Retrofitting a 1986 Maho MH400E

I agree with RotarySMP, it is better to start a new topic.

I was beginning to think the same thing. This latest string is very very specific to a particular Maho and not really about taking it to LinuxCNC. I've put stuff where I think it may be use already and I can see nobody looks at it. Maybe you guys can suggest where and how? It's basically a dead area except for people resurrecting these old machines on LinuxCNC. Good Mahos and Deckels that cost hundreds of thousand dollars are going for less than $5K. Interestingly Tormach has shifted from Mach 3 to LinuxCNC for their machines, so it's really active. Heidenhain's position there is the really nice encoders that some of these machines have.
CNCzone and Practical Machinist are spotty. Heidenhain TNC programming with Valter Isander Valter Islander has a good Facebook page dedicated to keeping all Heidenhain controllers going. But unfortunately I have to say that for ones as old as mine linuxCNC is a better option. While my TNC 155 is remarkably good for its age. It's really the ability to accept programs through it's serial port that is keeping it alive. And Fusion 360.
Cheers,
David

Hello David
I removed the horizontal spindle out of my Maho 700C milling machine. I guess for the fourth time. All because I cant get the hydraulic tool changer to work.
I have an English version of the manual on the Maho 700C The same explains the machine in great detail but an omission is how to remove the tool change spindle and the spring washers that activate the tool gripper.
I cant see how to get it apart so I can get to see the possibly broken spring washers. I can not see anything wrong and in my view it seems like trapped air in the system. I have tried to bleed the system but with no luck. The vertical spindle tool changer works as it should. Today I put the spindle in a hand press and compressed the spring washers on their spindle. I can see the hydraulic piston move but can't see how to get it apart

Further David
Further there are three very small Allen headed grub screws in the spindle. too small for my Allen keys. The same are flush with the surface of the shaft. they seem like a machinist reference mark but I just don't know.
Seem like I am going backwards on this job.
cheers Chris

There is a specifically Maho forum here, which is all about keeping them original.

www.maho24.at/
 

Thanks Mark,
I had a quick look at the link and I'll have to spend a few days looking at it. I've already downloaded what looks like the circuit diagrams for my model Maho. I wish I'd known before. I used a similar but very different one for a 600 to help my rewiring. But there are so many variations! As you recall, a lot of mine wiring was botched by whoever refitted the Heidenhain in replacement the the Philips controller. No wiring ferule numbers and all the wiring either orange or blue.And lots of redundant wiring and relays left in place.

For Chris: I use Firefox for my browser. If it notices the language as different to your native one it puts at  the right in the box where you put the web address, a translate button that will translate from German to English and many others. It works very well, which is something that didn't before AI. I'd go to Marks link and look there for your issue.
I think you are telling me that you have the ram and spring assembly apart as I show on page 171 near the bottom. I didn't pull mine part further than shown in the photo, so I can't help further.
But both retraction systems work simultaneously when you energize the tool change hydraulics. So I would try connecting it back onto the hydraulic elbow at the rear again, but with it outside the machine, then activate the tool change so you can see what it tries to do.
Cheers,
David