O/T Robodrill or knock-off

[chris m]

Good evening folks, looking for some opinions on small CNC machines. We're looking for a new Robodrill-sized machine for drilling and tapping holes in a much neglected product line of ours. The options I've seen so far are:

 

Fanuc Robodrill

Haas Super MiniMill

Haas VF-1

Chevalier Falcon 1814 [1418, something like that]

 

Any impressions that you have based on personal experience with any of these machines would be greatly appreciated. I have worked around Robodrills before and they seem like a pretty nice machine but the $$ is pretty strong for what we're going to do with the machine.

 

Thanks in advance and hello to all of the machine-tool salesmen lurking out there in silence [or tech guys, Bob]; if you know me and haven't quoted this for me yet, maybe its time to give me a ring 'just to check in'....

 

C

[PE @ IHS]

Fanuc robodrill will give you far quicker cycle time and great accuracy. The downside is that you are stuck with a 30 taper, so you won't be able to do much more than hole making ops with it. If cycle time is not as important as flexibilty, the VF1 may be a better choice

[crazy^millman]

VF1 with highspeed machining might be your best bet. You get a good base machine with the capabilites of a fast machine for accuraccy. I would only make sure you get Baldor motor for the spindle. We are on our thrid motor for the VF2 SS and they were not baldor. Looks like I will have my fourth motor soon though the VF4 SS is signing the service guy tells me I am crazy but since we all know I am he will just have to learn I am the Crazy Millman

[Chris Rizzo]

You just got those machines, did'nt you Crazy? What's does Haas say about that?

[tryon]

We have a bunch of new Brother TS2A's. 30 taper, over 2000ipm rapids, 10000rpm spindles etc. they have g-code and conversational controls. There working out really good for us so far.

[MACHINEMASTERG]

chris

haas also has a mill drill machine check out there website

[chris m]

try-on

 

The big boss here for some reason has a chubby for Brother machines; do you have some contact info for them? I really don't want a CNC from a sewing machine company [or whatever it is that they make] but you gotta make the boss happy...

 

I am NOT interested in any oddball control, either, Fanuc [or a Fanuc clone like a Haas] or Yasnac would be pretty much the only ones we'd look at.

 

Ron, now that I've seen the work you guys are doing I don't think I woulda bought those machines; there's a reason Matsuura gets $150K for the same size machine Haas sells for $80K...

 

C

[Guest CNC Apps Guy 1]

quote:

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there's a reason Matsuura gets $150K for the same size machine Haas sells for $80K...

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And all you gotta do is "lift the skirt" on 'her to know why the Matsuura, Mori Seiki, Makino, OKK, SNK, Kitamura, etc... get the kind of coin they ask for.

 

James teh if it were my money I'd buy a Mori

[L Hanft]

Check out the Milltronics machines, they have good iron and controler. web page

 

We bought three VM-15's and have been happy with support and operation.

[crazy^millman]

They at this point have nothing really to say. It is I am pushing the machines as hard if not harder than anyone. I am doing my best to keep a cool head at this point.

 

but I do have 8 days of down time at this point.

[Roger Peterson]

If your main application is drilling and tapping I would make sure it will do rigid peck tapping. Ijust modified a post for a Milltronics to do rigid peck tapping, I know the robodrills will and I'm pretty sure the Haas would. I have also heard some good things about the Brother machines, I don't know the exact applications but very fast and accurate for drilling holes. I would also check out which ones would be able to do thread milling effectively. How many tools will the toolchanger hold? Do you need some type of deep hole drilling cycle with a reducing factor or will a simple peck cycle work. Sorry I don't have any great ideas for you other than things to look for but it would depend greatly on the application.

 

HTH and good luck-shopping for machines can be a headache but I also remember the first time somebody showed me rigid peck tapping...

 

I almost forgot low pressure through the spindle coolant isn't always an option on some of these machines if that is an issue.

[Keith Graydon]

quote:

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Chevalier Falcon 1814 [1418, something like that]

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Run, do NOT walk, Run away from ANYTHING with the "Chevalier" name on it! (POS)

[jrykrl]

I worked on a Brother once.

Very fast, control was a little funky.

good machine

Jer

[chris m]

Keith, I've heard that the Chevy grinders are junk but I've seen mixed reviews on these types of machines; have you seen one? All I have are pictures [OoooooooooOOOOooooooooooh, pretty]

 

C

[McRae]

Brother machines are murduously fast and are known more in the crew machine industry and small part manufacturing circles.

 

Most mainstream guys offer a DTL type of a machine and for the money, they are doing nice work.

[tryon]

I will get some more info tonite for you Chris

[tryon]

web page

 

Yamazen is our dealer out here in Michigan.

 

The control is a Fanuc clone. and ya they are super fast. the tool changes are pretty cool to see the first couple of times.

 

code:

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G100G0G90G54.1P1XOYOA0Z50.G43H1D1M3S4000M8

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All that happens simultaneously at 2362ipm

[chris m]

Thanks, I'll give their local office a ring, I appreciate the info

 

C