Welcome to LinuxCNC.org

I have two turning centers available for me to buy. One is an Okuma LC20 which has two turrets and no live tools, and an Index (don't know the model number for sure) with twin turrets one of which is live. I have seen the Hardinge Superslant retrofits out there with z axis only on the lower turret, but did not see the two turrets moving at the same time in any of the videos. Is LinuxCNC capable of simultaneous moves with two tools at the same or differing feed rates like a true dual path or dual channel control would? If so, how is this programmed? Thanks in advance.

One of the guru's from the IRC said

John

Wow, I hadn't really thought of that. Is there a way to get both controls using the same monitor?

I think you have to use remote desktop or something similar to that.

John

yea as john said u need to PCs running.. and then use some kinda code to sync them when you need to wait etc

but how u put 2 on 1 is something to determin, maybe a new GUI that can talk to a 2nd one remotly i dont know...

my self, with the superslants. very few times did we find controls the bottom Z on its own handy but realy with EMC / linuxcnc we did that same job last year with zero problems..
maybe if we had two X & Z axes might be different but then i only see the point in two contorls if we had a sub spindle too as alot of the time what we do, both turrets would get in the way and you would be waiting around for top or bottom. so programing them in the same Code is fine for us..

do you have a sub spindle?
what makes you want to control both at the same time etc?

rob

Well, the main reason I would like to control both turrets independently is because this is the way the machines were controlled originally. I have a lot of parts that could be "pinch turned" quite easily with no interference problems. I mean, if you can't, the only advantage to a twin turret machine would just be more tools. The little index has a subspindle, but it is mounted like a live tool on the main turret. You could either use the lower turret to do back work, or there is a row of gang tools in the back of the machine if you want to index the main turret so the subspindle points away from the headstock. Both are in pretty good mechanical condition, but the controls are toast. At this point, I'm just trying to get an idea of how possible this is and how much am I going to spend. On that Superslant, how do tool offsets work? It seems to me you would still have to have the tool offsets for both turrets active. Nice job on that machine by the way.