Power down issue.

[elaganis]

Does anyone with a new VF2SS have an issue with the spindle dropping over a 1/4" when the machine is powered down? After my program was done the tool stopped at my R plane of .250" not an issue. However, after shutting down the machine it buried the tool, breaking it, into my piece.
My VM3 does NOT do this?

[HAILINHAAS]

vm3 has an PFDM .. power failure detect module ... the brake on the Z-axis doesn't engage right away .. e-stop machine first .. than power down.

[elaganis]

Thanks!

[Kool Parts]

A good habit to get into is always use power up..that returns the machine to xyza 0.0, then E stop, then power off. That is where it will go when you power up the machine anyway. This kind of puts it to bed

[Geof]

Get the Power Failure Detection Module!!!!!!!! It is only a few hundred bucks.

If you have a power outage while the machine is running it will also drop and if you have a big tool doing a few thousand rpm bits of hard stuff fly everywhere, not to mention the part is now scrap.

I think all the Haas machines with high speed rapids have this head drop issue; I seem to recall my GR510 did it on Estop until the module was installed.

[HuFlungDung]

So in consideration of this head drop issue, how do you guys feel about the old gas spring counterweight? I sometimes wonder if I want to get 'newest used' instead of "newer used" machines in light of little irritations like that.

[Geof]

If you get a new Haas you don't have any choice. I think they should stick the power failure module on all their machines and if it really costs $400 or so just bury that in the basic machine price.

I have seen Threads where people discussed the same issue on other machines so it is not unique to Haas.

[Shotout]

Originally Posted by Kool Parts A good habit to get into is always use power up..that returns the machine to xyza 0.0, then E stop, then power off. That is where it will go when you power up the machine anyway. This kind of puts it to bed

We where taught in school to always park the machine in a different position for powerdown. Supposedly to prevent excessive wear in one area of the ways, same reason for remounting vices in a different position every quarter. Is this just a personal preference of my instructor or is it valid?

Scott

[Geof]

Originally Posted by Shotout We where taught in school to always park the machine in a different position for powerdown. Supposedly to prevent excessive wear in one area of the ways, same reason for remounting vices in a different position every quarter. Is this just a personal preference of my instructor or is it valid? Scott

I don't think these kind of worries are totally valid. When the machine is stationary it is not wearing the ways. Remounting the vises may have a little bit of validity if you were always doing identical parts so you were always working in exactly the same limited region of the ways and ballscrew.

Regarding parking the machine before powerdown this is something I insist on. Hit HOME G28 and bring up the WARM UP program before POWER OFF.

There are two reasons for this:

First, it is a good idea to do the spindle warm up every morning particularly with high speed spindles. If the warm up program is brought up then it is not possible to kick the spindle up to maximum rpm after it has been sitting over a long weekend and filled the bottom bearing with oil.

Second is a safety issue. The POWER UP RESTART will start the machine homing even if the doors are open. It moves slowly but it is still a hazard, especially the toolchanger which doesn't move slowly on a side mount..

[serviceman]

depending on the version software if you hit the estop first the head will not drop when you power off.

[Geof]

Originally Posted by serviceman depending on the version software if you hit the estop first the head will not drop when you power off.

So if you are omniscient you can hit Estop a few seconds before a power outage .

[Kool Parts]

o if you are omniscient you can hit Estop a few seconds before a power outage
I think serviceman was speaking to the original question, not about a power outage....but "omniscient"....

You are right about the power up working with the doors open though.
I would bet that you didn't have to buy lunch for the shop...if they got the door open switch disabled before the installer's truck got out of the parking lot I know I did...