Thread: Hardinge VMC 1000 swing arm stuck

The arm is stuck in the position where it's trying to remove the tool from the spindle. I'd guess that maybe the air piston
didn't release the tool. Now the alarm (number 1000) is flashing and it doesn't seem like I can do too much.
Any suggestions on how to proceed from this point?

What vintage is this machine? Is it and XP or XR series? If so there should be a motor sticking out the top of the toolchanger with a hex on the shaft that you can turn to return the arm to the origin.

Originally Posted by BobM3

I'd guess that maybe the air piston
didn't release the tool. Now the alarm (number 1000) is flashing and it doesn't seem like I can do too much.

Is there any oil in the little plastic reseviour on that air piston?
Don't be fooled by the witness mark on it from oil of yrs past.
Our 600 needs oil added all too regularly. Just use strait 40 mootor oil now - that slowed the leak up quite a bit.

(Looked for Harley oil, but no straight 50 there that day. )


Kant help with your alarm - I take it that is Fanuc?
(Mine are Siemens)
We just hit the Toolchange Recovery button and it takes care of it all.



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I am Ox and I approve this h'yah post!

The machine is just labeled VMC1000II and branded with the Hardinge name. I think the "XP" and XR" was used with the Bridgeport name. I did find the hex on the motor though. I removed the end of the swing arm that attaches to the tool in the spindle. Now, rotating the hex pushes the swing arm down and then away so I think I can at least get it into the "home" position.

There is plenty of oil in the reservoir which surprises me because I've never looked at it before or added any (over 5000 hours). Maybe the problem is the oil lubrication system isn't working.

Now I've got to find the home position for it. There must be a limit switch that gets hit.

There is plenty of oil in the reservoir which surprises me because I've never looked at it before or added any (over 5000 hours). Maybe the problem is the oil lubrication system isn't working.

That is NOT a lube cup, but acts the same as the brake fluid res in your truck. It is not expected to drain doo to lubing anything. It is just an air over hydraulic cylinder.


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Good luck!
Ox

Thanks for the clarification Ox!

I removed the tools and the ends of the swing arm to keep from damaging anything with uncontrolled motion. The M6 command now works fine for maybe 3-6 times then seems to bind (loud "humming" noise like from a locked up motor) and everything stops then I get a timeout error. Not sure I have the courage to take much more apart. Time to call a pro!

Now I know why the service guy didn't want to come out to investigate. I explained the symptons to him over the phone and he felt there was a problem in the swingarm gearbox. He suggested I take it off and open up the gearbox. That was not a fun job. At any rate, there is nothing obviously wrong inside the gearbox. The motor does turn via the hex on top although it seem like a lot of torque to turn it. Right now I'm leaning towards a phase being out on the motor or maybe the contactor isn't delivering one phase. Anybody had a problem with their's?

Somewhat related, to finish off the job I'm doing, I figured I just manually change tools (there's only 3 for this job). Does anybody know how to get the tools to release from the pots?

Pull them out, or use a screwdriver - I have one with a polished edge dedicated to this that I keep inside the loading door to avoid scratching anything.

The motor contactor is a electrical part it makes a contact when energized could have a bad contact on one of the phases. Could also be a connection between the motor and the electrical cabnet (make sure no pintched wires). Be sure to engage the brake on the tool changer (little arm that comes out of the motor).

Originally Posted by machineblues

The motor contactor is a electrical part it makes a contact when energized could have a bad contact on one of the phases. Could also be a connection between the motor and the electrical cabnet (make sure no pintched wires). Be sure to engage the brake on the tool changer (little arm that comes out of the motor).

What's that about a brake? You're talking the motor on top of the swing arm gearbox? The only thing I see coming out of the motor is the hex end of the shaft. If there is a brake on the mechanism then maybe that's why it seems a bit difficult to rotate the motor shaft.

I can't remember the last hardinge VMC1000p3 that I worked on. There might be a internal brake that you can't disengage manually. So there might not be a little arm. If you run a tool changer without the brake on. It will continue to move when the power is turned off (comanded from control to stop). Timing will be not right.

The one problem I have had with my Chevalier VMC was when the toolchanger got out of position and still had the toolholder when the spindle tried to start up. Needless to say the machine alarmed out and I didn't know why it happened. After tearing into the machine and removing every sheetmetal piece around the toolchanger I found the hex on the motor to move the toolchanger arm and a lever to manually release the the toolchanger brake. The reason why the toolchanger hung up on the spindle was because a little drip of oil covered the eye on the toochanger cam that tells the machine where the toolchanger arm is during a toolchange. I imagine you toolchanger is similar and this may be something for you to look into.