Re: linear encoder to control rotary indexer??

Ray,

I have a Haas programmable indexer and you've pretty well outlined
how they work. Mine doesn't have the rs232 (too old I guess).

They can be used to cut spirals, but it's a trial and error
proposition. It's a matter of trying to synchronize the starts and
feedrates of both devices, the mill axis and the Haas rotation.
Since they have different acceleration rates it gets tricky. You fix
one device's feedrate and tweak the other's until you arrive at a
situation where they both end up at the end of the spiral
simultaneously, or as close as needed for the accuracy of your
spiral. The Haas manual goes into detail on ways to do this.

Incidently, one very annoying feature of all the small programmable
indexers I've looked is the rotation limit per command. 1000 degrees
is the max, which limits you to just about 3 revolutions. Not much
use if you need to machine a continuous spiral of any length.

I'm half hoping my Haas controller conks out, then I'll run it off a
PC and add some needed improvements.

Doug

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@y..., Ray <rehenry@u...> wrote:
>
> This comment assumes (I know!) that the Haas indexer you are dealing
> with is one of the little controls. I don't have a Haas manual
here but my
> impression is that the rs232 plugs are used to download/upload
programs.
> The go and I'm done signals are run through the 4 pin din plug on
the back.
>
> I've seen guys at one shop cut spirals with them on a Mazak. There
is a
> function in the Haas that releases the machine's inhibit when the
Haas
> starts turning. You just program feedrate on the Mazak to match the
> rotation speed set on the Haas indexer. There is no real position
feedback
> between.
>
> HTH but probably not what you wanted to hear.
>
> Ray