Alarms???

[CaptainKev]

When I command my VF5 to run 300 rpm clockwise, it runs 10 rpm counter clockwise. When I command it to run 2,000 rpm CW, it changes gear and goes to 42 rpm CCW. When I command it to run any speed up to 7,500 rpm CW it runs 42 rpm CCW. The actual speed displayed on the CRT appears to be right. When If I change directions, the spindle changes direction, but not the correct direction. To add to this comedy of errors, the spindle load meter reads 200% 75kw and it never pulls more than 13 amps at the drive input. By the way, the machine software appears was totally ignorant of these shenanigans. When I tell the machine to orient the spindle, it turns 5 rpm ccw, 5 rpm cw and bellies up with an alarm of "Error 237 Spindle not following"

This ought to be a simple question....why would the machine detect a speed mismatch at orienting speed and be totally clueless that it just spent an hour running the spindle motor and the encoder in the wrong direction at the wrong speeds. As for the load meter and the 13 amp 230 VAC vector drive input draw, since the fastest the actual spindle turns is 42 rpm, 13 amps is way high, since the max this motor should draw at the top end is 18 amps.

So, what part(s) of the Haas mystery maze is actually having a problem, is it the Vector drive, the encoder, or the MOCON board, or is it some other device?? Any help would be appreciated since this has been going on for days.
CaptainKev.

[NWSERVICEGUY]

Ok by the spindle not following error, I would imagine that you have a vector drive machine. Too make sure you could open the back electrical panel door and just above the machine transformer (bottom right of cabinet) you will have either a spindle drive or a vector drive. I would bet just one kidney that you have a vector drive machine. This is very important to know. So lets assume that this is a vector drive machine. Your problem more than likely is that your encoder belt and/or encoder pulley is bad. Machines that do not have a vector drive only use the encoder for rigid tapping. The various spindle drives (other than vector drives) get a speed command from the controller and then make the spindle go to speed. When rigid tapping with a non-vector drive and vector drive machine the encoder is used to sinc up with the z axis encoder for tapping. Vector drive machines use the encoder for speed control also when commanded. The encoder belt is in one of a few places on the machine. Depending on the configuration of your machine your encoder will either be on top of the motor (non gearbox machine), or toward the back left hand side of the of the motor.

If your machine is in fact a non-vector drive machine, then you have a problem with your spindle drive. Feel free to message me if you have any other questions. My email is jphelpscnc@gmail.com

Hope this helps.
James