Hardinge CHNC4 Retrofit

[lavrgs]

First chips
https://photos.app.goo.gl/iMJmAbz8aPbuQDt37

Thanks to cncsnw for finding errors in the PLC that were waiting for something that would never happen

[lavrgs]

Don't get all excited 'cause I still have a lot of work to do
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YP4nLNWS2wU

[lavrgs]

Now I'm looking for a post processor to run with Fusion.

[glbreil]

Hi Lavrgs I am assuming your machine is set up the same as mine with a 22 tooth motor pulley, 60 tooth on the screw which is 5 turns to the inch.

Just wondering what your overall turns ratio came out to. I am going to get that set on mine today. It calculates to 13.6363636, but I haven’t changed it yet. It’s still set on the default 5 right now.

No problem setting it up with the indicators I am just curious if both machines have the same set up. Gary

[cncsnw]

I think his machine has the original HNC/CHNC configuration, with the encoders mounted to the ends of the ballscrews.

Since the reasons CNC12 needs to to know "motor revs/inch" are really to know how many encoder revolutions to expect in an inch of travel, his would be set to 5.0000 regardless of the pulley ratio.

[glbreil]

Right, I forgot that his was still on the screw instead of the motor. The 13.63636363 worked out perfect for mine. Gary

[lavrgs]

Know you got me wondering...I thought my encoders were near the motors...and they are but in line with the ball screws.

Todays milestone was to program a part in Fusion and post it to the Hardinge. Like all first time adventures there were things that needed adjusting. The one big problem was with the cutoff and I have another file ready to go...I now have the tool numbers aligned between the Centroid tool table and Fusion. My parting tool need a tool width of additional Z offset and and and.. but chamfers are easy 9-)
My first try was with a stylus I designed for a tool touch probe. My threading tool needs to be changed for a smaller insert and I need some thread measuring tools...always something!
Now I need to get back to work on fixing the problems with the lathe but I've had some fun.
This piece of aluminum is very gummy 8-( It's really awful on a manual machine and looks bad...but the 0.250 dia is within 0.0005

[lavrgs]

I would like to understand spindle orientation and how to achieve it. Is it based on a spindle encoder? I read that M19 is the code are there is a Pxx after to define the angle. I tried it and no go.
I'm assuming the orientation is to activate the spindle lock but are there other uses?

[cncsnw]

Every machine is different. Not every machine is capable of orientation.

M19 is just an external M function (a CNC macro that you, as the control integrator, provide). It does not get any special handling by CNC12. As such, there are no parameters (such as a "P" value) that can be passed in to the M19 macro.

Sometimes when retrofitting a CHNC-style lathe, an integrator will write an M19 macro that just runs the spindle at low speed, powers the lockpin-in solenoid, and waits for the micro-switch to indicate that the lockpin is engaged. That does not require the spindle encoder at all, but of course it will only orient in whatever position or positions the lockpin can engage in. Does it have more than one slot/hole in one turn of the spindle?

[lavrgs]

That does not require the spindle encoder at all, but of course it will only orient in whatever position or positions the lockpin can engage in. Does it have more than one slot/hole in one turn of the spindle?

There are 4 slots