Need Help!- General Numeric

[Redryder_85]

Looking for feedback on a Hardinge with General Numeric 6 controller? Anybody ever come across this machine. If so how did controller work? Good/Bad/Okay or what?

[jdeere4250]

GN6 , same thing as fanuc 6. very good control in its day, even today.

[WGoyer]

Well the GN6 CNC is just excellent, but Hardinge slipped up a little with some of the GN line. GN was a joint venture between Fanuc and Siemens, so some of the Hardinge/GN machines had Siemens servos (CHNC1, Superslant). These weren't really bad servos, but had exposed brusholders that just weren't ready for the oil bath that most Hardinge machines run in. The usual drill was for the motor to get oil soaked, then take out the expensive, hi voltage drive. Hardinge ended up getting so fed up that they developed a drop in kit for the CHNCI and II to replace the brush type motors and drives.

The CHNC with GN6T had the original GE servo drives with Electrocraft motors. Not really a bad system. Still very supportable.

Warren

www.uptimecorp.com

[bborb]

Any leads on purchasing a GN6 operator/maintenance manual.
Any help is appreciated.

[WGoyer]

The manuals are split into Operators and Maintenance. Also the GN6 came in several versions. Do you need the ones for a mill or lathe? They also had what is called the B version and the "level up" version. So if you had a Hardinge lathe with the "level Up" mother board, you would need a 6TB-2 Operator's manual and a 6TB-2 Maintenance Manual.

What do you have? You might need to get the mother board part number to be sure.

Warren

www.uptimecorp.com

[bborb]

Thanks for the response.
I've left the shop for the day, I'll definitely check Monday on the particulars.

[bborb]

I took a picture of the control, here's the link:
http://home.fuse.net/consultec/images/GN6.jpg
It's on a 3 axis milling machine.
Are manuals available?

[bborb]

Does pressing "P" plus "CANCEL" during power-up clear for homing like it does on an OM control? Anybody have an alarm list? error codes? manuals?

[WGoyer]

I think Fanuc America still has these. I can tell from the picture that it isn't a 6MA, but would need the mother board part number to tell if it is a 6MB or 6MB-2. When you get the number, ask Fanuc for a Maintenance Manual and Operator's manual.

P/Cancel doesn't work with this model.

Warren
www.uptimecorp.com