Coolant and Chip evacuation...Poor design?

[gpcoe]

How many others are using HAAS VMC's for production? We have 6 VF-2's and 3 VF-3's and despite the chip augers they are always clogging with chips over the coolant drains. These are the models with the drain above the auger (dumb). It seems I'm always having to stop in the middle of an op to clear off the drain because the coolant sump is nearly dry and/or the pump is cavitating and foaming up the coolant. This is a pain in the ass finding a point to stop during some long 3D milling ops. Does anyone else face this problem? Any good solutions? I've tried aiming the auxiliary hose with a fan coolant nozzle over the drain to flush away chips, but it seems to only add to the problem by putting more coolant in the cabinet. It's about the most piss poor design ever. More chips end up collecting on the cabinet floor than in the auger. The worst is when I'm clearing the drain and it drains too quick and floods out on the shop floor. I could go on and on. Any suggestions on modifications are welcome.

Thanks

Greg

[heilcnc]

had same problem place i worked that had haas did not at place that had fadal
like fadal better in many ways tried to get them to buy fadal but they got mayzak
worse junk haas good at the milling but the coolant problem sucks worse when you machine plastic buy fadal problem fixed

[Delw]

I have the same problem. however the holes above the bottom of the chip auger in my opinion are the best idea.(except for alum) otherwise it would be dammed up to fast and flood faster due to smaller chips.
chips still build up on the floor of the machine on the left side, I been looking into ways to make it work better.
The sprayer thats just at the bottom of the z axis in my opinion should be put on both sides as well this will flush the chips into the auger.
I noticed that I have to open the sides and wash them down with the hose towards the auger. I am running a face mill and hogging out lots of material at .100 depth of cuts and the chips tend to build up in side trays.

the other problem is the screen in the coolant pump, I think there should be a double screen one that is above the the tank and just below the the bottom of the machine.
Yesterday I was contemplating on ordering and extra screen and fabricate it in to machine.
while this really wont prevent anything it will keep the fine chips from pooling upon the coolant tank screen allowing you to pull it out dump it while the machine is running, and still have a screen in the coolant tank.

Alumin tends too float in the coolant, at least the fine chips do, this is why the holes above the bottom are a problem, on steel/stainless they are fine, if they had a spray bar on that left side I think it would help keep the alum chips from building up in those drain holes.

In looking into this over the last few weeks I think you would need to have another pump installed cause just one wont work as there wont be enough pressure.

I have a fadal without a auger system and I have the same problem with the finer chips. I need to make a cage so to speak about 4inchs tall with holes all the way around it so when the bottom screen gets clogged the coolant will still drain.

Delw

[gpcoe]

Sorry. I should have mentioned that we do mostly aluminum and it's mostly the fines that cover the grate. When I'm doing stainless and titanium it doesn't seem to be as much of a problem. Roughing aluminum actually seems to be a bit better as the larger chips still allow coolant to flow by and drain off. It's the fines that kill us. Also I've found that if I pull all the chips out of the auger spout, it helps a bit. It seems everything that's in there that isn't a giant stringy chip gets pulled back in rather than pushed out. HAAS Apps. Anything in the works to fix this type of issue. We like our HAAS machines, but this coolant issue hampers production and that means finding another brand next time around...or so I've heard in the rumor mill anyways.

I Do have to say though, it's fairly impressive watching the 600 IPM roughing cycles we're doing. Once I ironed out some of the HSM options, this became much smoother and I have a little more faith in these machines to handle those feedrates. In aluminum at least.

[Delw]

I hope you find an answer to the fines, cause I have the same problem. I think a modified spray bar would be a wise idea, this will keep the fines from floating on the top were the holes are also.
I was looking at mine just about an hour ago, thinking hmmm I am going to try it on the auger spout side. but I dont want to cut any holes in the new machine yet .


Delw

[Delw]

Gpcoe
this is going sound a little redneck but I had to try something since I was here.

I took a hose and shoved it through the right side window(less coolant splash except for the face mil) ran it to the left side were the coolant drains, blocked it up about 4" away from the holes on the front side of the machine pointed down towards the auger a tadd. then cracked the valve on the back side, of the machine(washdown hose connection is what I used) just so its enough to make the plastic aerated so to speak, I didnt run it all that much but did find it helped to keep the fine chips from clogging the holes at least on the very front of the machine. my coolant drained faster

Then Just for the heck of it I moved the hose to the back of the machine with a nozzle and had it spray towards the auger it helped alot to clear out the chips(both big and small) into the auger.

Again I only played with it for 2 hours at the most, while the machine was running production.
I really think that block below the "Z" axis that shoots water will work on both sides of the machine. I am going to have to build me two and try them.
Next week is a holiday weekend so maybe then as I have some other projects to work on as well.
I did notice that I had plenty of pressure when the washdown hose was running full(with no nozzle on it) and the head coolant lines were running as well. I only lost a very litle bit of pressure but its still shooting out pretty fast and hard.

Hope that helps at least a tad.
Delw

[panaceabea]

I wonder if this is something haas as adressed with the newer machines? I have a new vf4 running alot of 3d in aluminum and havent had any problems as long as the auger is running. Chips load up every 10 minutes or so , I just program the auger to turn on every 5 minutes for 30 seconds

[fuzzyracing1967]

There is a thread in the haas forum somewhere that says about making a star shaped wiper that helps with the chips,when the chip screw turns it turns.Do a search and look it up,or maybe someone knows what I'm talking about and will point you in the right direction .Aside from that I have found if you close off the hole on the left side of the tray around the table the chips are forced to go to the right and they seem to not float so much,so when you run the screw they they don't block the drain holes so much.

[Cory]

Originally Posted by fuzzyracing1967 There is a thread in the haas forum somewhere that says about making a star shaped wiper that helps with the chips,when the chip screw turns it turns.Do a search and look it up,or maybe someone knows what I'm talking about and will point you in the right direction .Aside from that I have found if you close off the hole on the left side of the tray around the table the chips are forced to go to the right and they seem to not float so much,so when you run the screw they they don't block the drain holes so much.

You can buy this.

It's called the Chipenator and it's sold by US Shop Tools.

[onemanband]

Have you looked into getting a product call chip trap? you would be able to open up the holes then this product goes where the catch pan is now catching all the fine chips and keeps them from entering your coolant tank then plugging your p-cool lines
follow this link http://store.store-chiptrap.com/chiptrap.html
Good Luck

[Delw]

I wouldnt open my coolant holes but I like that product you posted, I may have to try one as that will keep my filters by the pumps cleaner. Thats pretty cool, thanks for the link.

[gpcoe]

I like the chipinator...I'll have to look into the trap too...Thanks A Lot

Greg