Look into Mitsubishi AJX cutters, they should have a 3 or 4 flute that would work if your not into ISCAR.

Also results can very depending upon your choice/type of cutting tools used.

Yes, if your going to step up to the 5 axis world buy machines that are going to exceed your needs at the moment, you'll grow into them if your business thrives and grows. Keep the HAAS machine for the normal stuff but step up on the 5 axis pair them up for easy quick swaps and set ups but to ignore any other type of machine is closed minded. Now I have not been in the room when the talks have happened but I have talked to one of the programmers and it's from him I have my opinions of whats going on. Just hate to see regret in 5 years when the machines cannot deliver what is being asked of them and the work still being tried to be put on them.

I cannot complain much about the place I work. We own 1 in house machine shop (where I work) and 2 outside machine shops. Unfortunately one of them before we purchased them was a HAAS only shop (heaviest influencer). Very closed minded to any kind of change when it comes to machines. I understand people not wanting multiple machines to a point, but limiting yourself to one type is to me the same as only using one type of endmill or shell mill. I do not know how many times I have told SANDVIK, WALTER, ISCAR FOR SHELL MILLS or imco, or MA FORD, or WIDIA for endmills reps that I will not keep only 1 type of endmill, drill or shellmill. I see it the same way with machine tools. Buy what meets your needs don't worry about the different controls or posts. If you really know what your doing in the long run it won't make a difference but the machines capabilities will.

Newbeeee they rip ya good on the cost $19000.00 for them. And with needing to hold true position tolerances of 0.004" HAAS would not be my first choice. Beggars cannot be choosers.

Thanks pretty much hearing what I already new but before I show my boss more opinions from more people please. He trusts me but the problem is there are other influences (political/professional etiquette) to persuade.

If you were to be forced to get a VF 8 HAAS and it was going to have a trunion would you get it with or without scales? Some parts will weigh up to 400 lbs. I would go scales but some above (management) do not see the advantage.

Put you dongle in fire up cimco remove dongle do not close cimco you ca run cimco at that point with no hasp.

See if your employer will step up and get you the online tutor course offered here. The cost for 6 month or a years really is not that bad and should be tax deductible for them.

Hole spreader Good old school yard humor.......Oh what I would say if it were not for Daniel.....

Do they still float the machines on air?

Could you just change the "G54.1" to "G154" and have it work with the expanded offsets in a HAAS?

I'll say it again if Tim was still around you would have all the help you need and good answers to go with it. Not missed phfft, were's the help from the riff raff? Not capable not culpable either.

Someone else asked this a little while back. You might trying searching the macro thread you may find it in there. Times like this we should all be missing Tim.

Do you have force tool change checked? If so uncheck it.

Meh thinks that guy has a bit of an attitude leaning towards looking at me and how great I am. I went to the site and even though I been doing it by the ever so special caliper method so depth gauges looked awsome. Especaiily if your doing production work and need consitstancy in your thread depth and also want to save time by checking form at the same time.

Run Techniks ER 16 and ER 20, with Techniks pull studs. All with no problems, also run their solid thru spindle coolant tool holders.

Where's Tim when you need him...........

Gotta love the Brit's. Every time I talk to Dave or Martyn I always think of newbeeee and if that's how he sounds??

Can anyone tell me who makes the best software for both g code back plot and custom macro's? NCPLOT looks very promising for the cost. Are there any others out there?

Home now so here is a little rant about work. 8 years ago when I started here I was asked what it would take to have a shop in house. I made a list of a hundred things, the only question I got was why are there not any machines on this list? Roll time forward they've bought 2 shops one for it's assembly capabilities along with 5 axis, and location. The second specialized in metrology then machining. The have no G code verification software or machine verification software other than what comes with Mastercam. They sold themselves as having proprietary macro's for machining but in reality it was standard issue VQC imbedded in HAAS machines with probing capabilities. I could go on and on but without help from outside to show what is really available in the way of quick change fixtures, MRP systems, true probing routines tailored for machines are It's a lost battle. For them HAAS is King and the leader of the 5 axis machining for front. RANT over

When I have more time to type I'll clue you in to the pains I'm going thru here.......

Same, Same, and Same here works like a charm . I'll even save all my operations then import them to new models to be programmed. All the tools I need in the order I need them (tool numbers too). Just need to re chain put in the new linking settings (clear values and depths) and away you go.

Quick question for the Cimco guys, are you able to run any kind of back plot or verify for custom macro B programming with Cimco?

Bob, I tried to PM you but your in box was full. I'll give Kevin a try later. Thanks Tim