akb1212
Aluminum
- Joined
- Jun 26, 2009
- Location
- Norway, Vestfold
I'd like to start a thread with tips and tricks to get a Maho mill up and running. The idea is to collect them in one single thread if possible since it's not easy to find what you are searching for here through searching. Most of them is already in this forum, but it's spread out so much that it's dificult to find.
It is solely because of this forum here I'm now finally able to run my mill. And I have come across a fair amount of the normal problems experienced when trying to get it up and running. So I wanted to start off, but I'd like everybody who feels they have a useful hint or tip to contribute.
My mill is of 1990-91 vintage, so my knowledge is from that age machine. But I think most of the problems I have applies for both newer and older machines as well.
I think it will be a good idea to separate the different issues, so I plan on making one post per issue. Here is a list of topics I'd like to cover:
1. Constants. This could possibly even be presented in a thread of its own. A list of different machines constants and such could be given in that thread. That way we would have a library of constants to look at. But a quick intro on the basics of them should be in this thread as well.
2. Communication. How does it work, and what do you do when it doesn’t. A check list of how to get it working is also a good idea. Tips on what hardware to replace is also to be presented.
3. Monitor. It's not straight forward to replace the monitors on these machines because of their low refresh rate. An easy way to fix this is to use a converter. Hints on where to get them and how to use them is next tip.
4. E-stop chain. Hints on how to get a machine out of e-stop. Including how to bypass the ****ing door safety system.
5. Drives. There are really good hints in this forum on how to get a drive working again, and what is their weak points. This is a common problem for these machines as I have learned. So it will be probably be useful for someone with drive problems stopping them from using their machine. Even if it's not a problem now it will probably become a problem in the future as the caps in these do fail quite reliably.....
6. How to get the table up if it is at the bottom. There is an easy way to do this by changing constants only. Doing it mechanically is a nightmare on the y-axis because of access. So it's much more efficient to do it by the constants. And it's not straight forward because of the software limits. A detailed description on how to do this will be presented.
7. Tool changer. An easy way to reset it after something happens during tool change.
8. Electrical schematics. I have made an overview of what component does what in an excel sheet. This has proven to be very helpful during fault searching. This is very machine specific. But there is a system to it, and it might be useful for other machines as well. And it could easily be updated for your own machine if you have the electrical schematics.
9. Hydraulics. Hints and tips on how to know if your hydraulic accumulator is working as it should. And some experiences from fixing the valves.
10. Retrofitting. This is something I haven't done yet. And it is probably also something that I will start a new thread for. The idea is to ditch the 432 controller only, and leave the rest as it is. The stone age interface and lack of hand pendant, proper override controls and limited memory (with the need for DNC) along with only RS232 communication and stuff like that is getting on my nerve. I'd rather not spend years to learn an aincent system like that. I'd rather spend the effort on replacing it, even with one with only similar capabilities as far as machining goes. Replacing it this way should be easy enough, the hard part being back engineering the ladder logic needed to replicate some of the logic functions. All hardware interfacing are easily accomplished with Mesa hardware in LinuxCNC. But more on this in a separate thread when I get around to start that work.
If anyone feels like they have a hint or tip that would be a good thing for someone trying to get a Maho mill up and running please contribute. But I'd like to keep this thread a quick and easy place for accessing info needed for this. So please try to sick to the topic and present hints and tips only in this thread to keep it clean and easy to search through.
Anders
It is solely because of this forum here I'm now finally able to run my mill. And I have come across a fair amount of the normal problems experienced when trying to get it up and running. So I wanted to start off, but I'd like everybody who feels they have a useful hint or tip to contribute.
My mill is of 1990-91 vintage, so my knowledge is from that age machine. But I think most of the problems I have applies for both newer and older machines as well.
I think it will be a good idea to separate the different issues, so I plan on making one post per issue. Here is a list of topics I'd like to cover:
1. Constants. This could possibly even be presented in a thread of its own. A list of different machines constants and such could be given in that thread. That way we would have a library of constants to look at. But a quick intro on the basics of them should be in this thread as well.
2. Communication. How does it work, and what do you do when it doesn’t. A check list of how to get it working is also a good idea. Tips on what hardware to replace is also to be presented.
3. Monitor. It's not straight forward to replace the monitors on these machines because of their low refresh rate. An easy way to fix this is to use a converter. Hints on where to get them and how to use them is next tip.
4. E-stop chain. Hints on how to get a machine out of e-stop. Including how to bypass the ****ing door safety system.
5. Drives. There are really good hints in this forum on how to get a drive working again, and what is their weak points. This is a common problem for these machines as I have learned. So it will be probably be useful for someone with drive problems stopping them from using their machine. Even if it's not a problem now it will probably become a problem in the future as the caps in these do fail quite reliably.....
6. How to get the table up if it is at the bottom. There is an easy way to do this by changing constants only. Doing it mechanically is a nightmare on the y-axis because of access. So it's much more efficient to do it by the constants. And it's not straight forward because of the software limits. A detailed description on how to do this will be presented.
7. Tool changer. An easy way to reset it after something happens during tool change.
8. Electrical schematics. I have made an overview of what component does what in an excel sheet. This has proven to be very helpful during fault searching. This is very machine specific. But there is a system to it, and it might be useful for other machines as well. And it could easily be updated for your own machine if you have the electrical schematics.
9. Hydraulics. Hints and tips on how to know if your hydraulic accumulator is working as it should. And some experiences from fixing the valves.
10. Retrofitting. This is something I haven't done yet. And it is probably also something that I will start a new thread for. The idea is to ditch the 432 controller only, and leave the rest as it is. The stone age interface and lack of hand pendant, proper override controls and limited memory (with the need for DNC) along with only RS232 communication and stuff like that is getting on my nerve. I'd rather not spend years to learn an aincent system like that. I'd rather spend the effort on replacing it, even with one with only similar capabilities as far as machining goes. Replacing it this way should be easy enough, the hard part being back engineering the ladder logic needed to replicate some of the logic functions. All hardware interfacing are easily accomplished with Mesa hardware in LinuxCNC. But more on this in a separate thread when I get around to start that work.
If anyone feels like they have a hint or tip that would be a good thing for someone trying to get a Maho mill up and running please contribute. But I'd like to keep this thread a quick and easy place for accessing info needed for this. So please try to sick to the topic and present hints and tips only in this thread to keep it clean and easy to search through.
Anders
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