HAAS VF-1 or Fadal VMC-3016C?

[toddcheck]

Hello everyone,

I am looking for my first VMC for our company. We will be doing production drilling, counterboring, tapping, etc... When the machine is not running production I want to make it available to our tool and die guys for die building and repair.

I have done some research (alot of it here @ cnczone!) and have found several good machines locally that appear to be in good condition and in my budget. I know several people that have the Fadals and are very happy with them.

The VF-1's that I have found are mid 90's machines. Any quidance any of you could give me would be greatly appreciated.

[gar]

071004-1048 EST USA

Do not get a HAAS with brush type servos. Sometime around 96 to 98 the switch was made to brushless. In time the brush type will be more of a maintenance problem. Also there was a period of time after 2000 when received quality was poor. Others need to tell you this time frame.

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[Geof]

gar is correct as far as my experience goes. I have several machines dating fromm 1997 up to 2007. Around 2003 - 2005 I encountered a spate of annoying problems with new machines; gross software glitches, things not being installed correctly. I have to say though that after banging a few heads so things were fixed under warranty (and I didn't have to bang too hard ) I have not had many further problems with these machines. Since 2005 the annoying problems other than some software issues have not been present (touch wood).

I would be dubious about getting a mid '90s machine and suggest squeezing out the money needed to get a VF2. I know it is easy to say this when you have an established company with the cash flow to support the purchase of a newer bigger machine but sometimes it is better in the long run to hurt a little up front rather than get something less costly and then regret it as soon as a job comes along that will not fit.

[DRD]

I second what Geof just said.
We are in the market for a Haas vf-2 mill right now, the used ones look attractive, and so is the price. After reading about all the problems with the old ones, we have decided to pony up and buy new vf-2.
I might hurt up front, but I know it's the best thing in the long run. When a machine is down, it will kill you.

Good luck.

[big_mak]

I third the motin made by Geof. you will bit eyourself in the a$$ if you don't get a bit bigger in the begining. Started up from scratch and went new, cause I need the thing to run steady. And it has for almost a year now! Just some small software stuff, that didn't render the machine useless.

[toddcheck]

Well, after reading the input from everyone I have taken your advice and decided to pony up the extra bucks and get the larger bed machine. I am going to make an offer today on a VF-2 or Fadal 3016 (Both are good clean machines). I appreciate all of you taking the time with someone new to chip making and I will post here what I end up with.

Thanks again!

[toddcheck]

Took delivery today of a '99 Fadal with 30" working range. Not a VF-2 I know but, good condition with the options I need. Can't wait to get it up an running.

Guess I'll find out over the next several months if I bought the right machine or not...