Bar Puller VS Bar Feeder

[SBC Cycle]

Originally Posted by inertialabs Do you have any thoughts on years I have heard that some of the older lathes have had turret problems ? Thanks

I have a 2008 SL-20. The turret is still a problem, mainly it's too small. Most of my OD turning tools are either above or below center. The ID tool holders use a cam system to put them in line, which is great considering the turret just isn't lined up properly to begin with. Only problem with that is that you have to take the holder off to adjust it. Then back on, sweep with an indicator, back off, adjust, back on, sweep, ad naseum. Lastly, the hex head jack bolts that came with the lathe for holding the OD tools only measured 0.733 across the flats. They tightened up OK, but after running the same job for 2 months and it was time for the tools to come out, every one of them rounded off on the corners and had to be cut out with an abrasive wheel.

I called Haas to complain and when we tried to tell them the bolts had a non-standard size (not metric or SAE), the tech told us they were "within spec" and actually suggested we were using an open end wrench and should have been using a box end Of course if you know the bolts I'm talking about, it would be most interesting trying to use a box end wrench to tighten them up.

I finally figured out what was wrong with the turret on the machine. I was flipping through a magazine one day and saw an ad with a Korean lathe, WITH THE EXACT SAME TURRET. I think Haas just sourced this out and didn't put a lot of thought in it. The rest of the machine is great, I love it. But I would dump it in a heartbeat for a similar priced machine with a real turret.