3016L

[smittys800]

Your thoughts?
'98 Fadal 3016L
88 HS Control
4 AXIS Pre Wire
Ridget Tapping
Good/ Bad/ Ugly
Looking to upgrade fom my HAAS TM-1
Thought about the Mini, way to small, and little Z room
Also looked at a '94 HAAS VF1, put away wet!
Suggestions for a somewhat NEW guy...
Smitty

[dott]

We bought a 2002 model 3016L (which IIRC they don't make anymore) and have had virtually no mechanical problems with it. It's somewhat small making it easier to setup prototypes. Has worked well and made approx 20000 parts to date. From this experience, I would not hesitate to get another one.

Based on that experience, we purchased a 2007 model 4020FX in November, had lots of problems, software and mechanical. Total PITA, we can limp it to make parts, but very frustrating.

[smittys800]

Thanks for the info,
Found a 95 VMC 15. Had some issues, but have since got most worked out. Just needs a little TLC.
Smitty

[scadvice]

I'm cleaning up a 96 VMC15XT with a 4th. What kind of things did you have to TLC?
BTW - to any readers...I have a 220 single phase transformer for one for sale.
Steve.

[smittys800]

Steve,
Just over all cleaning, a couple fans INOP, some way wipers and thrust bearings this weekend. Speaking of those, any idea how tough the Z axis will be. I did not get any manuals with the machine as mentioned.
Also, the monitor let the smoke out, so I did the LCD upgrade, SOOOOO much better!

[scadvice]

in the Axis yet. Here is a link to the Manuals if you need it.

http://www.fadalcnc.com/fadal_Tech_Docs1.htm

[carbidecraters]

The only thing I never liked about the "L" series is that they arent that stout and use linear ways instead of boxed. This means you can bury a 3/4" endmill and hog like mad without tolerance issues or chatter like I have seen. Anyone else care to comment on that? It could be that the 3016L I saw had some other issues but if you ask any serious shop about them that own or have owned them they would say go with the boxed ways if you can.

[dott]

Originally Posted by carbidecraters This means you can bury a 3/4" endmill and hog like mad without tolerance issues or chatter like I have seen.

CC,
I don't follow you here. You say you don't like the linear ways then say you can bury a 3/4 EM.

On my 3016L, I can hog aluminum with a 2 flute 3/4" EM at 7500 rpm and 80 ipm with .400" doc. But, that's pretty much the limit of the machine in my estimation.

[carbidecraters]

Sorry should have read CANT bury a 3/4" endmill. I forgot the "t"

[scadvice]

... but LW are more accurate. Example... rounder pockets on circular interpolated holes. No sticksion and straighter angled cuts. Lower way maintenance and so forth. Faster rapids.
I agree that they have a mild stoutness issue, but with today’s cutter technology you can still remove a lot of material for the money.
So, it all boils down to what you can afford in the long run and your use. Got to hog a lot of cubic inches in steel and hard material… box ways. Need highest accuracies and can settle for medium duty cutting… linear ways.
I also use 3/4 em in alum., but a stubby brazed rougher at 7000rpm and I climb mill 75% width of cut, .33 depth of cut and .008 per tooth or 168 ipm feed rate. That works out to over 50 cubic inches a minute.
Steve

[carbidecraters]

I disagree I dont think you can compare a machine with the same rapids in either boxed or linear and say the linear rapids are faster. I also dont think linear ways are anywhere near as accurate as boxed ways. We have all boxed way machines and when you get your backlash correct you have no axis change lines. Are you sure your talking about a Fadal linear way machine versus a Fadal boxed way machine or was the linear comment more of a general consensus?

[carbidecraters]

Oh BTW want to sell that 4th axis?