Hurco VM Series

[cdlenterprises]

Anyone had any experiecnce (good or bad)with the newer Hurco VM series machining centers? They're priced pretty aggressively compared to other machines...

[ran2]

We're looking at those and the deawoo machines as well. Hurco seems to have a well thoughtout control. The guides, ballscrews and the torq are on the light side. They have a good reputation as far as I can tell and the peaple that own them that I have talked to have no complaints.

[smoa1980]

I have ran several hucos and the control is real easy to learn

[skeetman]

I have a new VM1 graphite due in wed. Will know real soon.

[cdlenterprises]

Hey Skeetman,

Is your new VM1 up and running yet?

[chase78]

I have been researching into what CNC would beest for my business. I saw and worked on a VM1 work yesterday. That "conversational" programming set up is really easy quick to use. I'm not a Machinest and I could make parts without to much problem. I'm going to get hopefully in the next couple of months.

Go connact a HURCO dealer and have him show you one at a shop he sold it at and talk to the operature.


The one I talked to likes it over the HAAS, and he been an operature for seven years.

[mc_n_g]

My father-in-law has a VM1 we got last year as a demo with basically no 'mileage'. It was used to show how to collect dust, cut threads with a thread mill and basic CNC routines in Aluminum.
No problems with the system. 90% of our work is 7075 Al and 10% O1 tool steel. Make mold cavities for rubber compression molds, plastic injection machines and progressive stamp dies. At times I wish we had the higher spindle speed but it is not necessary for the work we are doing.
Write programs in GIbbs or BobCAD (yes 2 extremes). Both generate code well for the machine.
We got the machine with a few options and a Mitutoyo CMM, software, tooling etc for 95K. Less than the price of the Mitutoyo alone.
The only drawback, if it is one, is the 15 hp motor. Others in the same class come with 20 hp. Does it make a difference? Not for what we do.
Only once in a blue moon do we use the conversational language. It is nice and easy to use but we want to archive the drawings and G-code together.
Did not get the rotary table option. There are a few times I wish I had it but not worth the cost for so little use.
Overall, very satisfied with the machine. No maintenance except way oil, cutting fluid and tooing.

mc_n_g

[skeetman]

Originally Posted by cdlenterprises Hey Skeetman, Is your new VM1 up and running yet?

No will take me a few days to get a spot ready. Will give the low down as soon as I get It running a few parts. We make larger complex electrodes here up to 20" square on a bed mill that we put together using taiwan iron and a dynapath control. It has been doing real good the last 4 years with a spindle speeder at 20k rpm but it is an open system. We suck the dust with nozzles and a collector but it is still a pain in the a**. I hope this machine cures the dust ills and I need another spindle anyways.

[likestomachine]

Looking to buy VMC..Would love to have a MORI. Would you buy a Hurco vs. Fadal.. which one do you feel is better and better bang for buck?

[Buddy1]

It really depends on what you want to make on the machine. The Hurco is better Iron and better controls but is more expensive.

[DareBee]

Originally Posted by Buddy1 It really depends on what you want to make on the machine.

True
It also depends on how you want to use it. ie making the same part for days on end OR quickly programming a 1-off directly on the machine (no extra CAM) and running the part.

The Hurco is better Iron

Then you have not compared it to a Fadal box way machine.

[Buddy1]

Sorry I wasn't more clear. I wasn't comparing box ways to linear rails, I was comparing the actual Iron. The Fadal has a much poorer quality of castings.

Of coarse Box Ways are way more sturdy, and I believe Hurco newer machines are all Linear Rail. Box ways are slow though, about 400ipm where Linear Rails are in excess of 1000ipm and more accurate.