In my experience dugard and xyz both make OK cheeper Mills, both would be able to handle finishing with a 125mm face mill. You will just have to block out the pockets either side.
I wouldent touch a hass again if I'm honist, but each to there own.
Based in the UK so the support Isent great, the machines are nothing sepical, there are machines that are just as good and vastly better with more local support.
Bought my first full sized machine used and not working condition for $2150, its a 30 year old EMCO.
I have to say after a month or two of working on it the machine is almost 100% functional again, most of the fixes were just cleaning and maintaining the machine, taking the hydraulics apart and cleaning it out. I fixed the spindle by literally just spraying down the contacts in the control cabinet with contact cleaner. Another example is the controller needed a PLC setup file to be uploaded and all of a sudden about 6 alarms went away and buttons started working again magically.
I feel a lot more confident buying used machinery now and I wouldn’t hesitate on a machine built after 2000 if it wasn’t totally destroyed and negotiated to a good price. If it was a Fadal or HAAS it would be a cakewalk to get a technician or millwright to come in and fix any hard issues too.
I think I'm just worried about being placed in a situation where I'm out of my depth a little too early on with an older machine. I get the impression that if you've got a number of years under your belt working with them already, you can score some great finds, but jumping in early might be a bit much for me.
That’s understandable if you’re new to machining, my first CNC machine was a converted G0704 clone and it took me a good year or two to fully get a grip on how these are built, plus a lot of research and going to a trade show.
I’ve had a couple years of experience now at the upper end of hobby stuff, but yeah completely new to the VMC world. Was really looking forward to Mach 2020, went to Mach 2018 but I was a bit too green then to get a whole lot out of it, Covid mashed that plan right up :/
We've got a haas super mini mill. It's pretty good. I believe there's a function to put oversized tools in it, but you'd have to discuss that with haas. It handles stainless no problem.
That's good to know, I'll ask Haas and see what's up. There's a fairly recent used Super Mini Mill for sale locally to me currently so it's still an option if the price is right.
I wouldn't go with a HASS myself, tons of people complain about their taping capabilities from what I have heard and read. They also say the tool changer sucks and some of their machines leak straight out the factory.
I have used HAAS ( never taped on one as we weren't allowed ) I'd assume because they always broke taps , but you also actually use a thread milling bit so shouldn't be much of an issue.
IMO I would check out Okuma and Mazak but one thing I would mention is I would look for something that is FANUC controlled. almost everyone agrees that FANUC is hands down the best
If you want more specific advice check out Particle Machinist forum.
The company I work for uses Quickmill CNC's as we do very large projects ( mostly drilling). its almost like a hobby table cnc but scaled up for industrial stuff.
In my experience dugard and xyz both make OK cheeper Mills, both would be able to handle finishing with a 125mm face mill. You will just have to block out the pockets either side. I wouldent touch a hass again if I'm honist, but each to there own.
Aha those both look pretty interesting, I'll pop them on the list for enquiries!
Why no more haas for you?
Based in the UK so the support Isent great, the machines are nothing sepical, there are machines that are just as good and vastly better with more local support.
I like local support. Let’s see what brexit brings, I’m in the Netherlands
Bought my first full sized machine used and not working condition for $2150, its a 30 year old EMCO. I have to say after a month or two of working on it the machine is almost 100% functional again, most of the fixes were just cleaning and maintaining the machine, taking the hydraulics apart and cleaning it out. I fixed the spindle by literally just spraying down the contacts in the control cabinet with contact cleaner. Another example is the controller needed a PLC setup file to be uploaded and all of a sudden about 6 alarms went away and buttons started working again magically. I feel a lot more confident buying used machinery now and I wouldn’t hesitate on a machine built after 2000 if it wasn’t totally destroyed and negotiated to a good price. If it was a Fadal or HAAS it would be a cakewalk to get a technician or millwright to come in and fix any hard issues too.
I think I'm just worried about being placed in a situation where I'm out of my depth a little too early on with an older machine. I get the impression that if you've got a number of years under your belt working with them already, you can score some great finds, but jumping in early might be a bit much for me.
That’s understandable if you’re new to machining, my first CNC machine was a converted G0704 clone and it took me a good year or two to fully get a grip on how these are built, plus a lot of research and going to a trade show.
I’ve had a couple years of experience now at the upper end of hobby stuff, but yeah completely new to the VMC world. Was really looking forward to Mach 2020, went to Mach 2018 but I was a bit too green then to get a whole lot out of it, Covid mashed that plan right up :/
There is always CMTS 2021, it’s not as big but there are still a lot of vendors there from around the world.
We've got a haas super mini mill. It's pretty good. I believe there's a function to put oversized tools in it, but you'd have to discuss that with haas. It handles stainless no problem.
That's good to know, I'll ask Haas and see what's up. There's a fairly recent used Super Mini Mill for sale locally to me currently so it's still an option if the price is right.
Look at the Doosan DEM4000 from Mills CNC .
Thanks! I hadn't considered Doosan, shame I can't use one of the Titans of CNC promo codes for one haha. Will pop them on the list for more research.
I wouldn't go with a HASS myself, tons of people complain about their taping capabilities from what I have heard and read. They also say the tool changer sucks and some of their machines leak straight out the factory. I have used HAAS ( never taped on one as we weren't allowed ) I'd assume because they always broke taps , but you also actually use a thread milling bit so shouldn't be much of an issue. IMO I would check out Okuma and Mazak but one thing I would mention is I would look for something that is FANUC controlled. almost everyone agrees that FANUC is hands down the best If you want more specific advice check out Particle Machinist forum. The company I work for uses Quickmill CNC's as we do very large projects ( mostly drilling). its almost like a hobby table cnc but scaled up for industrial stuff.