1-2 years??? Consider yourself lucky. I regrind mine every 6 months

I'm interested in knowing what you did on the post and what the code generated is. From my experience you have to mess with the E and the P quite a bit depending on the part shape and how much stock you leave if you really want to maximize G187...So I normally input with a "manual input" or by hand.

I'd think you would want to stick with how all the other machines are instead of having one machine an odd ball... Ethernet is an option. RS232 isn't. You should be able to just run a RS232 cable and call it a day. If, however, I was the one that dropped $1600 for the ethernet option, I'd probably want to use it though.

I've run TL1's and 2's with and without the turret. In fact, my shop was the beta site for the TL turret...and I was the guy to check it out. I must say first that I can't stand dorian tool posts. Although simple to use and they repeat (pretty reliably) to .001" I really just don't like em. They are weak, allow too much variation, can come loose, etc...and you can barely trust them for .001" So I would go with the turret. I haven't seen one in years, but the first ones were painfully slow to rotate and you really had to watch where tools were but once you get a job running it is nice to not do the dorian tool switch dance for the rest of it. If you do get the turret, search around for guys that have come up with cool ways to do their coolant lines. It will make your life that much easier...and oh, if this is your first TL, get a raincoat.

At the risk of getting WAY off topic... You must have a newer version of the software than me.

Must be a newer machine feature. Mine's an '06 and there is NOTHING going on when you hit origin and nothing in the manual about USB's...LOL

I'm with you for the most part...every now and then I get the urge to play it safe... AFAIK...My Haas doesn't have a "Safely Remove Hardware" option so guess what I do...

1134 TOOLS! That is a huge tool hive

What year machine? I think the TLM changed a bit over the last 8 years.

I would answer "yes" if you are on a Haas. .010" even in aluminum and you can have measurable deflection at even remotely acceptable feedrates. Just for the record, I add G187 all over the place to help speed things up or make things more precise depending on the toolpath. You have to if you want to maximize those two things on a haas. Otherwise, like mentioned, you are completely stalling the machine as it tries to hit its targets or you are completely cutting through your targets I assume you are using G187 P... and E...? It is a little strange but I find I need to mess with both a bunch to get to where I need to be. As far as it being a lemon...? No, they all work that way. As far as my offer goes to run this on a late model VF3SS it still stands. I leave the default at P3 and .0001" for G187 and change it in the program. Since I do a ton of prototyping, the last thing I want is to have the machine cutting any corners that I may not think it will cut. This way, I am in control of how loose the thing runs. The VM3 is a noodle of a machine if you base it on footing size for travels, weight of machine for travels, overhang of the spindle based on the Y travel...etc. Nevertheless...what you say is pretty eye opening comparing it to the VF2. I guess simply being more compact allows the VF2 to shine over the VM3. Here are some pictures. They show the width of the feet at the rear of the machines. They are both from my 40 X 20" machines. One is a Haas. The other one isn't.

X2 on the dovetail plate. Excellent post Josh.

I agree with "It is what it is"...or to put it another way..."It isn't what it's not"... I second the drip pan. I'd second the auto tool changer - I beta'd it when it was first introduced and as much as I liked it, it was made horribly out of square so mine was garbage. Gangtools on them worked well. I also hate Dorian (or any) manual tool posts. I don't know what they are spek'd to hold for tolerance but I wouldn't expect better than .001" when changing tools a lot. All in all, they are a cool "better than a manual" type of lathe. I ran a 1 and a 2 for a while. Oh - get yourself a rain slicker...

LOL - To bring back the "Ferrari vs Honda" argument - - - now you want us to compare a Ferrari to a Yugo?

Bob, thanks for these videos. If you ever want someone to run them (dry) on a VF3SS I would be happy to - for time comparisons. I'd be interested in seeing if there were any differences between the VM and SS.

I tend to see super high priced used haas which seems to baffle me. I will probably get beaten up for saying this but I just bought an American made 40x20 vertical called a Mazak Fool you once... Fool you twice... I was fooled as well with the SS claims and like you won't be fooled again! Good video btw...can't wait to see more. It will really open peoples eyes seeing the two machines literally side by side with the same tooling and programs yet quite different outcomes. The other thing to mention as you have illuded to is the real price. How much of a percentage difference was it? I believe that Haas comes in under 20 percent different than the (way way better) competition. When Haas used to be 45-55 percent less that was something. 10-20percent....not so much