SMTC crashed

[JPMach]

I have a Vf-4 with sidemount atc and it has crashed. I am scheduled for a service call on Monday but would like to avoid it if at all possible.
First the machine went to change a tool and everything froze up, E-stop, reset nothing worked. The tool arm was in its home posistion yet the next tool was still up and there was a tool in the spindle. All I could do was restart the mill. Upon doing this when I pressed the power up reset it imediatly tried to change tools and faulted out with the tool arm clamped to the tool in the spindle.
It would not let me do a tool recover as the axis were not homed. Eventually by changing to allow jogging before homing I did manage to get the tool out of the spindle and arm.
Then with the arm down and halfway through its travel I tried the tool recvoery button and that said that the z axis was not homed and to press y to home the axis. When I press Y the first thing that happens is the arm moves part way through its movement and faults out. I have called the local service tech and after looking at a few relays to make sure they were working he decided a service call was needed. Keep in mind nothing is broken it just can't find the arm.
What I think would work is if there was some way I could lie to the machine so it thinks the arm is in its home posistion and then I could get the axis homed and be able to use the tool recover button as normal.
Can I do this by changing a bit in the diagnosis or if it is a prox switch tape a nickel over it or something?

To me it seems like this is a software glitch since it could have just as easily been in the middle of a tool change and the power go out I would be in the same situation.
Thanks
JP

[JPMach]

After talking to the factory service tech I have fixed the problem.
It turns out that all of the parameters ahd gone back to system defaults which meant it thought it had a umbrella tool changer and everything else. I just went through the parameter printout in the back of my book and changed everything back to what it was the day I got it and woalla it works.

JP

[Geof]

Originally Posted by JPMach After talking to the factory service tech I have fixed the problem. It turns out that all of the parameters ahd gone back to system defaults which meant it thought it had a umbrella tool changer and everything else. I just went through the parameter printout in the back of my book and changed everything back to what it was the day I got it and woalla it works. JP

Did they say anything about getting your memory battery that is soldered to the board replaced. It sounds like yours might be getting iffy.

[JPMach]

No, The machine is only 14 months old.
I was just re calibrating my probes and stuff and the root problem has shown up.
Everything just froze up and 3/4 of my screen is completly highlighted a light greenish blue, Not even the E-stop works nothing.
I called the techs and they are checking into right now, sounds as if I might have to get a new microprocessor.

JP

[Geof]

Originally Posted by JPMach No, The machine is only 14 months old........, sounds as if I might have to get a new microprocessor.JP

Oh No! It would have been better planning to have this happen 2 months and a few days earlier. I suppose Murphy's law rules again.

Incidentally on a different topic but one started by you a few months ago...the Haas GT20. Mine is scheduled to arrive on March 30, 2006. I had a look at one operating a while back and I think it might be a handy little machine.

[JPMach]

If I ever find that Murphy guy, I'm gonna kill em
I do have the machine runing no, the problem is eratic. I almost hope it dies again on like saturday or sunday so I can just leave it on for the service tech to look at, otherwise I don't think he will find much.

To bad the local service techs don't look like the ones in haas's latest round of advertisments. If one of those blondes was around here I would be calling them to come take a look at every little thing.

JP