engraving

[wadetool]

i tried to engrave today,no luck.apparently i lost
all the files for that,along with my quickcode files.
i was able to reload the QC file,O9999,but the engraving file
O9876 can't be loaded with macros switched off,it will cost me
a service call to switch on macros,reload O9876,then
switch macros back off.

anybody know a better way?i could buy millwrite for about
the same price,but then i couldn't program at the machine.

[Geof]

Originally Posted by wadetool .....it will cost me a service call to switch on macros,reload O9876,then switch macros back off. anybody know a better way?...

If this is a fairly new machine it may still have the T beside the macro turn on parameter. This means you can turn it on for a trial period.

[wadetool]

it's too old,we looked at that,but it wasn't there.

[Geof]

Originally Posted by wadetool it's too old,we looked at that,but it wasn't there.

I just checked my manual and this is what is says for Setting 23 9xxxx PROGS EDIT LOCK; This is an On/Off setting. When it is off, the machine operates normally. When it is on, the 9000 series programs (usually macro programs) are invisible to the operator and cannot be uploaded or downloaded. They also cannot be listed, edited or deleted.

You should check Setting 23 and make sure it is off.

[wadetool]

it's in the right position,i can get at my O9999,
but the O9876 is missing,and loading it means i
have to get the macros enabled,about a $2000
option i don't have.but the service guy will do it
long enough to load the files i need,then switch it
back,for a $350 service call.only take about 10
minutes.the thing is i got a job,maybe,if i can
figure out how to engrave.

[GaryCorlew]

what do you want to engrave some letters?

[NC Cams]

No matter how you put it, you seem to be trying to get around buying a $2000 option offered by your machine tool supplier.

The service guy is also not doing his company a favor by "legally" getting around forking over the $2k option price with some shenanigans with service call hokus pokus. What would you do if one of YOUR employees started giving away YOUR technologies????

Sadly, the machine tool people are too busy trying to make money selling trinkets at rip off prices as opposed to selling full featured machines with REASONABLY priced "options". These guys give greed a bad name.

Then again what is a reasonable option price??? Now, it seems that folks think $2k is unreasonable. Is $1000 reasonable. I contend that at $10, some folks simply still won't want to pay for AN option.

If the bylaws of the site won't allow the swapping of copyrighted programs (understandable), they probably also shouldn't tolerate efforts to cirumvent the payment required to turn on a machine feature option in a parameter list.

[Geof]

Originally Posted by NC Cams No matter how you put it, you seem to be trying to get around buying a $2000 option offered by your machine tool supplier. .....

NC stop going on in such a manner. On Haas machines engraving is a standard feature; nobody is trying to pull a fast one and get something for nothing. It uses the macro capability of the machine even when the Macro option is not turned on. The service charge that wadetool is faced with seems a bit high but we don't know how far the service tech has to travel.

[wadetool]

about a mile and a half.it'll only take 15 minutes but i gotta
pay for the whole hour,$350/hr for the first hour,$150/hr
after that.

[Geof]

Originally Posted by wadetool about a mile and a half.it'll only take 15 minutes but i gotta pay for the whole hour,$350/hr for the first hour,$150/hr after that.

'Seems a bit high' was deliberately an understatement. The major gripe I have with Haas is they seem to have exclusive arrangements with the dealers so the dealers can almost charge what they like as there is no competition. $350 for the first hour is a rip off I think.

[miljnor]

holly cow 350/hr for the first hour is Rape!

Aint that illegal? And do they buy you dinner first!

I am in shock I am going to have to lay down!