Haas HSM

[JPMach]

Tool change speed is not realated to the HSM option, that is with the Super Speed machines only. Your Vf-4 must be a Vf-4SS.

JP

[axis]

yes hsm will make a tool changes faster if you have the side mount tool changer the next tool will be called when the machine i still cutting there for making the tools change faster the the ss makes the tool swap faster.

[JPMach]

HSM does not change the speed of tool changes. I have a VF-4 with side mount and no HSM. There is just a setting you can turn on to allow staging of tools. Then in the program right after you have turned on and start moving with one tool you simply call the next tool with out the M6. It will then stage that tool. When you want to change to that tool then all you need is to put an M6 in, although I usually put the tool number in again just as a safety call.

Without programming that way it will seem as though HSM is doing that only because it looks further through the program than normal and knows which tool is next. With no HSM the control will still stage tools, its just that by the time the control sees a tool change in the look ahead buffer, if its more than 3 or 4 pockets to move to that tool you will still have to wait for it to get there.

The best way is just to program with staged tools, then when a M6 does occur the next tool is waiting already. Yes the SS machines have a much faster arm swing for the tool swap than normal. You still have to cut that speed down for large or overweight tools though so the high speed swap is only good for small lightweight tools, which if you load drills in collet chucks qualifys but load drills in larger drill chucks they may have to be flagged.

All the HSM option does is give the machine a much larger look ahead buffer, such that it can see changes in direction and prepare for them, thus keeping the feedrate closer to actual prgrammed through all the small moves. With out the HSM it is more like the control has to stop at each location and then proceed onto the next.

JP

[gar]

070806-1428 EST USA

My guess is that with HSM if you do calculations, such as sin and cos, to determine a next location in a loop, then you would see smaller pauses if any.

For example consider machining a Cycloid of some sort.

.

[Geof]

I was told by the Haas question man that HSM will speed up the calculation of macros which is what I think gar is referring to. They mentioned something about the HSM using additional math coprocessors for faster calculations.

Regarding the side mount tool changer I have two newish VF2s and they will bring the next tool into position even without a precall. Or at least that is what it seems to me because we took programs from a VF2 with carousel changer with no modification.

[Mosher]

Originally Posted by JPMach TSC = Through spindle coolant. Something to consider heavily if all the machine is going to do is drill. Coolant fed drills don't need to be pecked and can be pushed very fast. JP

We were looking at this, however the salesman moved away from it saying that it probably wouldn't be necessary because we are only drilling Aluminum and none of them are thick peices either.... quite a bit of it will be hollow tubing, with some custom extrusions that are not that thick and have gaps in them to allow for lubrication flow.

I think we have moved away from HSM, or we will go for the trial but I don't think we will see a lot of it's benifits.

[Mosher]

As for the Probing package that was suggested, does this just determine when your bits are becoming worn or broken?

Sorry if these questions seem stupid, this is my first time ever dealing with CNC Machining Centres....

[big_mak]

The probe package will set your tool lengths, and diameters if you wish. You can set it up to do tool breakage detection as well. So it will stop if your tool is broken by a predetermined length. This option also comes with the work probe as well, which will make the simple edge finder redundant, as you can pick up work corners and center of bores and bosses. Haas did a bang up job with the Quick code probing.

[MDLang]

I can't help but think if all your going to be doing is drilling shallow holes in aluminum then your looking at the wrong machine. Perhaps a super mini or Fanuc drill mate would be wiser and allot cheaper if the part size is right.

As for through coolant, If I was going to buy a used machine the size of a VF-4 I wouldn't buy it without through coolant so you may want to consider resale along with the other numerous benefits of through coolant.

Mike