Milacron Arrow 750 machine alignment problem

[LG3]

Hi, I'm new to this forum and look forward to learning more about CNC's. I am not new to machining but am new to CNC's.

The shop I work in just got a 1997 Aarow 750, running Acramatic 2100. We haven't been able to use it yet because when we try to align the machine it comes up with an error message of: "A-Axis unclamp failure." The description after says to check operations of solenoids and proximity switches.

Then has a list of :
SL_A_UNCL ONP
R_A_CLMP OFF
etc.

The machine is a 3 axis mill but it has an A and B on the pendant? The X, Y, and Z-axis seem to align fine then a few seconds later the error message comes up.

I am new to using the CNC but not to machining.


Any help you can provide is greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance

[KLUCAS4]

It sounds to me that the machine is attempting to align the 4th axis. You could probably call the guys in tech at Cin Mach to assist you in disabling this. I am assuming that the 4th axis is not present? Right?

[CHAD LAWSON]

IF YOU HAVE THE MANUAL ON THE A2100 CONTROL IT WILL WALK YOU THROUGH WHAT CINCINATTI CALLS A DRIVE INHIBIT. YOU CAN DO MOST OF THIS DIRECTLY ON THE PENDANT ITSELF UNDER THE SETUP KEY. FROM THERE YOU GO TO INHIBIT AN AXIS IT WILL DISPLAY ALL CURRENT AXIS IN USE. PRESS THE 4TH AXIS INHIBIT AND IF YOU INTEND TO USE THIS AXIS IN THE FUTURE YOU MAY WANT TO PRESS THE REMEMBER AXIS. YOU THEN GO INTO THE CONTROL AND TURN THE 4TH AXIS DISPLAY OF. IF THE 4TH AXIS WAS TAKEN OFF RIGHT BEFORE SHIPPING TO YOU THEN THERE ARE SOME JUMPERS THAT MUST BE PLACED IN THE WIRING TO THE BDS4 FOR THE DRIVE THE MANUAL WILL WALK YOU THROUGH THIS. IF YOU HAVE NO MANUALS A WOULD SUGGEST CALLING GBI MAINTENANCE TECHNOLOGIES AND ASK FOR MARK NICHOLS AS HE CAN EMAIL YOU THE PROCEDURES FOR ALL THIS.

[LG3]

KLUCAS4:
No there is no 4th axis, the guy we got the machine from said it never had one either so it must have been an option from the factory and for some reason, maybe being shut down and moved, its trying to find that axis. I agree with you that it seems to be aligning an axis that is no longer in use.

CHAD:
I do have a stack of manuals one is the operating manual. I don't remember seeing anything called drive inhibit, but that doesn't mean its not there, so I will look again.

I don't think that there would be any jumpers to connect since the machine has been in use as a 3-axis machine for at least as long as the last owner has had it.

Thanks for the advice and I will let you know what happens.

[CHAD LAWSON]

THESE MACHINES WERE USUALLY WIRED FROM THE FACTORY FOURTH AXIS CAPABLE. IF YOU OPEN YOUR DOORS ON THE FRONT OF THE MACHINE AND LOOK UP TO THE RIGHT OF THE SPINDLE YOU WILL SEE AIR PORTS AND TWO DUMMIE CONNECTORS THEY ARE YOUR MOTOR POWER CABLES AND ENCODER CABLES PREWIRED IN THE MACHINE SO YOU CAN JUST PLUG THEM IN. IN THE CONTROL CABINET IF YOU OPEN IT YOU WILL FIND THERE USUALLY IS AN EXTRA SPOT ON THE SERVO BOARD WHICH IS DUMMIED OUT AND FINALLY IF YOU LOOK AT YOUR BDS4 SERVO AMPS THERE WILL BE A SPOT FOR ONE ON THE FAR RIGHT WHERE WIRES ARE HANGING DOWN AT. THIS IS ALL PREWIRED JUST TO PLUG THE DRIVE IN. NOW THE AXIS INHIBIT IS UNDER THE SETUP KEY ON THE OPERATOR PENDANT NOT THE CRT. AS FOR THE REST YOU WILL HAVE TO GOTO (MORE) AXIS SET UP AND THERE SHOULD BE A PLACE TO INHIBIT AXIS DISPLAY WHEN YOU CHECK THAT BOX IT WILL GIVE A DISPLAY OF ALL ACTIVE AXIS YOU THEN SIMPLY CHECK THE 4TH AXIS. I AM TELLING YOU THIS OF THE TOP OF MY HEAD SO THERE COULD BE AN EXTRA STEP OR TWO. WE HAVE TEN OF THESE MILLS BUT MOST OF OURS HAVE TROKYE ROTARY TABLES ON THEM.

[LG3]

I went in and inhibited the A axis but I keep getting an alarm.
"One or more TPA axis are inhibited

Remedy: Remove axis inhibits then continue with target point alignment"

Any thoughts?

Thanks.

[CHAD LAWSON]

DID YOU CHECK TO SEE IF ANY OF THE OTHER AXIS ARE INHIBITED. AND DID YOU DO THIS ON THE CRT OR THE OPERATOR PENDANT. IT MUST BE DONE ON THE PENDANT ITSELF WHEN YOU GET TO THIS DISPLAY IT WILL GIVE THE AXIS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT ANY AXIS THAT IS LIT WITH A RED LED ON THE PENDANT IS INHIBITED. THUS ONLY A SHOULD BE RED.

[LG3]

None of the other axis are inibited. I tried it on the CRT and on the pendent. I even pulled up the inhibit options on the pendent and on the CRT at the same time to see what happened, and the axis were shown inhibited or not inhibited the same on both of them.

If there is the possibility that the machine does have an A-axis would that cause the machine to act this way?

I was told there was no 4th axis but that doesn't mean it can't have it.

Thanks again for all the help.

[mallardfizz]

hello you need to REMOVE the 'A' axis on the pendant not inhibit it. when you look on the crt do you have an axis for 'A' under the x,y,z .if you do the machine thinks there is an axis present and therefore you have to remove on the pendant.press the machine setup button on the pendant and scroll untill you see REM AXIS.press and you should find the button for the a axis. make sure that the emergency button is pushed in first. you also need to have the dummy plug for the feedback installed.this is inside the guarding on the right side -top.i hope this helps

[LG3]

It actually does list an A and C axis, both of which it doesn't have. I will try this process and let you know. Thanks.

[PinnacleMachine]

C axis is the spindle position encoder - that is supposed to be there.

JP

[mallardfizz]

hello again, if you read my reply to your original problem you will not see any reference to the 'c'axis.