[AMCTony]

Get the enclosure!!!

I have a TL-2 with the enclosure. I have tried running with the doors open from time to time and ended up closing them so I did not have to dodge flying hot chips. When running with coolant it is not a question weather to have an enclosure or not, you just need it.

[Donkey Hotey]

I finally remembered what I didn't like about the enclosure: access to the tailstock. The tailstock is already tough to deal with. It doesn't slide well. The locking handle is awkward to use. The enclosure looked like it would make it even worse.

[Geof]

I finally remembered what I didn't like about the enclosure: access to the tailstock...

Grow longer arms with an extra elbow joint.

[Donkey Hotey]

One or two more joints in the arm might actually make that thing easier to use.

I will admit that if cost were no object, I would have spent the money on the enclosure. If the enclosure were a little cheaper or performed better than I've read here, I would be pining for it. As long as I keep the coolant flow down and keep the chuck guard down, it's pretty good.

I should also mention that I made this stainless splash pan to go under the toolpost. It catches a bunch of the coolant that misses the chuck guard and used to pour off the front of the machine. It still drools but it's better.


I think that I could design and build a better sheetmetal enclosure for the machine. The challenge is that I don't have a big enough brake to form the sheets. It needs a continuous gutter along the front and back of the machine. It needs sliding doors that can go completely out of the way (more like the TL-4 enclosure). Two inter-nesting doors like this could at least make the tailstock accessible. The doors don't have to be form fitting. They could be 24" above the part and not matter--as long as the coolant is caught and returned to the sump.


I still think they need a machine in a similar size to the TL-1/TL-2 but in the $40-60K price range:

• 16-18" swing
• 40-60" bed
• 14-16" of X travel (making gang tooling possible)
• Two-speed gearbox
• Absolute coolant control (no drooling)
• Optional vertical turret changer (Dorian style)

The machine could do small chucker-type jobs in a semi-production role (tooling bushings, sleeves, spacers, etc). It could do harder materials. It could handle the random long part. It could be closed and the coolant controlled when those semi-production jobs got run. An air closer and bar puller could automate it for short runs.

Nothing in the Haas stable can do all of that right now. I couldn't have afforded it on this purchase but for customers who are already 'all Haas' or for customers who have those type of needs, I don't think there is anything else out there that offers all of that.

I'm pushing for two, well optioned TL-2s at my day job but the machine I described above is what I'd pick if Haas made it. We do one-off and proof-of-concept machining. Parts can vary from tiny bushings up to chucking and turning 30" lengths of stainless tubing. Incidentally, I didn't request the enclosures on either TL-2 we're asking for.

[Donkey Hotey]

• Optional vertical turret changer (Dorian style)

I visited my local, friendly HFO yesterday (to get some parts). It looks like I might have found the perfect tool changer for my dream lathe (Haas, are you listening?). The GT20 has a horizontal bed (not a slant bed like the other turning centers). That cross slide looks almost like the one on the TL1/TL2. On that cross slide, they have a nice, compact vertical turret tool changer.

So we're one part closer to assembling my 'dream' Toolroom lathe.

[Wiseco]

I have an open TL-2 and as I never or barely use collant, I'm very satisfied with what I have as I don't do mass production runs.

[flashno]

Thanks to all for the info. We have decided to go with the enclosure, as we will have the need to use flood coolant at least part of the time. We have an SL-10 for small (short) parts, but need the length the TL-2 will give us. Seems with a few well placed additional splash shields (thanks Geof & Greg for the pics), it will do just fine.

Ed