Looking for some Haas VF help in the Portland, OR area

[erikfriesen]

Most people can afford Fusion360, for startups it is free.

Perhaps some people use it, but I'd rather type on a qwerty keyboard. Spend a few evenings with the HAAS operators manual, it will do you more good.

If you still want it, there is probably another vqc program out there that does more like what you want. Likely yours got overwritten with the probing set, but I am not sure.

[HFO Tech]

When you're in VQC did you hit the F2 button? There should be two O9996-O9997 programs to select. I believe the O9996 programs are you VQC work templates that let you setup types of work you want to accomplish. Etc. engraving,hole pattern,face mill,tapping.

[Turbo442]

First of all, I really appreciate all of the advice and feedback from everyone here. Getting up to speed is pretty daunting, you guys are really helping to reduce my stress level.
I was able to do my first rigid tap yesterday as well as my first CAM generated program using a 3" face mill, EM and chamfer.

I was trying to write up a post with my description of my VQC issue.
I gave up and made a quick youtube video. I apologize for the annoying beeping.
I assume I am missing some files, who knows maybe I am just doing something wrong.

[Turbo442]

Ok,

One more question for you guys when you have a minute.
I am trying to make a backup of my machine settings.
Do you guys think this is a case of an incompatible thumb drive or did the backup work?

I was just looking now at the backup from my PC. I dont see any files but I do see 49,152 bytes being used.
Was this possibly a successful backup?

[precisionmetal]

Is your USB stick correctly formatted for use in the 3.5" to USB drive?

I have the unit from Laser Motion in my machine, and sending data to the *drive* is pretty normal, but then writing the date from the drive to the USB stick takes a specific sequence of button pushes.

Some drives (like mine) will auto-format the USB stick into partitions, but many of the drives on the market require you to use a small program on your PC to partition the USB stick into 1.44meg partitions.

PM

[Turbo442]

Precisionmetal, BIG THANKS!!!! for helping with this!!!

I found a free program on the web called 'Bach Manage Tool V1.40'
It allowed me to format the disk and get the files off it.

Could some one confirm if the 6 files I saved look correct for a 2004 Haas VF2 backup? (photo number 3)

[precisionmetal]

The .VAR and .SET files are the crucial ones to keep copies of.

The offsets, history, variables and programs... probably not overly critical, but never hurts to have everything backed up.

Something else you might want to check on -- if you received the original manual with the machine, there may be a "build sheet" (probably half a dozen pages or so) somewhere in the manual. If the original buyer purchased any options with the machine that were "extras", you will find the individual unlock codes for those probably on the first page of the build sheets -- (unlock codes should be a 5-digit number for each option unlocked).

Something I did on my machine when I first got it (bought used) and was sure everything was working correctly: I put my phone in video mode, aimed it at the screen, and stepped through every Parameter and Setting page on the controller. It's saved me once already... being able to run back through that video and check a value buried 30 pages deep in the parameters is priceless if there's an issue or something needs tweaking. As an fyi: the raw Parameter file (the one you just backed up) is not easily "readable" compared to just playing back a video and looking at parameters.

:-)

PM

[Turbo442]

The .VAR and .SET files are the crucial ones to keep copies of.

The offsets, history, variables and programs... probably not overly critical, but never hurts to have everything backed up.
PM

Precisionmetal,

Since I have the original Haas backup disk that shipped with the machine, do you think I would find the original program files and macros on this disk? Possibly in the *****.pgm file? I have a USB floppy drive around here somewhere. I need to find it and see whats on there and back it up to the cloud.

So let me take a stab at this...

*****.HIS would be the saved history (like alarm)
*****.OFS would be a copy of the current offset tables
*****.PAR would contain all of the parameter table settings
*****.PGM would contain the programs that shipped with the machine from Haas like the spindle warm up and all of the macros? What about the VQC and QC stuff? is that here as well?
*****.SET specific motor / servo tuning data???
*****.VAR ????

I found this online


.ATM Advanced Tool Management

.HIS History

.IPS IPS Probe

.PAL Pallet Positions

.PAR Parameters

.PGM Programs

.SET Settings

.VAR Variables

.OFF Offsets







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[Turbo442]

Yes I have the original red manual, with the build sheet, list of all parameters, option list, unlock codes and original floppy disk. I wanted to make a backup to the USB in case anything changed. How do the unlock codes work? Is there some 8 bit encryption tied to the SN of my machine and the unlock code or do the unlock codes work on any VF2?


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[Turbo442]

Yes I have the original red manual, with the build sheet, list of all parameters, option list, unlock codes and original floppy disk. I wanted to make a backup in case anything changed. How do the unlock codes work? Is there some 8 bit encryption tied to the SN of my machine and the unlock code or do the unlock codes work on any VF2?


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[precisionmetal]

The unlock codes will be specific to your machine.

[Turbo442]

The unlock codes will be specific to your machine.

ok cool

[Turbo442]

My machine has the air blast option. I am not finding much information in the manual about it. I have tried 'shift' and then 'coolant' and nothing happens. I have tried M83 (air blast on) and M84 (air blast off)...nothing either. I was wondering if I possibly need to connect a separate air input? Or maybe the air blast solenoid parameter is just set incorrectly. I will dig into it today.

[Turbo442]

My machine has the air blast option. I am not finding much information in the manual about it. I have tried 'shift' and then 'coolant' and nothing happens. I have tried M83 (air blast on) and M84 (air blast off)...nothing either. I was wondering if I possibly need to connect a separate air input? Or maybe the air blast solenoid parameter is just set incorrectly. I will dig into it today.

Ok, found out why the air blast was not working. Here is the relay on the board. The led will light with a M83 or SHIFT COOLANT. When the LED is on you will be out putting 120VAC and the air blast solenoid should be flowing air.

Luckly the LED was on and the board was outputting 120VAC.



The air blast solenoid wires leave the bottom of the cabinet here.



Here is the air blast solenoid right next to the main air regulator underneath the electrical cabinet.



The solenoid was mounted before any water traps, perhaps Haas was intending to use it as a water trap. At any rate, water contamination to the solenoid was the root cause of the failure.
No saving this little guy.



Here it is from HAAS
SOLENOID, VALVE ASSEMBLY 2W/2P M-CONNECTOR 27" AUTO AIR GUN | Solenoids | Automatic Air Gun | Spindle Head | Find Replacement Parts | Haas Parts | Genuine OEM Haas Automation® Parts Factory-Direct


Lots of them for sale on EBAY
55B-11PI-421BAAD | eBay

[Turbo442]

I have placed an order for parts from the HAAS website last week. This routed the order to my local HFO apparently in Wilsonville, OR.

The HFO has yet to contact me about the order which is a little disappointing. I will be working near Oxnard, CA next week. Does anyone know of its possible for me to stop by the factory and place my order with them or even do a will call on my parts?

[Turbo442]

I know everyone likes to say Haas power...but the spindle was bigger than I expected.

[precisionmetal]

The spindles aren't very large, relative to other machines -- but the motor is decent sized.

Nice work on the air blast issue.

The HFO in SoCal is:

Haas Factory Outlet - Anaheim
A Division of Machining Time Savers, Inc.
1338 South State College Parkway
Anaheim, CA 92806
Phone: (714) 635-7373
Fax: (714) 635-3268
info@mtscnc.com

[Turbo442]

The spindles aren't very large, relative to other machines -- but the motor is decent sized.
]

dang it!

[Turbo442]

Here is my 'Haas repair of the day'.

The programmable coolant nozzle was cycling back and forth trying to home itself and then generating the 'COOLANT SPIGOT' error after 3-4 swings.

I tried cleaning up the switch with contact cleaner. It was intermittently not making contact. I found a suitable replacement switch in the micro switch drawer.

[precisionmetal]

Does your machine have through-spindle coolant, or just the normal external coolant?