Looking to buy a FADAL with a 4th Axis

[RDTS]

Looking to buy a FADAL with a 4th Axis. I had one that we had committed to but lack of communication between salesmen ours was already sold. What I have settled on size wise is a Fadal VMC 15XT or a VMC3016. Would prefer 96 or later as I understand that is the year Fadal transitioned to AC Servos but it may be more than we can spend. A VH65 4th is preferred but a VH5C(Collet) would work. The one we were going to buy was a 95 VMC15XT in beautiful shape for $13900 with Rigid tap and the VH5C. Hopefully the company that crossed their wires will find a similar deal, they said they would. But I am open to offerings.
Thanks for all the help, I've learned a bit here and that’s why I'd like to stick with a Fadal. If you have one for sale please let me know as we want to pick one up before the end of the year. I am around the Phoenix AZ area.

Ralph

[little bubba]

RTDS, midwest machinery inc in Wisconsin has 2 '02 30X16s, extended Z with 4ths for sale. Google search will get you there. No idea of price.

From personal experience, the extra 8" in Z is unbelievable.

[DareBee]

Originally Posted by little bubba From personal experience, the extra 8" in Z is unbelievable.

Agreed

And stand firm on the rigid tapping, if you already think you want it, you will definitely be upset if you don't get it.

[RDTS]

I can officially say I own the machine, not here yet but on its way! Picked up a Fadal VMC 3016 (Remained by Fadal in 2006). Pretty clean except for paint wear around spindle and tool changer. I can say Jeff at KDCapital came thru. Jeff and one of the owners Mike found this in CA at a really clean shop. I believe they sold it for close to what it costs them after the VMC 15XT was inadvertently sold out from under by another salesman. Also have on the way a VH65 with all the wiring and boards out of a 1998 VMC2016 from Tim in NY. While I was cruising EBay I saw a smokin deal on a Mazak Quick Turn 6G with a Gantry Robot. Didn’t even know what a Gantry Robot was but after the call about it I was thinking this would be great in the shop! I am a class 2 SOT and working 14+ hour days to keep up. And because of the nature of things lately my son and I are scrambling to get things done. We are new to CNC machining but with help we'll hopefully be fast learners! I'll have to get a hold of Delw to show me the ropes if he gets his Fadal 4020 moved this Thanksgiving!!

Can anybody tell me why the paint would be worn on the Fadal around the spindle and tool changer sheet metal? I've seen older machines with no wear in this area. One explanation was coolant wear?

[Delw]

Ralph

The paint problem is caused by a few things.

Coolant ( crappy coolant) will eat the paint.
any nicks in the paint and coolant pressure will surely find a wayto strip it.

in this case I am betting is was due to the rebuild, when they take a spindle out or the plate out behind the spindle it removes paint around the threaded holes, with the hoses point towards the part the back spray will bounce off the part and hit the spindle area causeing the paint to wash off. especially if you have high presuure coolant.

it also could have been that they repainted some parts and didnt prep them like the factory does causing it to come off.

very few repaint jobs will ever hold up due to the prepwork is usually crappy.


did you grab that mazak also? hope ya did cause I wanna check it out, I never owns a mazak lathe but thinking of trying one out.

I should be back up and running tonight, A friend of mine owns a commercial fence building company and we are heading over to get some metal as soon as his foot ball game is over.

[RDTS]

Delw
Yep! Grabbed the Mazak! It's a 1998 QT6G with the Gantry Loader. Also a 5” Kitagawa 3-jaw Chuck, an ATS 5C Collet Nose, seven (7) tooling blocks,they have 2 more they'll throw in plus a face plate so I can bolt a Bison Chuck and utilize the 1.7" thru hole for threading cans, and a full set of original Mazak manuals.Got it on ebay for $18,000 with a chip conveyor. The ownwers are real nice and helpful, they had no problems with questions and having to explain things to me. It's all cleaned up and ready for a truck to pick it up and on the 9th I'll have a Fadal VMC3016 and the Mazak competing with my son and I for space. Grabbing a rotary phase converter from Phoenix Phase Converter in town. I think they recommended a 40HP unit to power the 15HP Fadal and the 7.5HP Mazak. I doubt I'd run both at the same time but the price difference wasn't that much $1,755 as opposed to $1,395 for a 30HP. Plus they'll reduce it more because I'll pick it up. I have your number so maybe I can bribe you with some beer and ammo for some pointers!
Ralph

[little bubba]

RTDS, nice. On the phases converters, we've bought 3 from Phoenix phase converters. The first a 5 horse melted beyond repair running a heat treat oven. Of course they said it would handle it no problem, whatever...

They gave us free shipping on a 10hp, which did pretty good, running a 5hp Acroloc and a 2hp Wells Index with a bandit controller. Of course when I went to sell the Acroloc, the guy showed up, I turned on the phase converter and it exploded, KABOOM, sparks everywhere, couldn't show it to him under power, she's in the shop now.

Also a 20hp which blew all the caps and the starting circuit. More sparks, never heard the caps explode though. Granted we were running it hard, powering a 15hp Fadal, which it does fine on, but we were also running a Mazak QT20 on it, old school motor rating of 25hp for 30min, 20 continuous. Still running it in low gear, 5 second spindle ramps.

Then went out and borrowed a 25hp RPC, non Phoenix, and sitting next to the 20hp Phoenix, there is such a difference in mass of the RPCs and the sounds they make when they start and are running.

Just be wary, the Phoenix converters are really cheap $$$ wise, and have definitely served their purpose for me, but they were a stop gap measure not meant to be here forever. The engineer from the electric company came out Tuesday to mark out the location of the new pole and pad in our parking lot for true real 3 phase, I can't wait.

You'll be happy with the lathe, on a '98 should be a T+, probably take a bit to get used to the control, but once you do, you'll have a part programmed and running in about 30 seconds.

[RDTS]

Doesn't sound good for the Phoenix RPC's! Do you think I'd have the same problem since I'm thinking about running one of their 40HP which is double capacity if both the Fadal (15HP) and the Mazak (7.5) is running which I'd doubt I'd do? Any recommendation on another RPC for somebody that has become past broke in a hurry?

The Mazak is Mazatrol EIA Dash control. Is that what you mean by T+? Any good info or books out there to learn that control system? I will be using Alibre Expert CAD and CAM(Visual Mil). Starting their tutorials and hope can get a handle on it fairly fast. That's why I'll try to get Delw up here, plus I'm sure he would't mind checking out some of our toys.

Ralph

[Delw]

I couldnt help you with a phase converter, I was going to run one at the house Garage 6 years ago and then 2 years ago but then decided against it.

There is a post on Fadals and phase convertors here somewhere. like last year I think.

you got my number so when you need a hand let me know, it will give me an excuess to leave the west side for a few hours LMAO.

[SHAILESHSHEOREY]

I AM SEARCHING A FADAL 3016 OLD GOOD WORKING CONDITION AND LOW PRICE. WHERE SHOULD I SEARCH OR DOES SOMEONE HAVE FADAL FOR SALE .