Hi Guys, I purchased a large VMC last year which was fitted with an Anilam 5000M controller, 4th axis, 24 bin tool changer, through spindle coolant etc. etc. Anyhow, I knew the mashing had a couple or problems when I went to inspect it, there was an issue with the Y-axis limit switch which I new I could fix, and the ball screw bearings were a little noisy, but, that was nothing for me to sort out. and then there were a couple of keys not working on the keypad which He told me about, and he had a keyboard plugged in which was fine for me for now. also the screen wasn't working, but he had an external monitor connected which mimicked nearly every machine shop in town. but these were all things I was comfortable with, I was never really in the market for a CNC Mill but it came for a great price so I took it.
So, I got it shipped over (from 2 blocks away) but being so busy it took me a couple of months to commission it, I was working on a major project, rebuilding the gearbox on my lathe, overhauling the overhead crane, as well as a few other little side projects, so the mill sorta came last. However, I needed to do some milling and make some new parts for the lathe, and a couple of small jobs for a customer, so i got stuck into the mill, got it leveled, repaired the limit switch, repaired the keypads (ended up just designing new ones and getting them printed, assembled the coolant sump, etc. etc. and began machining some parts. I had no coolant at this stage due to a small issue which popped it's head up (failed motor), but it was working for what I needed at the time.
Then came time to finish setting the machine up, and getting it working properly to make some money. Doing standard 2D milling (facing, contouring, 2D adaptive) was fine, but the moment I tried to do any helical interpolation (boring, Pocket milling with helical entry, counter boring) the machine wuold just cut out, and I was getting a "Z Lag over max" Error. Then I got "4th Axis Servo Driver Alarm" Error, Then I got "Error: Active CanBus node lost" Error, and "Servo or spindle driver alarm" all within about 2 minutes.
I read the manual back to front, inside out, and upside down. found the sections which related to all of this, and went about correcting the issues as per the manual, however, anytime I tried to bore or pocket mill, same thing.
The advice I need is: Should I persevere and try to fix it, or, throw the controller away and retrofit with something decent?
I can't afford to go with something I know, like Fanuc (I pretty much only have experience with Fanuc), but I want something that is robust and professional. I've pretty much narrowed the options down to : Centroid. I've contracted them (and they were wonderfully helpfully) but it's going to cost me about 12k AUD (or a bit more depending on the exchange rate on the day.
I'm Pretty stressed out about it, so If anyone with a cool head wants to chip in some advice, I'm all ears.
Cheers
So, I got it shipped over (from 2 blocks away) but being so busy it took me a couple of months to commission it, I was working on a major project, rebuilding the gearbox on my lathe, overhauling the overhead crane, as well as a few other little side projects, so the mill sorta came last. However, I needed to do some milling and make some new parts for the lathe, and a couple of small jobs for a customer, so i got stuck into the mill, got it leveled, repaired the limit switch, repaired the keypads (ended up just designing new ones and getting them printed, assembled the coolant sump, etc. etc. and began machining some parts. I had no coolant at this stage due to a small issue which popped it's head up (failed motor), but it was working for what I needed at the time.
Then came time to finish setting the machine up, and getting it working properly to make some money. Doing standard 2D milling (facing, contouring, 2D adaptive) was fine, but the moment I tried to do any helical interpolation (boring, Pocket milling with helical entry, counter boring) the machine wuold just cut out, and I was getting a "Z Lag over max" Error. Then I got "4th Axis Servo Driver Alarm" Error, Then I got "Error: Active CanBus node lost" Error, and "Servo or spindle driver alarm" all within about 2 minutes.
I read the manual back to front, inside out, and upside down. found the sections which related to all of this, and went about correcting the issues as per the manual, however, anytime I tried to bore or pocket mill, same thing.
The advice I need is: Should I persevere and try to fix it, or, throw the controller away and retrofit with something decent?
I can't afford to go with something I know, like Fanuc (I pretty much only have experience with Fanuc), but I want something that is robust and professional. I've pretty much narrowed the options down to : Centroid. I've contracted them (and they were wonderfully helpfully) but it's going to cost me about 12k AUD (or a bit more depending on the exchange rate on the day.
I'm Pretty stressed out about it, so If anyone with a cool head wants to chip in some advice, I'm all ears.
Cheers