I am not sure where to post my questions but this seems like the most likely spot. I have just purchased this machine and have it under power now, cleaned, lubed and repaired. I have a 1988 instruction manual, a 1987 parts manual and a 1987 maintenance manual. All are written in jap/english. The manuals have no illustrations and near impossible to follow instructions. My need are small or so it seemed. I need to get my G code from my PC into the Seicos and start milling. HAH! Seems so simple. I have many questions about the operation of this mill and since Hitachi Seiki is no more I am hoping I can find help here.

Just to get warmed up, first question! I managed to figure out how to call up a stored G code procedure (must be a left over from the previous owner) and start execution. The spindle starts and I get an error "No Reference". Well that makes sense to me. The machine needs to know where to start from. But how to tell it? I have tried everything I can think of (short list, did not take long!) I have read and re-read the manuals. Nothing about setting a reference anywhere and then to add insult to injury, once started, I can not stop the spindle without shutting the whole machine off. Not much of surprise here as 1/3 of the items on the control panel are not explained or addressed in the instruction manual. Has anyone re-written these into English? Perhaps a later revision? I can imagine that Hitachi sent out some one to install this machine and train the operator when it was new. Sounds really spendy. So does flying “someone” out here. I hope ya’ll can help. I have been a machinist for 35 years but this CNC stuff is making me feel like a two year old pointing and asking “why?”.

Thank you,
Dan
Way out in Eastern Oregon