Dual head function sheetcam

jacala · Post by **jacala** » Thu Dec 11, 2014 4:18 pm

Hello!

I'm getting a bit tired of toolchanges but can't afford a ATC machine.

A dual head machine is quite easy and share y and x axis but have separate Z axis.

Can I program Sheetcam to use tool 1 with spindle 1 and tool 2 with spindle 2? That would solve almost all my toolchanges!

Hoping to hear from you.

Post by **Les Newell** » Fri Dec 12, 2014 3:31 pm

Yes you can. Use the Mach3 2 heads post processor. You will have to edit the post. Near the start of the file you should find a bunch of settings to tell the post how your machine is configured.

The way it works is that tools numbered 1-99 will be the first head and tools 100+ will be the second head. Note that when using the second head the coordinates in Mach3 will look wrong because SheetCam will have added the second head offsets.

jacala · Post by **jacala** » Fri Dec 12, 2014 3:47 pm

Sounds logical Les,

How is the second Z axis controlled? with M90, M91, M92? or with a b c axis? (I'm running Eding CNC and not mach)

Post by **Les Newell** » Fri Dec 12, 2014 8:19 pm

You can configure it to use any axis for the second axis. It can also work with systems that have one Z axis and use pneumatic rams to select which head to use.

jacala · Post by **jacala** » Sat Dec 13, 2014 8:49 am

Hello Les,

I just discovered the dual head pneumatic system and I like the simplicity of it.

I learn every day