Spindle Cleaning - M50

[Swemill]

Hi everybody!

I was planing to use the M50 - spindle cleaning signal together with a switch and when the Z-axis not are in "zero" / toolchange position instead work to send a signal to my indexer...
In other words, "cheat" an M-code signal because i havent any spare codes. I was very surprised to notice that i haven't got that either!?
I thought that every machining center with a toolcharger had the spindle cleaning air....

I had also thoughts of to use the M05 code, and take a signal from the "stop" button / lamp, but that doesn't seems to work either because it doesn't get any signal on M05 in program.?
My old control doesn't accept to run the toolmagazine with M21 - M24 either.

I'm getting desperate to get this to work... Could it be in some parameter to turn on this? My only hope now is that M00 and M01 work / have different signals and that i maybe could use M00 to signal the indexer and M01 as "usual"?

I still want to be able to use things like orientation and to run spindle "backwards" in program so i cant "borrow" that.

Any suggestions on how i can fix this? Yes, the 3M control is very old but it would be a big difference / modernization for me to run my stand alone indexer from the Fanuc program.

PLEASE Help! =)

[John_B]

Have you thought about using an electrical switch mounted in the work zone that you trigger by machine movement?
I've had to do that on very old controls.
Rgds,
John B

[Swemill]

Hi John!
Yes, i have also thought about that. Just thought that it would be more "professional" with an M-code signal but it would sure work and thanks for the tip!
Also sorry, i HAVE spindle cleaning blow... just seems that i cant control it with an M-code but it works with M06! I suppose that this old control is "simpler" and have it programmed in parameters?

Anybody know more about "possibilities" with the 3M control? Could i adjust this in parameters (M-codes)? I don't really dare to connect in Fanuc Honda connectors etc and simulate M-Fin signals....

[stevo1]

Back up a second. So the spindle blow works when you do a M6 tool change? 2 things. Either the ladder rung where the tool change is happening is controlling the air blow or you have a macro programming running the tool change and there is an M-code in the macro that is doing the air blow.

You have to see what is actually doing the air blow. My guess is the ladder is controling that but you could get lucky.

Stevo

[Swemill]

Yes Stevo, it seems to be in the ladder! I have no macro program at all and there is no "hidden" either because i have earlier exchanged the master board.
I have not programed any macro and the the control still works as before the crash. Also the toolchange / magazine must be in ladder / parameters because that also works without any macro!

I have found spindle cleaning in my maintainance manual - ladder diagram, together with M06, but could that help me? Can work be done on ladder on this old control?
I think i've read somewhere that its "impossible" to do work there... ?

[stevo1]

I am not sure if that is feasible on this control to edit the ladder. I believe it depends on the PMC model you have A,B or C. I am not a ladder guy only know enough to be dangerous.

I went back and reread your first post and I am a bit confused. You want to setup an M-code to blow air through the spindle? This does work when an M6 is programmed correct?? What other reason would you want to do this other then when it is tool changing?

IOW what do you want this M-code to do?

Stevo

[Swemill]

Sorry... I understand your confusion! =)

I only want to have an M-code that i can use to send a "start" -signal to my indexer. This control seems to have very limited m-codes and i believe that i need to use one that i have - and already use for something else.

It would have worked with coolant no.2 or no.3 codes that was "option" (M07 / M50), but that doesn't seems to be installed either.
For that reason i thought that i maybe could mount a swith at Z-zero / toolchange position = when Z-axis not are there and have "need" for spindle cleaning, the M-code would instead work to send "start signal" to my indexer.

Can i say "hijack" the M-code - use it for more than one purpose.

Unfortunately that doesn't seems to work either because there isn't any M-code for this..... :-(