Haas VF-3

The Haas VF-3 is a 40-taper vertical machining center with 40 × 20 × 25 in (1,016 × 508 × 635 mm) of travel, a 30 hp (22.4 kW) inline direct-drive spindle that turns at up to 8,100 rpm, and a 20-tool carousel. It is the plain version of its frame: standard spindle speed, standard Y travel and a table rated for 3,500 lb (1,588 kg). Rapids are 1,000 ipm (25.4 m/min) and the maximum cutting feedrate is 650 ipm (16.5 m/min).

The table measures 48 × 18 in (1,219 × 457 mm), longer than the X travel and a little narrower than the Y travel. Five T-slots on 3.15 in (80 mm) centres run its length. In practice that suits a row of vises or one long fixture better than a deep plate. Z travel puts the spindle nose between 4.2 in (107 mm) and 29.2 in (742 mm) above the table, enough daylight for a rotary table or a tall fixture with a long tool still in the spindle.

Peak torque is 90 ft-lbf (122 N·m) at 2,000 rpm. That is a general-purpose figure: it drives mid-size face mills and drills in steel, while large-diameter roughing at low speed is where it runs out. Haas's table lists an optional gearbox at 250 ft-lbf (339 N·m) at 450 rpm for that kind of work. Axis thrust is 2,550 lbf (11,343 N) on X and Y and 4,200 lbf (18,683 N) on Z, so the Z axis has about 65% more push for drilling than the table axes have for side milling.

The carousel takes tools up to 3.5 in (89 mm) in diameter and 12 lb (5.4 kg), and changes in 4.2 s tool-to-tool or 4.5 s chip-to-chip. Buyers who need more have three directions within the family. The VF-3SS keeps the same travels and table but runs to 12,000 rpm with 1,400 ipm (35.6 m/min) rapids and a 30+1 tool changer, in exchange for a 1,750 lb (794 kg) table load. The VF-3YT stretches Y to 26 in (660 mm) on a 54 × 24 in (1,372 × 610 mm) table. The VF-4 adds X, 50 in (1,270 mm), on the same Y and Z. Haas lists a starting price of US$87,995 for the base VF-3.