I went a bit nuts with my router build. There are some videos of it here.
Started with an extended PRO4896, added my own Teknic servos driven by a Mesa board and LinuxCNC, added an HSD spindle, and built a tool rack. I need to make a retracting dust shoe next.
I have a pressure sensor, as well as tool presence and drawbar open & close. The change code checks all of these, and RPM==0, before allowing a change.
I aspire to your level of custom prowess sir! How many tool changers have you experienced over the years? I’d love to know what your main inspiration was for making this one.
Well, I wanted a router table, and I absolutely wanted an automatic tool changer. Not sure how I got onto HSD spindles, but that was the smallest one they offered with ATC support. I also knew I didn’t want to use Mach 3 or 4, so that meant MachineKit or LinuxCNC. I initially wanted to build the controller around a BeagleBone Black, but quickly decided to get a Mesa card instead. The solution is bulkier, but save me a lot of software hacking nightmare.