MB3 VMC-anyone have one? Questions

[underdog]

Does anyone have a early 1980's Hurco MB3?. I recently bought one and have some questions on the tool changer.

It seems to continually hang up. As usual with all machine builders, there are no step-by-step instructions for making a manual tool change (to bring up the edge finder) or for other basic processes. We did get that one figured out. I still think there must be an easier was to clear a tool change error - my mazaks (same era) let you input what tool is in the spindle. It appears with the Hurco I must make the physical world match what the controller thinks after an interrupted tool change. Also if you have a fourth axis indexer for this machine you're willing to sell - email me.

[gthlm]

I have a MD3 which is the same toolchanger I think but newer control so I'm not sure how much help this is. If the toolchanger gets interrupted for whatever reason on mine you can go into diagnostics to to manually reset anything that needs to be, then when you exit diagnostics you can tell it what tool is in the spindle and press start, then it checks that tool slot is empty in the carousel.

[bloke]

On the MB3, once recovery has started, you enter the 'tool in spindle' in block '0' and the tool that is out of place in the station as a minus figure on the 'tool in spindle' field.
For example, if the tool in spindle is 10 and the tool in the forward pocket is 18, enter two values at the 'tool in spindle' field: 10 and -18. Press toolchanger auto then start.

[underdog]

Bloke,

I'm revisiting some of my old posts. Wow I didn't see your reply about the two values in the spindle pocket field. Thanks so much. I'll have to try that. Any other conditions? I assume the plastic carrier with a tool in it is in the forward pocket or is it a carrier with no tool or no carrier at all?

I think you're a man I'd like to keep in touch with.

There is another question - pockets 8 thru 20 (or therabouts) toolchange great. If I go much beyond that either way I can be assured of a hang-up. I think an electric eye is off, but the four lights on top all light as the carousel goes around.

Should the shot pin at the rear of the MB3 toolchanger carousel come down to pin the carousel on each tool change? I don't think it moves. Of course I only see it well when I am manually indexing the carousel.

Thanks

[bloke]

The tool numbers are read by a series of proximity sensors. If there is any swarf sitting on top of the actuators machined into the top of the carousel, it may mis-read a tool number and error out.

The tool pocket that is forward in the magazine is the tool that should be entered as a -nn numbered tool. It tells the control where the forward tool came from- even if the magazine has begun rotation to another pocket.

As for the magazine pin, as far as I remember, it would move in and out on automatic rotations only.

Edit. I've just found an operators manual. Send me a PM and I'll pass it on.