HAAS lathe tool change chip wash

[GiroDyno]

Is it possible to have coolant running while changing turret position? Spindle wash on mills is pretty common.

On our DS lathes chips build up on the turret during cutting, and when the turret pops out to change over tools chips can fall down and get caught in the coolant "port" and then blasted inside tools and really muck things up. Seems like once a week we have to purge the plugged up lines of chips.


Tried a few different codes, looked in settings and didn't see anything obvious, but it is possible we missed something...
In the meantime we added a little brush on one machine to keep chips out of the danger zone but I'm concerned it might do just as good of a job at keeping chips in.

Has anybody run into similar issues? Come up with brilliant solutions?

 

[GENERALDISARRAY]

our lathes dont have this exposed coolant inducer. But i still get chips making their way past the screens and filters and plugging up the tools.

 

[SeymourDumore]

Tried a few different codes, looked in settings and didn't see anything obvious, but it is possible we missed something...

Don't know about the DS machines, but that nipple on the SL series is actually a valve.
When the turret lifts, the nipple moves forward and closes off the flow, so even if the pump is still on, there will not be any coolant coming out....

Now, you do know how to fix that ....

 

[BT Fabrication]

my first idea is to control the chips in the first place. find out how to change it, be it changing the chip breaker, fps of turning so they don't fly all over etc.
or just stopping between tool changes and spraying it off if there is no other options.

id be willing to bet its getting sucked in more from the coolant tank.

 

[MaxPrairie]

I have the same turret. Run into the same issue from time to time. I would be concerned with the possibility of chips getting on the turret taper which causes it to pop when starting an index. Could possibly make a sheet metal tub with magnets stuck to the cover above the plunger then run some locline on each station shooting into it. Wouldn’t be under pressure but could rinse the plunger constantly. Just have to watch boring bars colliding with it and dial the flow so you aren’t taking too much for the tool. Sort of spitballing but maybe it could spark a workable solution.

 

[Billy_C]

Seems more likely the chips are just getting pulled from the tank through the system and the tool is where they are getting stuck. As will most Haas machines, chip management is only a notch or two above home hobby level. Get a bag filter in-line after the pump and ditch the almost useless Haas filter. 100 micron should be enough to keep lines from clogging. If the chips are actually falling down into the tool change wheel, controlling the chip during the cut is the best solution. If that can't be done, try setting up an air blast on an M Code before the tool change. Plumb a 1/4" air line into the enclosure to a magnetic locline base, point and shoot. If you don't have the M Code relay kit or whatever scam it's called now then just daisy chain it with one of the tool change relays so it blasts when there is a tool change all the time.