Problem- tool change issue

[Diedesigner]

Hi all,

We just acquired a Mitsui Seiki VS5A vmc with a Fanuc 11M control. It is a late Eighties vintage machine (!) with a static ATC, meaning each tool is assigned to it's own pot, and gets put back into that pot when a tool change is called (atc's were less sophisticated back then). Why such an old machine? It has low miles,was extremely low cost, and besides that it has glass scales for accuracy.

I am having an issue trying to change tools within a program. I can change tools in MDI, with the caveat being that in between I have to type in T0 M6 to "park" the tool that is in the spindle back into it's position in the ATC before I can call another tool. Logically I should be able to incorporate the same "park" command in the program before issuing a tool change, but it doesn't work.

I have tried all kinds of variations, both with & without the T0M6 but nothing seems to work. The machine will load the first tool and run it's operation, but freezes up at the next tool change. It doesn't matter if you try a different set of tool numbers.

Example:

O1701
G90G80G54G40G17
T10
G91G30X0Y0Z0M06
S1146M03
G54G0G90X-4.733Y-4.098M08
G43H10Z2.T2
G0X-4.733Y-4.098
G98G81X-4.733Y-4.098Z-0.1R0.1F3.0
X-1.3Y-2.21
X2.343Y-0.768
G80
M09
G91G28Z0M5
M01
T12
G91G30X0Y0Z0M06 <----MACHINE STOPS HERE AND DOES NOTHING (T12 DOES NOT LOAD)

S540M03
G54G0G90X-4.733Y-4.098M08
G43H12Z2.T7
G0X-4.733Y-4.098…

Does anyone have experience with this type of older machine & ATC? Any help or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

-Chris

[dblox]

Just wondering if it's actually the M01 which is "freezing up" your machine? Otherwise sorry I have no idea how your controller or toolchanger work.

[Torsten]

Originally Posted by Diedesigner Hi all, We just acquired a Mitsui Seiki VS5A vmc with a Fanuc 11M control. It is a late Eighties vintage machine (!) with a static ATC, meaning each tool is assigned to it's own pot, and gets put back into that pot when a tool change is called (atc's were less sophisticated back then). Why such an old machine? It has low miles,was extremely low cost, and besides that it has glass scales for accuracy. I am having an issue trying to change tools within a program. I can change tools in MDI, with the caveat being that in between I have to type in T0 M6 to "park" the tool that is in the spindle back into it's position in the ATC before I can call another tool. Logically I should be able to incorporate the same "park" command in the program before issuing a tool change, but it doesn't work. I have tried all kinds of variations, both with & without the T0M6 but nothing seems to work. The machine will load the first tool and run it's operation, but freezes up at the next tool change. It doesn't matter if you try a different set of tool numbers. Example: O1701 G90G80G54G40G17 T10 G91G30X0Y0Z0M06 S1146M03 G54G0G90X-4.733Y-4.098M08 G43H10Z2.T2 G0X-4.733Y-4.098 G98G81X-4.733Y-4.098Z-0.1R0.1F3.0 X-1.3Y-2.21 X2.343Y-0.768 G80 M09 G91G28Z0M5 M01 T12 G91G30X0Y0Z0M06 <----MACHINE STOPS HERE AND DOES NOTHING (T12 DOES NOT LOAD) S540M03 G54G0G90X-4.733Y-4.098M08 G43H12Z2.T7 G0X-4.733Y-4.098… Does anyone have experience with this type of older machine & ATC? Any help or suggestions will be greatly appreciated. -Chris

Try this sequence

G91G30X0Y0Z0
T12
M06

or this

G91G30X0Y0Z0
T12 M06

It seams very unusual to command a M06 Toolchange command within a Movement Block. Functionality of the M06 command varies because some call a macro that dose the positioning within.
May also try if this dose not work to add a G90 just prior to the M06 Block.

[Diedesigner]

I tried this simple test program sent to me by a Mitsui Seiki engineer, but had the same result:

O1702
T1
G91G30Z0
G91G30X0Y0
M6
G4X5.
T2
M6 <---MACHINE STOPS HERE AND WAITS, T2 DOES NOT LOAD
G4X5.
T0
M6
M30

[Algirdas]

I don't see where You put spindle tool back to it's pot in program. As for Okuma that would be M63, next line M6 - empty spindle, tool back to pot.

[Diedesigner]

Problem resolved!

A Mitsui Seiki engineer contacted me with the solution - the ATC memory had to be reset.

For those who may be interested:

There was a carrier in the zero pot, which subsequently caused there to be an empty pot elsewhere in the ATC. The machine is equipped with a hand-held independent control for the ATC. I used this control to manually move the carrier out of pot zero to the empty tool pot, and then position pot zero (now empty) into the tool change position over the swing arm.

Back to the main control panel, I had to press the "Mach Reset" and "PRP" buttons at the same time (the PRP button is similar to the "NC ON" button found on newer machines).This reset the ATC memory - everything works fine now.

Thank you all for your suggestions.
-Chris

[lil p]

i have the same machine with similar issues. our tool changer won't work at all though. i type in t05; m06; in mdi and nothing happens, it just times out. i can see the hydraulic lines flex when pressure is emitted. but sadly nothing, even when using the sub controls on the side. is there any hope for me to get this problem resolved?

[Diedesigner]

Does it do anything if you try typing: "T0 M6"?

[lil p]

i get error code 124, and i don't have the proper manuals to find out what it is.

[Diedesigner]

Your problem isn't the same as the one I was having - I suggest you try emailing Mitsui Seiki directly:

service@mitsuiseiki.com

They are the guys who helped me work through my issues. They were patient and courteous with me. They will have a better idea on how to approach your problem.

-Chris