Need Help!- Configuring a VF-8 with an HA5C indexer.

[STEELwaryor]

I am trying to use a fourth axis on my VF-8. I have read the manuals and it says remote operation is possible with user defined M codes. I am new to Haas machines. It say's something about optional M code terminals? The mill is equiped with an A axis to plug the HA5C into. Are there any parameters I need to change? Anyone have the patients to help me with what is probably a simple task?

[Geof]

When you run a Haas indexer on a Haas machine plugged into the 4th (A) axis connection you do not need to worry about user defined M codes or the M code terminals.

Connect up the indexer with the machine power turned off.

Go into Settings, find Setting 30 4th axis enable and scroll through the choices using the right cursor key. Select the one you have by pressing write. Now you can program it as a full fourth axis or just index it with single commands. A will have shown up on the work offset pages.

[makingchips]

I'm New to Haas but I know there are settings that need to be changed.

http://www.haascnc.com/manual/getfile.asp?file_id=36
And
http://www.haascnc.com/customer_serv...ry/96-0315.pdf
And
http://www.haascnc.com/customer_serv...mc/96-8000.pdf

Should get you where you need to be.

MC

[STEELwaryor]

So to index it to 315° just enter a line in the program A315.0?

[Geof]

Originally Posted by STEELwaryor So to index it to 315° just enter a line in the program A315.0?

That is it.

When you power up the rotary will home itself along with the machine however you may need to set a rotary work offset so you zero out any fixture you may use with the rotary. Then your 315 degrees is done in this work offset.

[STEELwaryor]

I turned the machine back on and after homing the machine I got an error "A axis servo error too large" ? I did not change any parameters, only the setting numbers 30 and 34.

Any idea's

[HuFlungDung]

I always put the machine into Estop, hook up the rotary, change setting 30 to the correct indexer model, then clear Estop, clear all the alarms, then home the A axis. Quite often it will interrupt the homing sequence once with some warning (A axis overheat or some such) but I clear it and restart the homing and it finishes.

Even if you hook up the rotary with the machine powered down, you should press Estop before you power back up, so that you can enable the correct parameters before turning the servos on.

[Geof]

Originally Posted by STEELwaryor I turned the machine back on and after homing the machine I got an error "A axis servo error too large" ? I did not change any parameters, only the setting numbers 30 and 34. Any idea's

Is this a new indexer? If the answer is yes contact your Haas supplier.

If it is used just power down and start up again, as Hu says sometimes they get fussy first time homing.

Does it move when it tries to home? Maybe something is stuck.

Can you move it by jogging. To do this with homing the machine you have to go into Settings and turn on Jog Without Zero Return. Be really careful doing this and before you try to move the A axis bring up Current Commands so you can see the servo load. If the load starts going up and nothing is moving you do have a problem.

[STEELwaryor]

I went over all the parameters for A axis (43 and 44) and they are all set to what they are suppose to be. Even when the indexer is installed and activated the way HU suggested, the machine Y axis homes and then the alarm comes on, after resetting the alarm I can't even jog the XYZ axis with the hand control?
I connected the control that the rotary came with and it homes fine and rotates without any problem. So that rules out the cables and the motor.

[HuFlungDung]

BTW, there is a long list of parameters to go along with the A axis. You can get the parameter list from Haas. Not sure if that will help. When my used machine showed up, some parameters for the rotary were not correct. IIRC, the parameters are different for each size of Haas rotary.

[lkenney]

On my control there are several rotary devices listed, I assume that you choose the correct device.

Eagle

[Haas_Apps]

Originally Posted by STEELwaryor I am trying to use a fourth axis on my VF-8. I have read the manuals and it says remote operation is possible with user defined M codes. I am new to Haas machines. It say's something about optional M code terminals? The mill is equiped with an A axis to plug the HA5C into. Are there any parameters I need to change? Anyone have the patients to help me with what is probably a simple task?

Call us at 800-278-8500 we can help.