General Haas VF Question

[coloradoskibum]

I posted the same question in the Fadal area as I have narrowed down my VMC purchase down to a Fadal or a Haas. In either line I am looking in the late 90's to early 2000 model years. Are there any milestones for the Haas machines in this vintage or features that one model have over the previous year that would drive my selection to that specific year/model? Software revision, servo motor type, motion control card revision, etc. Probably looking at a VF2 or VF3. What are the high "wear" items for these models? Or should I say high maintence items. I will be doing mainly aluminum and plastic, 75% 2 1/2D stuff with some 3D contouring possibly in the future.

Thanks in advance
Jim

[HuFlungDung]

1996 sort of stands out in my mind as it was about then that they went to brushless servos on the 3 axis. That coincides with the jump from 400 ipm to 710 ipm rapids. But I guess that changing brushes every few years is not that big of a deal if it comes right down to saving a significant amount of money. But that jump in rapid speed is worth something if you will be running a lot of tool changes or large parts.

I'm also not certain when they switched to the vector spindle drive but it must have been later than 96. Not having run one, I don't know if there is a major advantage to that or not. Mine works okay, but it is likely closer to being totally obsolete than the newer models

[Ben Olson]

we have a 1998 haas vf3 that has been reliable as a clawhammer it also has something you can't get on a new Haas... a 32 position tool changer....it's been good

[Haas__man]

Basically the newer the better. All depends on how much money you have to spend. I would suggest around 2002. The CRT monitor was changed to LCD. The hydraulic counterbalance was replaced with a brake motor therefore less maintenence.
Hope this helps.

[coloradoskibum]

Thanks for the info guys. Funny you should mention the counter balance, because the '96 I looked at on Tuesday had a Nitrogen charged system for the counter balance. I have never seen that before. Don't know if I have the coin to go as new as 2002, but I will say there are a lot of deals out there if you are patient.

Jim

[Geof]

I have 25 Haas machines dating from 1995 (HL1) to 2008 (TM3-P) and, with a small exception, there is not really any noticeable difference in reliability between them. The exception is that some of the machines dated around 2002-3 had some problems during their warranty peiod that seemed to be more related to sloppy asembly than anything, loose nuts, cables and hoses getting pinched. Maintenance-wise my experience with Haas machines has been very good.