MV40E Tool Pot Issue

[JohnnyTurn]

My 1999 Mori Seiki MV40E has a morning sickness problem.

The pnuematic ram that pushes the tool pot down prior to the arm swing out will stick in the morning and sometimes stick if the machine has been left to sit for a bit, 1/2 hour or so.

The machine will go into a "Tool change time out too long" Alarm if left in this condition for 15 seconds or so.

The fix I am doing as of right now is to go into the custom page and cycle the pot up / pot down keys until the pot cycles OK.

I have taken the cover off the carosel and cleaned and lubricated the ram. Did not help. I did notice air fittings on the ram that look adjustable, I was not sure so I left them be. It seems to me if just a bit more air pressure could reach the ram it would function perfect again.

Does anyone know how to adjust the air to the Pots Ram?

JT

[phix]

Backing the knurled screws out on the air fittings will increase the speed for the pot up/down action.

Your problem might be in the air solenoid, rather than the air cylinder. Does your lubricator bowl at the machine's air hook up have oil in it?

In the past, I've resolved issues like this by disconnecting the machine's air supply, removing the inlet air line from the solenoid, adding a few drops of light oil directly into the inlet tube, reconnect solenoid inlet tube, and reconnect machine air.

After that, go to the ATC Manual page and fire the pot up and down a few times.

Removing the solenoid valve, disassembling it, and cleaning the spool and bore will achieve better results, but make sure you insert the spool the right direction upon reassembly.

If that doesn't help, you can try adjusting the throttle valves on the up/down cylinder. Obviously, back them out slowly, and only back them out enough to achieve smooth operation.

If you have to open the throttle valves so much that the pot slams either way, you'll have to pull the cylinder off, disassemble it and clean the piston and bore.

The relatively small problem you're having now isn't worth trashing pots and/or the up/down cylinder.

[CNC Solute]

I agree with phix. the "knurled knobs" on the cylinder control flow(speed) not pressure. I had this issue and we replaced the customers solenoid valve. fire the solenoid in the custom screen and have someone watch the cylinder reaction time to see if it lags the command. Or use the manual over-rides on the solenoid to actuate the cylinder. cycle the over-rides several times back and forth if the reaction time of the cylinder improves the more it is actuated then the solenoid valve is probably sticky. Dirty air is generally the culprit.
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[underthetire]

Bad air cylinder for pot up/down. They have a low pressure lock on them that fail. A new cylinder is a few hundred bucks. Not worth trying to repair it. IT IS NOT THE AIRBLEED SCREWS. If you adjust the airbleed screws, you could cause a bouncing problem with the pot up/down that will give you other alarms