Way Cover - How it Works and Troubleshooting Guide
LAST UPDATED: 11/30/2018
Way Cover - How it Works and Troubleshooting Guide
Introduction
Way covers keep chips and coolant away from the ballscrew, guiderails, and home switch. Machines can have three types
of way covers.
1. Telescopic Style: Telescopic way covers
use interlocking sheet metal sections with
wipers at the joints.
2. Shielded Style: Shielded way covers use
rubber straps to connect sheet metal
shield strips that overlaying each other.
3. Roll Shade Style - EC Machines: Roll
shade way covers use a tensioner to keep
the rubber sheet rolled up on a spool. The
spools rotate with tension to allow the
sheet to be pulled out and retracted back
in.
Page 1 of 7 pages
Way Cover - How it Works and Troubleshooting Guide
Symptom Table
SYMPTOM POSSIBLE CAUSE CORRECTIVE ACTION
The wipers are worn or
damaged.
The way covers are
damaged or worn.
Way covers "pop," or do
not move evenly.
Way cover has trouble
extendening or retracting.
The way covers are rusty or
make excessive noise.
Normal wear on wipers. Replace the wipers.
A part or other heavy object dropped
on the way cover.
Cutting abrasive or absorbent
materials.
The way covers are not lubricated
correctly.
Chip build-up around the base of roll
shade way covers.
Normal operation.
Way cover is full of chips. Perform normal machine maintenance.
There is a low coolant concentration. Increase the coolant concentration.
Way cover movement during dry
machine operation creates friction.
Remove the dents from the way cover.
Extra protection is necessary when you cut abrasive
or absorbent materials.
Clear debris from the base of the covers and adjust
the tension on the spring-loaded canisters.
These symptoms are normal during operation and do
not require troubleshooting.
Lube the way covers with oil.
The rail screws are loose. Tighten the loose rail screws.
The Wipers are Worn or Damaged
Symptom: The wipers are worn or damaged.
Possible Cause: Normal wear on wipers.
Corrective Action:
Replace the damaged wipers where possible.
Replace the damaged wipers on telescopic way
covers with the correct kit for your machine. Go
to PARTS.HAASCNC.COM.
Page 2 of 7 pages
Way Cover - How it Works and Troubleshooting Guide
The Way Covers are Damaged or Worn
Page 3 of 7 pages
Way Cover - How it Works and Troubleshooting Guide
Symptom: The way covers are damaged or worn.
Possible Cause: A part or other heavy object fell
on the way cover. Cutting abrasive or absorbant
materials. The way covers are not lubricated
correctly. Chip build-up around the base of roll
shade way covers.
Corrective Action:
Remove the way cover and hammer out the dents
with a rubber mallet. Replace the way cover if the
dents are too severe. Go to DIY.HAASCNC.COM,
and search for the way cover replacement
procedure that is correct for your machine.
Cutting abrasive materials: Haas machines are
designed and built to cut metal. If you cut abrasive
or absorbant material, it causes premature wear of
the way covers. This is not covered under warranty.
Install aftermarket bellows that wrap around the
way covers to protect them from abrasive material.
The shielded way cover sections are
separated: There is a rubber link between the
shielded way cover sections. If one of these links is
broken, the shielded way cover sections separate.
Replace way covers that have broken rubber links.
Page 4 of 7 pages
Way Cover - How it Works and Troubleshooting Guide
Roll Shade Way Covers - EC machines: Both
sides of the spindle are covered by heavy roll shade
way covers [1,2]. The shades are kept taut by
spring-loaded canisters [3, 4]. Chip build up around
the bottom of the spring loaded canisters causes
insufficient tension on the roll shade way covers.
This causes the components to be contaminated by
coolant.
Remove the chips on and around the shades.
To re-tension the way covers:
Clamp the flat section of the steel shaft [8] with
clamping pliers or a clamp. This holds the shaft
when you adjust the spring tension. Loosen the set
screw [7]. The shaft rotates when the set screw is
loose. Rotate the shaft one complete revolution
against the force of the spring.
Note: Rotate the shaft counter clockwise [5] for
the left canister [3] and clockwise [6] for the right
canister [4].
Tighten the set screw. Make sure the set screw [7]
is seated on the flat section of the steel shaft.
Check the tension of the roll shade way covers.
Repeat this process as needed one revolution at a
time. Do not over-tighten the spring.
Way Covers "Pop" or Do Not Move Evenly
Symptom: Way covers "pop," or do not move evenly.
Possible Cause: Normal operation.
Corrective Action:
Tight way covers can sometimes make a "popping" noise when they move. This is normal, and does not require
troubleshooting.
If there is an excessive amount of noise from friction, go to Section 4 to troubleshoot the "excessive noise" symptom.
Page 5 of 7 pages
Way Cover - How it Works and Troubleshooting Guide
Way Cover has Trouble Extending or Retracting
Symptom: Way cover has trouble extendening or
retracting. Way cover sections may pop apart.
Possible Cause: Way cover is full of chips.
Corrective Action: Perform normal machine
maintenance.
Remove way cover and clean out the chips. Reassemble way cover once clean if necessary. Reinstall way cover when finished.
Page 6 of 7 pages
Way Cover - How it Works and Troubleshooting Guide
The Way Covers are Rusty or make Excessive Noise
Symptom: The way covers are rusty or make
excessive noise.
Possible Cause: The coolant concentration is low.
Way cover movement during dry machine operation
creates friction. The rail bolts are loose.
Corrective Action:
When the machine operates normally, way covers
are lubricated by the coolant. It is critical to
maintain the correct coolant concentration. For
instructions, refer to the link for STANDARD
COOLANT – MAINTAINING YOUR COOLANT
MIXTURE
Dry machining: If you cut parts without flood
coolant, make sure that you lubricate all of the way
covers with lightweight oil. Fully extend the way
cover. Spray an even coat of lightweight oil on the
way cover.
The way covers slide on the rails that are attached
to the casting. If you lubricate the way cover on the
outside, and it still makes noise, apply grease to the
rails.
The way cover rails are loose: Tighten loose rail
bolts.
If the bolts [1] that hold the way cover rails to the
casting are loose, the way covers make "popping"
noises when they move. This eventually damages
the plastic tabs [2] that slide on the rails. This
causes sections of the way cover to separate and
to leak coolant.
As soon as the way covers start to make "popping"
noises, inspect the rails for loose screws. Tighten
the loose screws to prevent damage to the tabs.
Page 7 of 7 pages
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