VFO

[pauls]

I'm looking at a 1996 VFO . Does anyone have any experience with this machine. Good/bad? It will be used for milling steel flanges primarly but on occassion alumnium. Machine work isn't our business but we fabricate a lot of parts and need custom pieces regularly. Is the 10hp motor enough or will I be sorry to go this route with an older machine.
Thanks
Paul

[Donkey Hotey]

The VF-0 was an economy version of the VF-1. Unfortunately, the thing you need it to do is what it's not so good at: steel. The main thing that model doesn't have is a 2-speed gearbox. The torque will be very limited at low RPM.

Your answer will depend on your expectations. If you can handle light cuts or can get with a cutter supplier that can provide you something that will dry cut at higher RPM, you might be OK. I think you'd be happier in the long-run with a VF-1 or VF-2. This particular machine would have to be a really good deal to consider it.

[pauls]

Is $12,000 a good deal? My concern is that we mill 1/2" mild and CRS exhaust flanges and would like a machine that could rapidly complete these.

[tnik]

Your taking a gamble purchasing a 12 yr old machine. Especially a Haas. While they are decent machines, they aren't top of the line. And at 10hp, I don't think your going to 'rapidly' do anything.. other than some small aluminum pieces.

[rawen2]

Be careful if it's on eBay. There's a 1996 VF-0E on there right now that is being highly promoted and is said to be rebuilt from the ground up. That's funny because last week I was talking to the (then) owner of that tool (a dealer - not the original owner as stated on eBay) and he just wanted to get out from under it. He told me he got "burned" on it. He said he put $4000 into it (eBay ad says he put $6000) and then his prize tech went missing. According to him the Z axis still didn't work, he couldn't tell me for sure if the spindle would run and he didn't know what else might not be working. He was asking $12,900 for it "as is" on Used Equipment Network. A couple of days later I noticed the UEN ad was gone and about that time it showed up on eBay. I know it's the same tool because it has the same serial number.
Yesterday I wrote to the eBay seller and asked if they had powered it up, and if everything on the tool was in working condition. No response so far.
Caveat Emptor - let the buyer beware.
Ralph Wenzl