Kent Acu-Rite Control Conversational Programming

Machine tools are dangerous and may cause great injury. This information was collected from a variety of sources, is neither complete nor verified, and is of a general nature for theoretical study only. Any attempt to duplicate the operations described should be done with the guidance and supervision of a qualified instructor who will teach the appropriate safety skills and fill in the missing details. Follow this link for Statements of Warning, Limitation & Responsibility.

Kent CNC/Toolroom Mill - Acu-Rite Control

This Page
Startup & Shutdown
Move-Table Power-Feed
Setting Tool Datum Positions (XYZ Zeros)

Linked Pages
Basic Programming Operations
Link- Kent Mill Acu-Rite Manual

Startup

The Spindle-Quill should move smoothly when pulled down. If it doesn't move easily 1)Check to make sure "Move Table" mode is turned off. 2)The quill-lock may need to be released.

Acu-Rite Conversational Control is found on the newer Kent Tool-room Mills found in the El Camino Machine Shop.

1. Before turning on the Acu-Rite Control you will need to insert a memory card into the slot at the front-right-bottom of the control panel.

Move the spindle to the center of the table and pull the quill down two inches.

Move the spindle to the center of the table and pull the quill down two inches.

2. Next: Reach behind the Acu-Rite control and flip the on/off switch.

3. Once the Control has activated move the spindle over the center of the table and pull down the quill so that it has at least two inches of travel.

4. Press the button below "Find Home". The table and quill will move until the Kent finds a new home position.

5. You are now ready to set the XYZ Zero Datum Positions.

Shutdown

1. Flip the on/off switch on the back of the control. The screen should go blank.

2. Press the RED "Emergency Stop" button on the Kent spindle control. This should cause the RPM display to go blank. Pressing the E-Stop button also shuts down the oil-pump, which prevents oil from overflowing onto the floor while the Kent sits idle.

Move-Table Power-Feed Press "Move Table" to activate... or deactivate.

1. By entering "DRO" mode it is possible to use a powered "Move Table" feature.

2. Press the "DRO" button on the control.

3. Press the button under "Move Table"

4. Use the Arrow Keys on the control to move the table. The Hand-wheels and quill are now locked.

5. To exit powered "Move Table" mode, press the Move table button. This will release the hand-wheels and quill for manual movement.

Tool Datum Positions (XYZ Zeros) 1. Setting the XYZ tool zeros is required for the Acu-Rite control to know where the tool is, and where to cut. 2. Press the "DRO" button on the Acu-Rite Control keypad. 3. Put an Edge-Finder into the mill spindle. Make sure the bottom of the edge-finder is above the top of the work-piece. 4. Press "Move Table" and move the Edge-Finder close to the X-Axis Zero position on your work-piece.	5. When the edge-finder is in place, press "Move-Table" again to release the quill and hand-wheels. 6. Lower the edge-finder into place near the lower-left corner of your part. Using the X hand-wheel, find the edge of the part on the X-Axis.
When recording X and Y Datums, you are in effect programming the center of the spindle. If in switching out tools the X and Y Datums remain unchanged it is only necessary to record a new Z and Z-Retract Datum.	7. When the lower-left corner is your X0,Y0 you would subtract 1/2 the diameter of your edge-finder from the X & Y datum positions. 8. Since this is a .200 edge-finder, use the Control keypad and type " -.100" into the X-Datum. Press "Enter" on the keypad. 9. Repeat these steps in the Y-Axis to find and record your Y-Datum.
10. Replace the edge-finder with your tool-bit. 11. Bring the tool-bit down to the Z-Zero of your part and press "Z = 0". You could also type in a position using the keypad as with X and Y zeros.
12. Raise the quill a half-inch or more. 13. Highlight the Z-Retract input and press "Teach Position". "Z-Retract" is the height the tool rises to every time a program step is completed. 14. Save your Tool Datums by pressing "USE" on the Control keypad.

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