Tooling for VF-2SS

[JohnJW]

While the VF-2SS is being setup I am wondering what type of tooling is recommended for general aluminum cutting. Somethings wood and maybe stainless steel.

Are there particular tools that are consider essential?

I visited a couple machine shop auctions and noticed that the shops are full of metrological tools so I order the probe package as well. Thinking that perhaps with the probe I can cut down on the number of measuring tools needed.

The machine is basically stock with no tools and no coolant.

Any suggestions on what else is needed?. . . beside getting orders/jobs for it.

regarding the handcode vs cam output discussion, I have very limited experience so I don't know if I'm qualified to give an opinion, but initially most of the projects I can think of pretty much all involved 2D or 2 1/2D operations and I thought I will handcode until I can generate enough revenue to justify a CAM package. From a cost point of view it's hard to justify OneCNC/MC/Camworks for 2D or 2 1/2D operation I can think of.

We use Camworks at school and what took half a page of handcodes usually turn into a few pages when using Camworks. It's a lot harder to visually double check the codes from Camworks when something goes wrong. Of course, we were doing fairly simple geometric shapes so perhaps for more complicated 2D or 2 1/2D shapes maybe cam will be better.

Eventually I want to do 3D works and I think that's when I will need the cam package.

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

thanks,

John

[big_mak]

I'd make sure you get some good quality arbours. Make sure they are Rated to 12K as this is where your machine tops out. If you are going to use sidelock arbours, I'd keep to under 8K. The shop I'm in uses ETM holders from Iscar ER32 and 16 collets. They work pretty good. Cutter wise we use solid carbide exclusively. All we cut is aluminium and a bit of Copper. We'll stick to Garr and OSG pretty much, because they are readily available here. They both make tools for cutting stainless as well.

A good Vise is necessary, Kurt or Gerardi. My preference is for the Gerardi.

Even with the probe, you'll want a good set of measuring instruments. If you are running short run parts, the probing time will cut into your cycle times quite a bit.

The machine I run has tool breakage, and I've taken all those cycles out of the part programs that I run on the attended shift, because it can add up to 5 minutes of added cycle time to the parts. When I'm running a run of 100 parts, that's a lot of time.

I wouldn't go hog wild buying stuff to start. Get a good set of holders, then buy as your jobs demand it.

[Kazsaw]

Just curious...What kind of accuracy and repeatability are you expecting/getting from your VF-2SS?

[JohnJW]

Just curious...What kind of accuracy and repeatability are you expecting/getting from your VF-2SS?

Kazsaw, I saw your other post regarding repeatability issue with your VF-3SS. I'm afraid I'm too new to CNC to be of any assistance. We went with the VF-2SS because Haas has comparable spec with other machines around the same price range, large user base, and made in the US.

If I remember correctly, there was a product selection matrix sheet where the VF-X were in the high accuracy/small production category and the VF-XSS were in the low accuracy/large production category. I thought that was a little odd given that VF-X and VF-XSS all have the same accuracy/repeatability spec. . . .

John

[Kazsaw]

there was a product selection matrix sheet where the VF-X were in the high accuracy/small production category and the VF-XSS were in the low accuracy/large production category.

Yes, based on the same specs this does sound odd. However, since I am looking at purchasing additional machines, I'd appreciate it if you could tell me where I could find that matrix. I couldn't find it on the Haas site.

[JohnJW]

My memory was faulty. It was decision tree.. . not a matrix chart. Anyway it was in one of the files I downloaded from Haas when doing research on the VF-2SS. Looking at the models listed, it's probably not the most up to date. . . . I don't know the exact location of the file on their website. . . . but I've attached the copy I downloaded.

[Kazsaw]

Thanks! Per this diagram, it looks like the VF-3SS may be the wrong machine for what we are trying to do with it. But it does support the belief that the VM-3 or VF-4 should meet our needs.

Again, thanks.