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IndustryArena Forum > MetalWorking Machines > Haas Machines > Haas Lathes > Good First CNC Mill?....1996 Haas VF-3
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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
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    29

    Good First CNC Mill?....1996 Haas VF-3

    I have been in the market for a CNC Mill for a year now and everything is 250+ miles away. I got lucky last week and via word of mouth, found a 1996 Haas VF-3 about 5 miles away from me. Here are the details:

    -Has been sitting for 3 years
    -Owner bought it as part of a set and uses the twin, has never powered this one on but is willing to hook it up for testing.
    -No Tooling Included
    -Machine is very dirty
    -Originally asking $25k but not actively advertising it. (it sits in the back of a large warehouse where nobody sees it, out of site, out of mind)
    -Control is in great condition (no button wear)

    Iam not sure where to start with an offer, he wants to sell it as-is, however, I told him that if i cant see it run and test it, the offer will be very low due to the risks involved...

    What do you all think? This is going to be my first VMC.
    What would you offer? I was thinking 18K if upon inspection it has no issues, or $13k AS-IS

    Thanks for your help!
    -Geoff

    Click image for larger version. 

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    -Geoff Warner
    VegasCarts.com & myVegasCarts.com

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Posts
    6028
    If it powers up and moves around without much backlash or spindle noise, low 20s would be reasonable IMO.

    Sent from my G-Tab Quantum using Tapatalk

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
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    29

    Re: Good First CNC Mill?....1996 Haas VF-3

    Is there an easy way to identify if the machine has Brushless Servos and Ridgid Tapping without turning it on?
    -Geoff Warner
    VegasCarts.com & myVegasCarts.com

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Posts
    12177

    Re: Good First CNC Mill?....1996 Haas VF-3

    You may be able to get information from Haas if you call them with the machine serial number.

    If the keyboard does not indicate much use; as you say no button wear and the paint not worn off around the green button I would be tempted to go for a low offer As Is. Especially if all the way covers are nice and straight and there are no signs of things being thrown around inside the enclosure. I have many Haas machines and I find they are very reliable.
    An open mind is a virtue...so long as all the common sense has not leaked out.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Posts
    511

    Re: Good First CNC Mill?....1996 Haas VF-3

    Its cheap and easy to reface a keyboard, not a good indicator. BTW

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
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    29

    Re: Good First CNC Mill?....1996 Haas VF-3

    Seller will not take less than $20k and they did end up powering it on for me. Servos and Spindle work fine. Spindle is quiet.

    Serial # is 6875 (Built 2/96) and Haas doesn't keep build data past 10 years. Local HFO has no service records on it but I believe the machines were shipped in from the east coast so tracking down service records could be a pain.

    They seem to be selling for mid to low 20s so $20k seems fair ...
    -Geoff Warner
    VegasCarts.com & myVegasCarts.com

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Posts
    13

    Good First CNC Mill?....1996 Haas VF-3

    Geoff, there should be a build sheet taped to the inside cabinet door. It will tell you how the machine was configured.

    You can get into debug and see how many hours have been recorded however keep in mind you can reset these counters. Most don't not know how too but some do.

    The build sheet should tell you brush or brushless. Mine shows rigged tap too and the code to reset if necessary.

    Another way to tell brush/brushless is to look at the big axis/encoder cables coming out of the cabinet. If there's just one cable per axis it's brushless. Brush models have 2 cables side by side. Not sure what stickers a 96 had but I know HAAS was proud of the brushless models and I know 97/98s had brushless plastered on the front. So I'm thinking that one may not be. But the cabinet and cables would be the tale-tell

    Pic looks good though things get dirty just by shop dust floating around in a busy environment.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Posts
    93

    Re: Good First CNC Mill?....1996 Haas VF-3

    oh what a difference a year makes!!!

    Haas' got good in '97. i personally wouldn't touch one before then.

    hold out for a post '97 model. sometimes "more expensive" is cheaper in the long run.

    run away!

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Posts
    93

    Re: Good First CNC Mill?....1996 Haas VF-3

    97 is the year they changed from what i call the "squirrel drive" to their very good vector drive.

    HUGE differrence

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Posts
    1852

    Re: Good First CNC Mill?....1996 Haas VF-3

    I have a 97 and a 96 right next to each other. Both are brushless and both have Vector drive.

    Mike
    Two Haas VF-2's, Haas HA5C, Haas HRT-9, Hardinge CHNC 1, Bother HS-300 Wire EDM, BobCAD V23, BobCAD V28

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Posts
    93

    Re: Good First CNC Mill?....1996 Haas VF-3

    ^^^^^good info, maybe they started shipping in 1996(?). does your vector drive 1996 model have squared-off sheet metal or the newer rounded?

    IIRC, the weak spindle drive was from Mitsubishi. check inside the control cabinet to confirm.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Posts
    13

    Re: Good First CNC Mill?....1996 Haas VF-3

    Believe 96 was the transitional year for the vector drive.

    Mike does your 96 have the Brushless Servos sticker on the front?

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
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    1852

    Re: Good First CNC Mill?....1996 Haas VF-3

    Quote Originally Posted by mkd View Post
    ^^^^^good info, maybe they started shipping in 1996(?). does your vector drive 1996 model have squared-off sheet metal or the newer rounded?

    IIRC, the weak spindle drive was from Mitsubishi. check inside the control cabinet to confirm.
    Still square.

    - - - Updated - - -

    Quote Originally Posted by dresnerm View Post
    Believe 96 was the transitional year for the vector drive.

    Mike does your 96 have the Brushless Servos sticker on the front?
    Yes, both have the stickers.

    Mike
    Two Haas VF-2's, Haas HA5C, Haas HRT-9, Hardinge CHNC 1, Bother HS-300 Wire EDM, BobCAD V23, BobCAD V28

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Posts
    29

    Re: Good First CNC Mill?....1996 Haas VF-3

    I ended up passing on the VF3 and instead found a 98 Haas VF2 with 3600hours on it for $16,250

    What do you think?

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    -Geoff Warner
    VegasCarts.com & myVegasCarts.com

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
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    29

    Re: Good First CNC Mill?....1996 Haas VF-3

    The VF3 is still available so I might end up trading him for it...it would be nice to have another machine.

    More Pictures of it

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    -Geoff Warner
    VegasCarts.com & myVegasCarts.com

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