[panaceabea]

Took the plunge and signed on the dotted line for a new VF4 today , The rotary table promo made it to good to resist . Now the very painful month +- wait begins.

Decided on the 40 tool side mount tool changer , chip auger, 10k spindle , and programable nozzle . Anything else I should add or think about in the couple of days I have to amend my order?

Is the pendant worth the cost ? Can it be added later if I decide I need it?

[WOLOG]

Order the pedant control! It will make your life easier in the long run. Probe? 1000 PSI thru spindle coolant? I think those are a must these days.

[ckirchen]

Get the thru spindle coolant. I have a MiniMill; it is a great machine, but in hindsight I should have gone for the SuperMiniMill just for the TSC. I mill mostly aluminum and at 6,000rpm I can still do what I want, but there have been many times that I wished that I could blast the chips out of a pocket op or drill op with the TSC.

[DRD]

Add the tool setter and probe, along with visual quick coded it will be a huge time saver.

[makingchips]

Get the VF4 SS. Wow it is fast. Auto door is also a nice option. I have my configuration listed here.


http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=68951

The wait is the hardest part enjoy!


MC

[MikeOD]

Which 10K spindle did you get? There are 2 drive options (20 and 30 horsepower)...20 horsepower is available with and without a gearbox, 30 horsepower only comes with it.

The probe package (renishaw wips) is very very nice.

I suggest buying the high speed machining option, if you plan to program with cam software, you'll very quickly wind up with programs that will benefit tremendously from having it.

[panaceabea]

I ordered the 20hp , I use mastercam for all my programing . I do believe I will add the high speed machining , I was on the fence about the option

[timmydabull]

very nice machine you have purchased.

[JWK42]

The Renashaw probe is an absolute must. We have it on our VF3 and EC1600
and it saves alot of time setting up. Our guys love it.

[Mic6]

Right on, thats news I like to hear! How long until delivery? We have 2 VF2 ss's. Love'em. We ordered the jog handles after the fact. I know it's a small machine, but sometimes in set-up its better to NOT have my arm fully extended.

Hey JWK42, what kinda stuff you runnin' on that EC-1600?

[JWK42]

Mic6

We use our EC-1600 to do 2nd ops on large bronze bushings.
Things like fly cutting oil pockets in bores. Milling and thread milling holes on the outside of bushings. Splitting bushing into segments, we have the full 4th axis. We also do quite a bit of work with a right angle head to use the 60 inch X movement. It is a bit slow and cumbersome but we love it.

[Mic6]

Nice, got any pics you can post of that stuff?

[JWK42]

I'll try

[Mic6]

Right on man. That was sick stuff. Is that a CT50?

[JWK42]

Yes Cat-50

[panaceabea]

well its been barely 3 weeks since I ordered the VF4 and its on a truck just a few hundred miles away . I am very excited , hopefully we will have it on the shop floor in the morning

[Geof]

well its been barely 3 weeks since I ordered the VF4 and its on a truck just a few hundred miles away ....

We had similar rapid delivery on three machines last year. It is nice but you know it means Haas must have guys standing around just waiting for something to do, or did because I saw a news article about them laying off 200 people.

[miljnor]

Ya times are tough and the big guys are no exception...just the nich markets that aren't so hard hit right now.

[Mic6]

well Geof, the machine should be here by now. Any updates install pics?

[Geof]

well Geof, the machine should be here by now. Any updates install pics?

???? I don't have any currently on order. Did yours arrive and get into position promptly?