Haas-VF3 Machine.

[VC]

Is this Haas-VF3 rigid enough to cut Steel Material? Thanks for your input.

[Die Sinker]

We cut die steel(Finkl#2) in a VF2 and VF4. All forging impression work.

[ChuckM]

We mill steel and steel alloys all the time on ours. We could talk all day as to whether it's rigid "enough" but the bottom line is... it's an inexpensive machine that does ok considering that fact.

It's no Makino that's for sure, but you'd only need see the price tag to know why.

 

Machine rigidity is only one issue though. Have to work towards keeping the whole system rigid too. Tool holders, setups, tools, you get the idea.

 

So yeah, they'll cut steel, just don't set your expectations too high. Won't be near as good as a Kitamura, Mori, Mazak, etc., especially not after a couple of years hard use.

 

-Chuck

[chris m]

If you're going to cut a lot of steel [heavy milling, not HSM stuff] make sure you opt for the geared spindle as it has a HUGE torque advantage to the 'standard' spindle. Don't let the '20HP' nonsense fool you, it is the torque that counts. As mentioned above, don't plan on getting 10 years out of the machine if you are really going to beat on it.

 

C

[Leon-ZA]

Yes, definitaly get the geared head.

 

I only cut aluminium on my VF3 and at 2mm deep with a 63mm rose cutter at full cut width I run well into the orange and red zones on spindle load with the non-geared (std) head. And thats at only around 4000mm/min feed. (Or was that 6000mm/min?) Anyways, nothing heavy and the machine starts moaning...

[Kannon]

My 2 vf2s dont moan!

They rattle!