Altaros AUTOMATIC TURRET TOOL HEAD FOR EIGHT TOOLS User manual

Instruction manual
AUTOMATIC TURRET TOOL
HEAD FOR EIGHT TOOLS
ALTAROS

CONTENT
1. INTRODUCTION AND DESCRIPTION.................................. - 2 -
2. PREPARATION .................................................................. - 3 -
2.1. ATTACHING TO THE LATHE ...............................................- 3-
2.2. TOOLS ATTACHEMENT ....................................................- 4-
2.3. ATTACHING OF PRESSURE AIR AND COOLING FLUID .................- 6-
2.4. MANUAL TOOL POSITIONING ............................................- 9-
3. AUTOMATIC CONTROL................................................... - 10 -
3.1. WIRING CONNECTIONS .................................................- 10 -
3.2. SOFTWARE PRAPARATION ..............................................- 12 -
3.3. CONTROL MACROS ......................................................- 14 -
3.4. COOLANT CONTROL .....................................................- 15 -
3.5. OPERATION ON CNC LATHE ...........................................- 16 -
3.6. RUNNING THE PROGRAM FOR THE FIRST TIME .....................- 17 -
4. MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS ...................................... - 18 -
4.1. LUBRICATION .............................................................- 18 -
4.2. CLEANING .................................................................- 18 -
5. TROUBLESHOOTING....................................................... - 19 -
5.1. ERRORS ....................................................................- 19 -
5.2. AFTER TURNING,THE HEAD DOES NOT RETRACT...................- 21 -
5.3. IMPAIRED MACHINING ACCURACY ....................................- 21 -
5.4. COOLANT SUPPLY IS INTERRUPTED ...................................- 21 -
5.5. THE HEAD EXTENDS BUT DOES NOT ROTATE ........................- 21 -
6. TECHNIC DATA ............................................................... - 24 -
7. DRAWINGS..................................................................... - 25 -
7.1. TOOL CUBE................................................................- 25 -
7.2. COOLANT PLATE ..........................................................- 26 -
8. WARRANTY CONDITIONS ............................................... - 27 -

- 2 -
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS:
Only a person familiar with this manual can operate
the turret tool head. It is a semi-professional device
and needs to be under operator supervision during
operation.
Obey workplace safety laws!
Do not interfere with the machining area when
operating the machine.
After removing the cover elements there is a risk of
finger injury between the contact surfaces and in the
inner mechanism.
Do not touch the tool head while rotating, you can
cause it's stop in the intermediate position and it
may become jammed.
1. INTRODUCTION AND DESCRIPTION
Automatic turret tool head ALTAROS is designed
for quick exchange of eight tools on a classic or
CNC lathe. Positioning of tools is performed by
a solenoid valve controlled manually or by
a program. The automatic tool head is primarily
intended for the Mach3 program.
The patented pneumatic mechanism guarantees
high rigidity and long-term repeatability in accuracy.
While maintaining compact dimensions and ease of
use.
It can operate with coolant supply directly to the
cutting edge of the tool during machining.

- 3 -
Tools are rotating clockways and every position
have its number.
2. PREPARATION
2.1.Attaching to the lathe
First, remove the original tool holder on the lathe
slide. Then it is necessary to manufacture a plate
for attachment to the original slide to get the right
high so that the axis of the turret head is at the level
of the main axis of the lathe. The plate must have
threaded holes M8 and recesses as shown in
FIG. 1. In the direction of the Z axis, the overhang of
the mounting plate is suitable for attachment to the
slide. There must be no overhang towards the
chuck to allow rotation. The axis height of the
automatic turret head is 64.5 mm. After settling,
check that the head is axially and horizontally
identical to the lathe. Tighten screws on the
attachment plate and turret head base.
FIG. 1 Attachment to the slide

- 4 -
2.2.Tools attachement
Attach elongated tools, such as turning tools, to the
rectangular cutouts from the front side. It is highly
recommended to shorten the length of these tools to
a minimum, reducing the load on the turret head
and increasing rigidity and accuracy. Grooves are
made for tools with a height of 12 mm, larger tools
need to be milled to this size. After inserting the tool
into the groove, insert the pressure wedge into the
side recess and tighten it with the screw.
If the tool hold in place when changing tools after
loosening the screw. If necessary, tap the tool out
with a rubber mallet.
FIG. 2 Attached tools

- 5 -
Tools in direction of main axis, such as drills, are
attached to the tool cubes into holes or chucks
(technical documentation in the attachment). To
attach them to the tool head, press the bottom of
the cube onto the flat surface on side of the head so
that it fit into the cutout. Then push the cube as far
as it will go to the rear wall. Hold the cube down and
back and tighten the retaining screws with
suggested momentum of 8 Nm.
It is not good to place a long tool in the main axis
direction (drill) next to the machining tool in direction
of X axis or a short one. The instruments are at an
angle of 45 °, in case of poorly selected tool
position, a collision of tool (drill) with a material
or a chuck can occur. The same applies to any
tool with significantly different lengths, especially
when machining near the chuck.
FIG. 3 Wrong placement of tools

- 6 -
It is right to place the long tool two positions
away from the short one.
We recommend you to place a combined facing and
roughing tool on the first position, grooving second
and the threading third, which do not need to be
removed and can be permanently mounted.
Calibrate the other tools relative to roughing tool.
(FIG. 2).
2.3.Attaching of pressure air and cooling fluid
Connect the source of clean filtered compressed air
to the quick coupling to the solenoid valve with a 6
mm hose. The maximum operating pressure is 72
PSI (5 bar), we strongly recommend the use of a
pressure in the range of 58 to 60 PSI (4-4.2 bar), if
higher pressure is used, damage and rapid wear of
the turret head can occur. Use a pressure regulator
for the correct inlet pressure.
On the top side there is a valve that serves to
supply coolant to the tools. The fluid is passed
FIG. 4 Correct placement of tools

- 7 -
through a 6 mm hose. The upper valve wheel
adjusts the required fluid flow and the lower locks
the selected setting. A thin sheet metal plate is used
to direct the liquid onto the frontal tools, before use
drill a 1.5 - 2 mm hole as needed. It must reach the
inner channel. It is necessary to choose the correct
angle and direction of the hole so that the fluid flow
is directed to the tool edge. Minor variation can be
adjusted by slightly turning this plate. In the case of
tools mounted in the side cubes, it is possible to drill
a 3.5 mm hole from the drawing to the required
depth and drill small hole in the right direction from
the front side, after connecting those two holes the
coolant can be fed through the created channel.
A simpler method, eg for drills of different lengths, is
to supply coolant with a nozzle located above the
workpiece, where it is fed by a branch from the
hose.
FIG. 5 Tool jigs with tools

- 8 -
FIG. 6 Connecting scheme

- 9 -
2.4.Manual tool positioning
Before each tool positioning, move the slide away
from the workpiece in both axes to avoid a collision
of longer tool with the workpiece. In the case of drill
bits and front blades, note that when exchanging
the tools, the tool head extends of 7 mm! The
current tool is replaced by manual activation of the
solenoid valve mounted on the leftside. Pressing
and holding the button on the valve extends the tool
head and rotates it one position clockwise. After
stopping in a new position, release the button and
the tool head snaps back into place where it locks.
FIG. 7 Manual positioning