From my Haas Manual the Alarm is explained as:
"Tool did not release from spindle when commanded. Check air pressure and solenoid circuit breaker CB4. Can also be cause by misadjustment of draw bay assembly."
What happens is the machine wants to change a tool, so the Tool Changer shuttle goes in to get the tool that's in the spindle correctly, the spindle comes down to the proper z level correctly. But when it tries to release the tool it can't so it sits there hissing for a few seconds ant the Alarm #134 "Tool Clamp Fault" comes up.
I have a 1995 Haas VF3 and this has been going on for past 3 weeks but only when the pressure on my compressor is at the low end of it's range (I've always called it a Schmidt trigger but there may be a better term). Its range is around 95 to 120 psi. To work around this I had to get the air pressure up to a higher level. Unfortunately that doesn't even work.
I do have a air pressure regulator on the VF3 which appears to be set at 90psi. In the manual it specifies a minimum of 85psi. I had worse problem that was a higher priority (ended up needing an x axis motor/encoder cable harness) but I thought it may be solved by keeping the pressure higher so I ordered a new pressure switch that would keep the pressure range higher.
In a nutshell, I think the Tool Release piston isn't going down far enough, the limit switch doesn't get triggered so VF3 alarms out after a specified delay.
I hooked up a pressure gauge where the air goes into the Tool Release piston assembly and it's getting 95psi.
How would I trouble shoot the solenoid?
Why would a higher pressure on the compressor side of the regulator let it work for a while? I guess the regulator may not regulate perfectly.
Are there drawings/diagrams posted that I could refer to?
I'm wondering if piston O-rings need replacement. Is this something I can do or should I call a Haas tech to do it?
Any ideas to trouble shoot will be appreciated.
Tony