C axis orientation Wasino LJ-103M Fanuc 10T

[Andy Fritz]

Hi Gang!

I just got an old Wasino CNC lathe with C axis to the shop. The people who sold it had not used the C axis and live tools for ages and I am now trying to get it to work.

If the lathe is in "turning" mode the C axis is disconnected. To set it in milling mode a toggle switch on the control is activated. This makes the spindle rotate until it finds its posititon where the C axis gears can engage.
What actually happens is that once it stops the gears only partially engage. There is a shaft with two prox switches and the shaft leaves the first but does not hit the other so the control does not lit the "milling" led. In this position there are two possibilities; Either manually push the first shaft limit switch which makes the shaft pop back to its original position (turning mode) which also releases the spindle lock. The other thing only works sometimes. That is to hit a toggle switch called "Spindle inching". If done just right it makes the spindle move a bit more and the shaft locks all the way in to hit the 2nd prox switch.

All this means that it would be tricky to run a program alternating between turning and milling. So my guess is that there must be some parameter or something to adjust so that the spindle travels a bit more when it orients from turning to milling mode. I tried to change the parameter 1850 Grid shift, but it did not help. I guess grid shift is really what would happen next i.e. C axis zero return. So any ideas?

I should also ad that when we got the lathe C axis zero return did not work as the Omron magnetic sensor was bad. We replaced it and now zero return works. by replacing it maybe the position between magnet and the omron switch changed enough to put the gear engage position off?

Cheers,

Andy

[guhl]

You should tune orientation stop position of spindle shaft by means of blue square swithes on orientation PCB on spindle servo unit. If you don't have manual I can send you. But tomorrow.
Each swith has 16 positions, it defines 1...16 * 2^n, but I don't remember the index now. Three swithes are addendums.
Such as first from right is 2^0, it means switching this switch you can adjust stop position with step of 1 degree.

[Andy Fritz]

Originally Posted by guhl You should tune orientation stop position of spindle shaft by means of blue square swithes on orientation PCB on spindle servo unit. If you don't have manual I can send you. But tomorrow. Each swith has 16 positions, it defines 1...16 * 2^n, but I don't remember the index now. Three swithes are addendums. Such as first from right is 2^0, it means switching this switch you can adjust stop position with step of 1 degree.

Hmm. I just noticed that the spindle rotation is reversed. If I input s100m3; the spindle turns the wrong direction. If I set it to milling, same thing. I am thinking that maybe also the orientation direction is affected by this so the stop position ends up a little off?

The manual claims the spindles turning direction is correct, but as the tool pockets in the turret are not adjustable, flipping the cutters would place the cutting edge about 1" too high! The manual also claims that the M3 and M4 rotational directions can be re-set in "settings", but does not explain how this is done. I went through all settings and parameters and can not find anything...

Andy

[MysticMonkey]

M3 + M4 Directions are quite often different on machines (not supposed to be)

Perhaps the MTB designed your machine this way!

your best solution is to alter the orientation position rather than changing motor direction parameters

[Andy Fritz]

Ok thanks for all the help.
Changing the stop position was easy but regarding the M3 and M4 rotational direction there must be something I am missing?

I know machine builders design with different rotation, but there is usually some logic behind it. Why would Wasino design a tool turret for 1" shank tooling where the cutting edge of the insert is NOT aligned with the center line? the turret tool pockets are not center line adjustable like on a Mori Seiki.
Or why would Wasino design a lathe where after installing a 1" shank cutting tool in the only possible way to make the cutting edge align with the center line, people have to use M4 for standard righ hand cutting? Makes no sense.
The same applies for the milling cutters. Either use M4 for standard cutting or use M3 with left hand cutters and drills.

Nah. Obviously something is wrong. I tried to rotate the motor output cables and this does make the spindle turn the correct direction, but alarms out as the encoder gives error. Rather than phase inverting also the encoder I want to find the reasl reason why this is happening...

Ok, here is another mystery; We also have a Mori SL3B running backwards. Here is where you would think that our wall 3 phase is not hooked up right.
Well I have checked phase rotation with a meter and it is ok. I also tried to swap the phases around going to the machines. the only result is that the hydraulic pumps goes backwards, but no effect on the spindle.

None of the lathes seem to have problems with the spindle drives, meaning there is no hunting at idle or sudden direction changes. both are purring like kittens, very smooth, but wrong direction!

Andy

Cheers,

Andy