Anyone have a DT-1? Any Haas guys here?

[SRT Mike]

I am sort-of kind-of looking at a Haas DT-1. I posted a question in the general forum but got no replies...

I machine mostly acrylic. Right now I have a Leadwell V-40 with a 6k spindle. I just mount a 12"x6" block of acrylic on a fixture and machine the back and the front. Most of these parts require 3D profiling on both sides, so my cycle time is 2-3 hours per side. My machine spends 6+ hours per day running 6,000rpm.

I want a fast production machine. Other than plastic I do some aluminum. It is very rare I do anything else - a few times a year if that.

Considering what people are asking for 2-3 year old VMC's (high 30's), it seems I could spend $5k more and get a DT-1 for $45k (if my logic is flawed, please correct me). My questions...

1) It has a 15k spindle. I imagine I could not run it at 15k all day... or can you? How fast can I run that spindle and have it run all day long? A buddy with a 10k spindle on his Excel won't go above 8k for extended periods. Another brand machine salesman says anything over 8k requires a chiller. Whats the straight scoop?

2) One problem I have with the current VMC is the chips flow out the back and into a pan. It's nice because I can clean it off without stopping the machine, but it requires chip removal every 20 minutes or so. I thought I could use an auger. The acrylic chips from my roughing operations are big (like stainless chips from a 1" end mill), from the 3D profiling it's fine. The big chips tend to sink, the little ones sort of float. Will a chip auger help or will it just get clogged up? Anyone use an auger in plastic? Is a conveyor better? My lathe has a conveyor - works perfect. Never used an auger.

3) Anyone got a DT-1? You like it? Can I expect any discount from MSRP?

[Haas_Apps]

I am sort-of kind-of looking at a Haas DT-1. I posted a question in the general forum but got no replies...

I machine mostly acrylic. Right now I have a Leadwell V-40 with a 6k spindle. I just mount a 12"x6" block of acrylic on a fixture and machine the back and the front. Most of these parts require 3D profiling on both sides, so my cycle time is 2-3 hours per side. My machine spends 6+ hours per day running 6,000rpm.

I want a fast production machine. Other than plastic I do some aluminum. It is very rare I do anything else - a few times a year if that.

Considering what people are asking for 2-3 year old VMC's (high 30's), it seems I could spend $5k more and get a DT-1 for $45k (if my logic is flawed, please correct me). My questions...

1) It has a 15k spindle. I imagine I could not run it at 15k all day... or can you? How fast can I run that spindle and have it run all day long? A buddy with a 10k spindle on his Excel won't go above 8k for extended periods. Another brand machine salesman says anything over 8k requires a chiller. Whats the straight scoop?

2) One problem I have with the current VMC is the chips flow out the back and into a pan. It's nice because I can clean it off without stopping the machine, but it requires chip removal every 20 minutes or so. I thought I could use an auger. The acrylic chips from my roughing operations are big (like stainless chips from a 1" end mill), from the 3D profiling it's fine. The big chips tend to sink, the little ones sort of float. Will a chip auger help or will it just get clogged up? Anyone use an auger in plastic? Is a conveyor better? My lathe has a conveyor - works perfect. Never used an auger.

3) Anyone got a DT-1? You like it? Can I expect any discount from MSRP?

Mike,
You could call Haas Applications and ask for Micah Babcock or Daniel Scott. They have both worked on the DT-1 for a very long time. They can answer your questions on machine performance. 805-278-1800


You could also attend your local dealers Demo Day tomorrow as it will feature a DT-1 in action.

[SRT Mike]

Mike,
You could call Haas Applications and ask for Micah Babcock or Daniel Scott. They have both worked on the DT-1 for a very long time. They can answer your questions on machine performance. 805-278-1800


You could also attend your local dealers Demo Day tomorrow as it will feature a DT-1 in action.

Hi,

Thanks for the info.

I had called my HFO today after someone on another forum claimed the lead time on a DT-1 was 6+ months (I thought if that was true, I would need to be looking at ordering soon if I wanted one around New Year). The sales guy said the lead time was more like 6-8 weeks, and he mentioned the demo day tomorrow with the DT-1.

The sales guy also said that a Robodrill can't do 3D profiling though, so I have learned to pretty much ignore anything they say regarding what these machines can and can't do

My business is seasonal, so my plan is to save my pennies until the fall and look at buying something around then. I am going to IMTS in Chicago in September... I presume Haas will have a DT-1 there on display?

I would very much like to see some plastic - like what I make - being made. Not sure if or how that can happen.

Thanks!
Mike

[gpcoe]

They had a DT-1 on display at Eastec. It was holy crap fast with the rapids. We run our 12k spindles to the max most of the time. We have had a hand full of the machines crap out some spindle motor bearings. Spindles themselves seem fine. DT-1 certainly has a different motor so that may not be a problem. Others have complained about the super speed models not getting a very good surface finish when 3D milling most likely due to the longer pitch on the ball screws. This could be an issue here since the rapid rates have almost doubled the SS machines. They had a Dolphin sculpture that was 3D milled supposedly on the machine. Finish was fairly good, not wonderful, but this is a 45k machine. You might see if you can get a demo with some 3D milling since that seems to be the majority of your work. Robodrills can 3d mill. We never did anything special with the ones we had, but they certainly did it. We only have one left now and it's about to die.

Greg