dust shoe with an ATC

[carlcnc]

I just retrofitted a machine with an ATC
all finished except

a dust shoe is problematic ,

I don't see anyway to have one that doesn't crash into the tool rack
anyone have an example? picture?
looks to me like it needs to be pushed down and lifted by an air cylinder, even then it will be hard to get enough travel

thanks
CArl

[Burkhardt]

I don't know how your ATC system looks like but could you build something with a kind of "front door" that swivels away and open access to the business end when it approaches the ATC. A picture may be helpful to understand the options.

[carlcnc]

Seems my big mistake was creating a "drop the tool in pocket"
instead of the standard "slide tool into clip"
that mistake was driven by customers request for 10 tool rack on a 2ft wide machine.

the slide in style requires about 10" between tools
pockets spacing can be just slightly more than spindle diameter

After studying [8 cups of coffee later], the ONLY option is the air cylinder

[kubotaman]

Just sent you a PM. Please read it. I have a ten tool unit and it works fine!!

[myxpykalix]

I know almost nothing about ATC however it did occur to me that you could make your dust shoe spring loaded so that when it hovers over the tool rack and lowers down a bar pushes the dust shoe up so as to be able to clear the tools to locate them closer.

[gundog]

Gary Campbell has built a mechanized dust shoe for the HSD 5HP tool changer here is a video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZ1AR3fyfxM

Here is another on a Camaster

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f19aToN6ZhA

I also like the way The Thermwood does theirs but it would require me to buy new tool holders for a tune of about $1300 for changing my 10 tool holders.

If you come up with a good idea please share I am about to make one myself.

Mike

[carlcnc]

Appreciate all tje ideas
going with a minimum 6" travel air cylinder
I will post some pics when done
be a week or two