4th axis setup on a Okuma M560 with a Midaco Pallet Changer

[rgrin]

Hi All,

I'm looking into the feasibility of putting one of our 4th axis units onto our Midaco Pallet Changer.  The only hang up is having to remember to connect/disconnect it during pallet change.  I know that this is kind of a half baked solution and not a good substitute for a more dedicated machine like a horizontal. But I'm trying to maximize the capabilities of the machines/equipment we have on hand.

I am thinking though, if one were to get a long enough cord, you could just keep it wired in.  Maybe get clever with wire management.

Has anyone done anything like this? Google search shows Midaco has their own way where they keep the rotary in the machine and then have it interface with the "tombstone" as it gets shuffled in.  Trying not to spend more money if I don't have to.  I already have a 4th axis from a previous machine and a trunnion table sitting on a shelf.

[AHarrison1]

I think some where along the line we have all done something well out of the norm.

All that has to happen is to forget just once to see why people do things like this just once.

[gcode]

We done this with a couple of old Mitsubishi HMC's that have pallets.

It works just fine...

As an added bonus, our maintenance people can build a new cable and rewire the rotary table with their eyes closed because they've done it so many times.

At least once a year someone doesn't check the cables before calling up a pallet change.

The rotary table's cables lose that fight every time.

[rgrin]

48 minutes ago, gcode said:

We done this with a couple of old Mitsubishi HMC's that have pallets.

It works just fine...

As an added bonus, our maintenance people can build a new cable and rewire the rotary table with their eyes closed because they've done it so many times.

At least once a year someone doesn't check the cables before calling up a pallet change.

The rotary table's cables lose that fight every time.

So, were you guys disconnecting the cables every pallet change?