Fadal EMC

[two words]

I know what everybody thinks of Fadal's well almost everybody but does anybody have one of these machines in there shop and if so what do you think.

 

Thanks.

[JOVATO8]

We have 2 Fadals on the floor a 4020 and a VMC10.

I can say they get the job done.

We have a product that requires us to machine aluminum and some 1/8 x 3/4 brass.Any new products that we design is either aluminum or brass.

Now and then we cut steel.They are pretty simple to set up and run.I never use the control to program.I find easier to program on Mastercam and send the program to the machine.

I have had better machines,but I have had worst.

For the money I am satified.

 

LATER

Joe

[Trevor Bailey]

I really like the controls. They are extremely easy to use. The only problem I have with them is the maintance, ie... pretty the way they are built.

 

Other than that, they do get the job done.

[Rubenr]

Dear Two Words,

 

I have a Fadal 4020 with a 4th axis . I've added the glass scales on my machine and do have a piece of mind when it comes to trying to holding the +/- .0002 tolerance. We do alot of complex cavity, cores and prototypes, this is where the fast processor really comes in handly.

 

Trevor:

 

As far as the maintance

 

I clean all my filters myself every 6 months "for the air/coolant thru-the ball screw/spindle motor etc.." Have not had a tech-guy come out in last 1 1/2 years. If you use the Valetine 650 CF with the distill water you won't get any rust

 

The one thing I do like about the Fadal is that... it's belt driven (spindle) not gear driven like the Hass... This can save you some big-bucks here if your gear were ever to go out. For the price you can't beat it!

 

Two-Words:

 

Lastly..... Before you buy a Fadal I do suggest you run the "3d CadCam Works check" for positioning and accuracy. Place 5 blocks on the table, one on each corner of the table and then one in the middle. Mill a 1.0 diameter oh about .500 deep. Make sure you take 2 spring passes.

 

Write a sub-program to indicate the holes for each position and repeat about the sub 5 times or so.

 

You will see how good of a machine it is. In fact, if you don't buy a Fadal try this test on the one you're thinking of buying.

 

This is something any sales rep don't want you to knowwwww...I did this test and went through 3 machines before I found mine , I hope this help you cause I'm never on this site( to busy working) .......

 

P.S. Trevor, Can you do lunch this week

 

Late

Ruben

[Kenneth Potter]

I agree that the Fadals get the job done. My biggest problem its that crappy tool turret that hangs up. To eazy for chips to contaminate tool holders.& no hard limit axis Zero return with over travel limits.

 

I dont trust those alignment marks for axis zero.

[chris m]

We had two 4020s and a 6030 in my last shop (both several years old); none of them seemed to interpolate a hole round better than .001" and we could never keep the heads square in any of them. Always had spindle problems, too.

 

You do get a big machine for the $, but I always liked the Haas better (we had 4 VF4s and a VF2) for relatively even money.

 

Now, if I could just get a Matsuura for $70,000...

[two words]

Thanks for the input so far everybody. I have run fadals for some time now and never had any real big problems and I do also find the control easy to use. I just wanted to know if the new EMC is worth the money for a small new machine compared to the other small macines like the mini mill.

 

Rubenr, hopefully you can check out the machine with me if I do get one because it seems like you know more than I ever will.

 

Trevor, I liked you words of wisdom in the other post. Did you hear that from Javier because I have.

 

Thanks all.

[Trevor Bailey]

Steve, I can't recall what I might have said that coincided with a statement from Javi. Could you refresh me. I know that Javi is a HAAS guy. He was not too happy working on Fadal's with me. I have not heard much about the EMC. I had the new area rep come to my shop, but all we talked about were the Performance Series machines.

 

I have a good idea of most of the material you guys cut, I am wondering if you have looked into any routers. I have been doing a lot of research on those types of machines. I would be glad to share my "learnings" with you.