...take a look at the posting on this forum under FADAL on "Buying used Fadal, what to look for"
Steve
We just had 2 of our mills go down and I herd this rumor from the tec that came out for the repair. Is it true??? I cant find any thing to confirm this.... has any one herd any thing???
Hennessy
Similar Threads:
...take a look at the posting on this forum under FADAL on "Buying used Fadal, what to look for"
Steve
MAG Maintenence Technologies is still here in Chatworth and will be for a very long time. We will continue to support all Fadal equipment with service, training, and parts. We're in the same building. Production is moving to Wisconsin.
If you are a Fadal owner, rest easy as your support remains!
Neal
Thanks that's good to know. We have 4 VMCs so i am sure we will need the support. Whats got me bent is the Maintenance company doubled the part price in a day... Thursday the CRT monitor = $500... today it = $1000 I guess i will have a fun talk with them Monday to at least get an explanation.
Thanks for the clarification.
Hennessy
It sounds like MAG is in bad shape to me. My concern is that if MAG runs out of cash and credit the production will never get set back up in Wisconsin.
The Fadal machines have been great machines for our business. We have used them from the early days and made a good living using them.
I would like to see someone buy them before the scrapers come in and it's gone for good. Maybe some of the original founders could buy Fadal back before it is to late.
Neal: Thanks for keeping us informed.
Last edited by IN2GLAMISGIRL; 03-27-2009 at 07:10 PM. Reason: sp
Well, there may be enough time for you fadal cnc owners to get out of a bad situation, but I doubt it... If you cannot see that the brand is not going to last, then nothing I or anyone else says to you will convince you either. There is no point in me going into detail on this subject, because I have said it in so many ways already...
2 million people may still be driving ford pintos, even though the brand is a death trap in the event of a rear end accident in excess of 30 miles per hour. Rear end accident, not your fault, but you're dead. Reason, you chose to drive a faulty brand.
Don't be a victim of your own ill advised choice.
Scott_bob
Scott_bob
Twenty-seven people died in Pinto fires. Given the Pinto's production figures (over 2 million built),
this was no worse than typical for the time. And if 2 million are still on the road it would be the most reliable car ever built.
We have used Fadals for 25 years to build aerospace parts with great success.
MAG might fail but that will only eliminate the option for new machines.
I do like the heavy duty 6535 50 taper and 3020 machines.
Our Fadals are solid machines and with aftermarket support
parts should not be a problem. Their are 25K plus Fadal mills
working hard every day.
He does have a point about the controller though. If they used a fast controller they could be very competitive.
We have had good luck with our Fadals milling mostly soft steel and aluminum up to 5 axis. We are always looking for spare parts :) If you have a broken down Fadal give a shout.
They seem to have been on a downward spiral for years. My last shop bought a couple of them in the mid to late 90's, but also bought a Haas - That was it for the fadals. We ended up with about 20 haas' and just the 3 fadals. I couldn't stand being on the Fadals, once I was familiar with the Haas control, the Mori seiki control (had a couple of those too), and the Daewoo control. I liked every one BUT THE FADAL! I can relate to the reference on the slow control, but those guys that liked it seemed to get by fine.
I had one guy working for me who would go down swinging for that old Fadal 4020. It always made for good debates - Fadal vs. Haas
To reference Scott - it might be like pinto vs escort?
Tim
Oh, and I know that the owners of the shop are still making money with those machines.
Tim
I saw a few MAG's at Westec... but not like last year.
I know many people whom learnt on a Fadal (myself included) in an age where you had to know something about programming G-code. Haas + Ellison, et. al., - they make it easier for the machine operator.
I spoke with Buck, from Fadal service, during Westec and he assures me that Fadal is not dead. Only time will tell. I really hope Mag does not kill the brand, I ran Fadals for years.
Survival of the fittest...
AKA, only the fittest survive
Goodbye and good riddens
Last edited by Scott_bob; 04-18-2009 at 11:41 PM. Reason: spelling
Scott_bob
OUCH!
Steve
I do not know why people spend soooo much effort bashing certain brands of machines! No doubt some are better than others, but I can make money on any CNC as long as the spindle will turn and the table moves! (including my 1996 40 20 Fadal that has had the belts changed once since new and no other problems)
I heard from an industry insider last week (who should know), that Fadal sold its spare parts and inventory to Eagle Machine in Dallas, is that true? I was also told that I should not consider a used Fadal becasue there will soon be no parts for them.
I had been planning to buy a used Fadal 6030 or 8030 and this gives me great doubt about that decision.
What's the real story guys?
I have no clue about what you said...However, even if it was...there is such a used machine and service base that I cannot imagine Fadals becoming obsolete for a decade or more. The current new machine sales trend seems to be toward 5 axis machines to minimize moving parts until they are machined completed. Still IMO, 90 percent of the current work out there is geared, for 2 ½ or 3 axis work with a little 4 axis mixed in.
If you and others are not willed to buy these machines, I certainly understand and encourage you not to. That means the used selling price of them will go down for us who will continue to consider them a good deal and reliable machine. I can still buy four or even five for the price of a new one and have one guy run em. Labor is still rules as the most costly expense around here.
Will I buy a new 5 axis machine someday? Sure I’m always open to do so when I see the need for it. Will it be a Fadal ? No. Haas? No… Probably it will be a Mazak, because I’ve had one…
Last comments…
Expect to see a good 5 axis machines at or less than 100k in the next few years… there is already a questionable quality one from India.
OK…what machine would you buy, if not the Fadals and at what price and service and maintenance cost?
Steve.
Last edited by scadvice; 02-08-2010 at 12:53 PM.