Haas ec-500 series mill, your thoughts

[fuzzyracing1967]

Would like to hear what anyone has to say, (good or bad) about the ec-500 series Haas.We are thinking of getting one at work and just wondered if there was anything that you guys might have to say about the machine.For right now it's the only one were looking at so please don't suggest a Puma or a Mori I want to know what you think about the ec-500.For instance the one thing I seen when we looked at one was the door at the end of the machine where the pallet changer is,the track for the door is in the way if you want to load something with a crane,(unless you want to lift it over the track,about 8 feet in the air!).Things like that can be a pain so thats the kind of info I'm looking for.

[HAILINHAAS]

Good observation ... what are those design engineers thinking? lol

[fuzzyracing1967]

Does make one wonder,if the Haas is what we end up with I see a sawsall in my future
Well that is the day the waranty runs out.

[mikp5505]

EC-500s are a very good production machine i havent seen very many problems with them the only problems that i have worked on is with the tool changer and pot solinoide for some reason that one noid keeps going out witch makes the pot go back slow and you get a time out alarm

[fuzzyracing1967]

Thanks mikp5505,those are the little things that anoy the f@#& out of me. The tool changer may be a problem with me,it has that whole weight thing for the tools.I know it can be made to go slower for heavy tools,but it just makes me think it should be a little beefer.I don't like having to take two cuts with a 2" face mill when I can take one cut with a 4" face mill,but have to change said 4" mill slower.
But then again look what it says below

[fuzzyracing1967]

I thought I would have got a few more repsonces on this by now.I found out today that we will be making up are minds on this by July 1 , becouse Haas is raising prices then by I think 7% if I heard right.So if you got anything to say about the 500,speak now or forever hold your peace.

[Geof]

Originally Posted by fuzzyracing1967 ....... by July 1 , becouse Haas is raising prices then by I think 7% if I heard right....

How reliable is your information? Seven percent is a good jump.

Originally Posted by fuzzyracing1967 ... I see a sawsall in my future Well that is the day the waranty runs out.

A man after my own heart ; my most favorite take-apart-tool.

[fuzzyracing1967]

Well it did come from salesmen,but he is a long time freind. He knows we don't make rash decitions and won't be presured into buying,thing is we do need the machine soon it's getting way to busy around here.

[Mic6]

Originally Posted by fuzzyracing1967 Well it did come from salesmen,but he is a long time freind. He knows we don't make rash decitions and won't be presured into buying,thing is we do need the machine soon it's getting way to busy around here.

Have them set-up a demo or show another users set-up. HURRY!

[fuzzyracing1967]

(Have them set-up a demo or show another users set-up. HURRY! )

Oh I'v gone and looked at one in operation,that happened a while ago when just thinking about one.Was just wondering if anyone had anything to say about them.Like I said earlyer in post the door track is the only problem I seen.Hell got 10 days left to make up the old nogin,that's like years in macine time .

[MotoMike]

Hi, first post here.

Does the 500 you're looking at have an auger or conveyor? If it has an auger, I would'nt buy it. I have an EC300 with an auger and it can't get the chips out fast enough, so we have to stop every pallet change and hand scoop the chips. There are also some small solids involved, and I made it clear when I was looking at the machine pre-purchase. They have since installed a couple of different pitch augers and nothing really made it better. I just live with it.

Also, HAAS is here as we speak fixing the pot solenoid someone mentioned previously. Went with absolutely no warning, in fact the machine had been sitting for several weeks after working with no issues, and being powered up a couple times a week.

There have been numerous other issues, but I will say, they have worked hard to sort them out. Overall, I am pretty happy with it.

[fuzzyracing1967]

(Does the 500 you're looking at have an auger or conveyor? If it has an auger, I would'nt buy it. I have an EC300 with an auger and it can't get the chips out fast enough, so we have to stop every pallet change and hand scoop the chips. There are also some small solids involved, and I made it clear when I was looking at the machine pre-purchase. They have since installed a couple of different pitch augers and nothing really made it better. I just live with it.)

Hey there MotoMike thanks for the heads up.
if I'm not mistaken,I remember it saying it had dual augers? could be wrong it's been a long week You must be hoggin some material to be having those kinds of problems !

Are ther any options on your machine? We are looking at the normal stuff like 4th axes (NEED THAT),p-cool (love that on vf4),tsc (have a few parts that would be handy),remote jog handle,and the filter system for coolent.

just looked at there site it says triple auger