder over the inverted one as closely as possible. Hit ESC when in position.
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| Place the grounding clip on the tool holder in the spindle. |
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Place the calibration clip on the bottom of the inverted tool holder in position #1. |
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Your setup should look like this before continuing.
What is about to happen: Upon clicking OK, the Z-axis will move down and touch off the inverted tool holder then rise up a safe distance and move in the negative Y-axis.
Click OK to Continue.
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| Remove the empty tool holder in the spindle by pressing the green button. Caution: make sure that you catch the tool holder before pressing the green button. |  | | Snap in the ¼” collet into the collet nut, then screw onto the tool holder. Insert the ¼” drill rod into the collet and tighten. Replace tool holder with drill rod back into the spindle using the green button. |  | | Clip the grounding clip to the drill rod and calibration clip to the bottom of the inverted tool holder. |  |
| Use the KeyPad to lower the drill rod about ¼” below the plane of the inverted tool holder. |  |
Note: This should only be a move in the Z-axis so that the tip of the drill rod is below the top edge of the inverted clip. Do not move X or Y-axes.
What is about to happen: the ShopBot will move the drill rod into the side of the inverted clip. It will touch off the side and then raise up, move over slightly to touch off the top edge of the inverted clip, then the drill rod will be raised again and then placed near the center of the tool holder where it will lower itself and then proceed to touch off the inside walls in order to find the center location for the inverted tool holder. Once done it will raise out of the tool holder, move over a little in the Y-axis and then prompt you for the next clip position.
Hit ESC to continue. |  |
Move the inverted tool holder to the next clip position. Make sure that the calibration clip remains on it during the move. Also check the grounding clip on the drill rod. This touch off procedure will repeat for every clip position that you indicated at the beginning of the file.
Note: If something goes wrong during the file, forgotten grounding clip, or the head crashes for any reason, the calibration routine will need to be restarted from the beginning (C3).
Hint: Take your time and read every screen and double check yourself before clicking to the next page. |  |
Setting the Fixed Zzero Plate location Just to be sure, run the homing routine (C3) before starting this step.
In the SB3 software, load the file ATC_FixZ_Plate.sbp. This file is located in C:\SbParts\Custom\ATC\ ATC_FixZ_Plate.sbp. This file will set the location of the fixed Zzero plate. The fixed Zzero plate is used to set a base zero height of the bits. This height is used internally within the software. If a bit breaks or a bit is moved from one position to the next manually (by use of the green button). The ShopBot ATC has no way of tracking this but thru re-zeroing to the fixed Zzero plate. This should only need to be run once during the setup procedures.
Open ATC_FixZ_Plate.sbp
| Click OK and the KeyPad will open. |  |
| Use the KeyPad to move the spindle over the center of the fixed Zzero plate. The drill rod may be used as a good reference and guide for this. The Z height of this position does not mater, only the X&Y coordinates will be used. Once satisfied hit ESC. You are done finding the fixed Zzero plate location. |  |
Setting up the Tool Holders In order to do a tool change the ShopBot ATC needs to have tool holders ready and in a known position. Loading the tool holder is very important in this process.
Locate the tool holder, collet, collet nut, and desired bit. Make sure that the collet is sized for the shank diameter of the bit that will be installed.
Drop in a tool holder (cone side down) into the tool chuck. Notice the flats that are on the side of the tool holders, these will align with the flats in the tool chuck. |  |
| Press in the button on the side of the tool chuck. This should allow the tool holder to seat into the chuck. Release the button to lock it into place. |  |
| Make sure that the collet is snapped securely into the collet nut, then loosely thread the collet nut onto the tool holder. |  |
| Insert the bit appropriate for the size collet selected. Tighten the collet nut hand tight so that the bit does not slip down into the collet. |  |
| Tighten the collet nut securely with the ER32 spanner wrench. Tighten to a machinists feel. Do not over tighten. Over tightening can cause the collets to loose their “spring” and may result in runout. |  |
To remove the tool holder from the tool chuck, press the button on the tool chuck and tap the bottom of the tool holder. Remove the tool holder from tool chuck.
The tool holder is now ready to be mounted in the appropriate clip location and ready to be zeroed to the fixed Zzero plate. |  |
| Place all the loaded tool holders into the desired clip locations. Do not put one into the spindle at this time. |  |
ATC OperationZero Tools in Rack (CN72) If you are running this for the first time, make sure that there is no tool holder in the spindle. Run the homing routine (C3). A screen will open confirming that tool# 0 (empty spindle) is correct.
In the SB3 control software, type CN72 (custom number 72), to run the ATC Zero Tools in Rack file.
Enter the number of the bit that is needed to zero then hit OK.
What is about to happen: The ATC will move over to the correct tool holder location, remove it from the clip location and then move over the fixed Zzero plate. |  |
Clip the grounding clip to the shank of the bit and then hit OK.
What is about to happen: With the grounding clip on, the bit will be lowered down and touch off the fixed Zzero plate. |  |
If more bits need to be Zeroed answer (Y) if not (N).
What is about to happen: If (Y) then the ATC will return the previous tool holder back to its clip position, then pick up the selected bit number. If (N) then nothing. |  |
Using the Zzero Plate with the ATC ShopBot ATC users will use the Zzero plate in the same fashion that every other ShopBotter uses theirs. The only exception is that the ATC users will only have to Zero out the one bit to their material or bed.
Assuming that all the bits in the tool rack have been zeroed to the fixed Zzero plate, it is only necessary to zero one of these bits with the Zzero plate. What is happening within the software is that the Z-axis offset (between the fixed Zzero and Zzero plate) is being kept and applied to each bit in the tool rack. Since every tool position has a bit that is located its unique height, this offset only works for that clip position.
Once all the bits have been Zeroed to the fixed Zzero plate, you can use any bit to zero to a surface with the Zzero plate.
| When over the area that you want to zero to, open the SB3 software and type (C2) Zero Z Axis w/ Zzero Plate. |  |
Attach the grounding clip to shank of the bit to be zeroed and make sure that the plate is under the bit before hitting ENTER or clicking OK.
What is about to happen: The Z-axis will move down and make contact with the Zzero plate and then pull up. It will then make a second move at a slower move speed to insure accuracy. After contact is made for the second time the Z-axis is parked at a safe Z height. |  |
| Once the process is complete, remove the grounding (alligator) clip from the bit and put the Zzero plate back into the holster. To verify that this the bit is zeroed to the surface, In the SB3 software type (MZ,0) Move Z-axis to (0). The bit should move to surface of the zeroed location. |  |
Regularly use ATC Files | C1 – Change Tools | Calls up file to change tool outside of a part file | | C2 – Zero Z-axis w/ Zzero Plate | Zeros the tooling to a new Z height (Z zero plate) | | C3 – Home X_Y Axes using Prox Switches | Homes tool to set home position | | C5 - Spindle Warm-up Routine | Warm-up cycle for spindle | | C6 – Spindle ON | Turns spindle on | | C7 – Spindle OFF | Turns spindle off | | CN72 – ATC – Zero Tools in Rack | Zeros tooling to fixed Zzero plate | | CN74 – ATC – Calibrate Tools in Rack | Calibration Routine |
Changing Tools ***Note: *** If this is the first time changing a tool, the software assumes that no tool holder is in the spindle head. If this is not true, remove the tool holder from the spindle head using the green button on the side of the spindle and place the tool holder in the appropriate clip location. Type (C3) to Home the ShopBot.
| Type (C1) Change Tools. A screen will ask which tool is desired to be selected. Once that tool is entered, click OK when ready and the ATC will drop off the current tool being held and then select the desired tool. |  |
Creating a Tool Change File Your design software must first have the information to enable the ATC to do a tool change. In order for the software to work correctly the tooling must be designated to particular tool holders.
| When setting up a tool database inside the design software, create a group named Tool Changer or ATC. This will allow separation of tools that are setup especially for the toolchanger. |  |
Within the group create new tools that will be used with the ATC. The tools created need to have the same tool number in the characteristics of the tool as the location of that tool holder on the ATC. This tool number within the design software is what dictates what tool is selected during the tool changing process. Create your drawing within the design software and toolpath it using the tools under the Tool Changer group that you have created. When all toolpaths are created select the save icon (disk) under Toolpath Operations. In the new window that opens, the created toolpaths will be on the left side and the last selected toolpath will be on the right. Move toolpaths from left to right the right side in the order that they need to cut. Files on the right will cut from top-down. Make sure that the “machine output file is formatted for:” window, has the ShopBot Toolchanger (inch)(*.sbp) or ShopBot Toolchanger (mm)(*.sbp) selected .
Before Running a File Before you run your ATC file make sure that your spindle has been properly warmed-up. Failure to warm the spindle could lead to premature spindle failure. ShopBot has included a warm-up cycle for spindles in the custom files. By typing (C5) Spindle Warm-up Routine the routine will start. This cycle takes 9 minutes to run and ramps the RPM through 3 different speeds and then shuts off. A safe measure of time would be 1 hour, if the machine sets idle for longer than that then the warm-up routine should be run again. If you are ever unsure of whether or not you should run the warm-up cycle, run the warm-up routine. Running the File Open the file and run exactly as you would any other .sbp file by typing (FP) or clicking the
Load Part File button on the ShopBot Position screen. If Something goes Wrong If for some reason the ATC does something that is out of sorts. Use the (C3) command. This re-homes the machine and resets it back to the original table base coordinates. Always verify that X,Y, and Z locations are as you expect before continuing. |
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