Newbie- Need Help** How to use HAAS SL30 tailstock in a program

[Powder_Keg]

I am trying to find out if anyone can shed some light on my problem. While running my lathe (Haas SL30) i had an extra long part i needed to make. Soi drew the part loaded it on the machine and where i input the modal code, M21 for the tail stock to move forward, it went to where i had it set but thats it. The machine just stayed on that line instead of contuinuing with the program. What am i doing wrong and how is the TS supposed to be set up cause im not sure if i did that right. I looked in the manual but it says nothing on the TS operations, it just talks about the codes used and thats it. PLease help if you can

Thanks

P/K

[tc26]

I don't have any experience with HAAS lathes, only mills.
I checked in my HAAS reference and found that M21 (lathe) uses settings 93, 94, 106, 107, 121, 145. Have you looked at these settings and how they relate to M21 ?

[Powder_Keg]

ya i messed with it today and got it to work but not too sure if i set it up right. there is alot of G coding i had to do cause if i set it up like the manual says the tool will never touch the part with out hitting the alarm. so i wrote a program using B axis and after trial and error i got it to work but i am still trying to find out if there is any hints on the right way to set this up.

Thanks for the reply!!

[Kevin Schmidt]

Haas HL-2 uses Parameters 104, 105, and 106 to set the tailstock distances. The default values in my machine are 2 inch approach, 3 inch retract, final destination value, which is a negative number from machine home. Then simply code M21 and M22 in the program. But I have a question too. I started another thread for it. What is the B column in the work offset page?

[Powder_Keg]

The B colum is for where your TS is located. The way i figured out how to use the TS was to "G" code it. The modal codes just do not work as good also might not have the setting 104 105 etc set right. An example of what my program looks like when i command the TS to move is

G00 B-15 (rapid move)
G01 B-16.4 F1 (slower feed move into stock)

Then to retract it you can not enter a positive value the TS positioning is all absolute. so to retract,

G00 B-5 (that moves it 5" away from its home which is 0)

i use setting 93 and 94 to set the saftey limits but the only way i can run it with the TS is to do a Z movement twards the chuck and then a X movement (on the next line) twards the part. If it is not commanded that way EX

G00 x 1.1245 Z0.0995

That will rapid into the TS or trip your saftey limits.

So if this makes any sense to you or anyone else and can find a flaw in my operation and thinking PLEASE tell me so i can learn the correct way to do this.

Hope this helps and makes sense

P.S. what is the link to your other thread?

[Powder_Keg]

Also can you show me what one of your programs look like when you use the modal codes. When i use the modal codes the controller reades the code but just hangs on that line and says feed and never moves??? Confused i am

[Kevin Schmidt]

My link about the work offset Bregister has zero replies but here is the link http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=68446

For the M codes to work you need values in parameter/settings 105, 106, 107 mine are 3 inch, 2inches, the absolute position from machine zero to .100 beyond the end of the stock. (in other words; -.1 of the program reference zero) Respectively.

G00 G129 X3.0 Z0.0 M21; (advaces my turret from home or the retract point, then brings in the tail stock)
M22; ( will retract my tailstock by the value contained in P/S105)

G28 B0; ( will home my tailstock)

[masonbcaldwell4]

I've used the B axis with a G code, but have had limited success. Seeing as how the readout for that axis is only one decimal, it seems to only return to "somewhere" w/in that tenth or so. I've heard that you need to preload it something like .500 into the part, but your pressure settings need some adjustment. does anyone know anything about this? what kind of pressure settings do I need? right now, I'm turning some B16, bu, like I said, with limited success. any help would be appreciated.
Mason