Haas Automation Vertical Machining Centers (VMC)

Haas VM-3

List US$130,995 Specs verified 2026-10-02 · haascnc.com Updated 2026-10-02

Image: haascnc.com, Haas Automation

Key Specifications

X Travel

40 in (1,016 mm)

Y Travel

26 in (660 mm)

Z Travel

25 in (635 mm)

Max Spindle

12,000 rpm

Spindle Taper

CT or BT 40

Tool Capacity

30+1

How much does the Haas VM-3 cost?

Manufacturer list price

US$130,995

As published by Haas Automation, verified 2026-10-02. Options, tooling, freight and installation are extra.

Overview

The Haas VM-3 is a 40-taper mold machine with 40 × 26 × 25 in (1,016 × 660 × 635 mm) of travel and a table larger than the travel suggests: 54 × 24 in (1,372 × 610 mm), rated for 4,000 lb (1,814 kg). The spindle is an inline direct-drive unit that runs to 12,000 rpm. Haas lists a starting price of US$130,995.

The table outruns the X axis. The spindle travels 40 in while the table is 54 in long, so part of the table is always outside the cutting area. On mold work that is useful: clamps, parallels or a second fixture can sit at the ends without taking machining room from the block in the middle. The T-slots run both ways, listed as 13 in Y and 6 in X on 3.94 in (100 mm) centers, which gives a dense grid for strap clamps and fixture plates. Buyers who need to cut most of the table length should look at the VM-5, which has the same 54 × 24 in table and 50 in (1,270 mm) of X.

Haas gives the same thrust on every axis, 4,100 lbf (18,238 N), with a 500 ipm (12.7 m/min) cutting feedrate and 710 ipm (18 m/min) rapids. Spindle output is 30 hp (22.4 kW) and 90 ft-lbf (122 N·m) at 2,000 rpm. Those are figures for semi-finishing and finishing with small cutters at high speed, not for removing large volumes of steel in a few passes. The taper is listed as CT or BT 40 for this model, without the HSK-A63 choice shown for the VM-5.

The 30+1 side-mount changer swaps tools in 2.8 s, or 3.6 s chip to chip. Tool limits are 2.5 in (64 mm) in diameter with all pockets filled, 5 in (127 mm) with adjacent pockets empty, 13 in (330 mm) in length and 12 lb (5.4 kg). The spindle nose ranges from 4.2 in (107 mm) to 29.2 in (742 mm) above the table. Haas's table gives no shipping weight for the base machine; the one weight listed is 15,600 lb (7,077 kg) with the optional 50+1 side-mount changer.

Full Specifications

Parameter	Value
X-Axis Travel	40 in (1,016 mm)
Y-Axis Travel	26 in (660 mm)
Z-Axis Travel	25 in (635 mm)
Spindle Nose to Table (max)	29.2 in (742 mm)
Spindle Nose to Table (min)	4.2 in (107 mm)
Spindle Motor Power	30 hp (22.4 kW)
Max Spindle Speed	12,000 rpm
Spindle Torque	90 ft-lbf @ 2,000 rpm (122 N·m @ 2,000 rpm)
Spindle Drive	Inline Direct-Drive
Spindle Taper	CT or BT 40
Table Size	54 × 24 in (1,372 × 610 mm)
T-Slot Width	0.626 in to 0.63 in (15.9 mm to 16 mm)
T-Slot Center Distance	3.94 in (100 mm)
T-Slots	13 in Y and 6 in X
Max Table Load	4,000 lb (1,814 kg)
Max Cutting Feedrate	500 ipm (12.7 m/min)
Rapid Traverse Rate	710 ipm (18 m/min)
Max Thrust X	4,100 lbf (18,238 N)
Max Thrust Y	4,100 lbf (18,238 N)
Max Thrust Z	4,100 lbf (18,238 N)
Tool Changer Type	SMTC
Tool Capacity	30+1
Max Tool Diameter (full magazine)	2.5 in (64 mm)
Max Tool Diameter (adjacent pockets empty)	5 in (127 mm)
Max Tool Length	13 in (330 mm)
Max Tool Weight	12 lb (5.4 kg)
Tool Change (tool-to-tool)	2.8 s
Tool Change (chip-to-chip)	3.6 s
Coolant Capacity	55 gal (208 L)
Air Required	4 scfm @ 100 psi (113 L/min @ 6.9 bar)
Inline Air Hose	3/8 in
Air Coupler	3/8 in
Air Pressure Min	80 psi (5.5 bar)
Electrical Service (low voltage)	220 VAC 3-phase, 70 A
Electrical Service (high voltage)	440 VAC 3-phase, 35 A
Shipping Domestic Pallet	156 × 102 × 105 in (397 × 260 × 267 cm)
Shipping Export Pallet	164 × 91.5 × 101 in (417 × 233 × 257 cm)
Shipping Domestic Pallet with 50 plus 1 SMTC	156 × 102 × 125 in (397 × 260 × 318 cm)
Shipping Export Pallet with 50 plus 1 SMTC	164 × 92 × 101 in (417 × 233 × 257 cm)
Machine Weight with 50 plus 1 SMTC	15,600 lb (7,077 kg)

Specifications sourced from haascnc.com — verified 2026-10-02

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

54 × 24 in (1,372 × 610 mm) table over 40 in (1,016 mm) of X travel leaves room at the ends for clamps and fixtures
4,000 lb (1,814 kg) table load, against 3,000 lb (1,361 kg) on the VM-2
12,000 rpm spindle with a 500 ipm (12.7 m/min) cutting feedrate
Equal thrust of 4,100 lbf (18,238 N) on X, Y and Z
T-slots in both directions on 3.94 in (100 mm) centers, listed as 13 in Y and 6 in X

Limitations

X travel of 40 in (1,016 mm) does not cover the 54 in (1,372 mm) table; the VM-5 reaches 50 in (1,270 mm) on the same table
Taper is listed as CT or BT 40 only, with no HSK-A63 entry in the table for this model
Peak torque is 90 ft-lbf (122 N·m) at 2,000 rpm; the VM-3-50 has 350 ft-lbf (475 N·m) at 900 rpm for roughing large blocks
Maximum tool length is 13 in (330 mm) and maximum tool weight is 12 lb (5.4 kg)

Best For

Mold bases and die blocks up to 4,000 lb (1,814 kg) Cavity and core finishing with small cutters at 12,000 rpm Setups that need table space beyond the cut area for clamping Fixture plates located on a two-way T-slot grid

Frequently Asked Questions

01 Can the VM-3 machine the full length of its table?

No. X travel is 40 in (1,016 mm) and the table is 54 in (1,372 mm) long, so the spindle covers only part of the length. Y travel is 26 in (660 mm) over a table 24 in (610 mm) deep, so depth is fully covered. The uncut length at the ends is still usable for clamps and fixtures.

02 What is the difference between the VM-3 and the VM-5?

X travel and the taper choices. The VM-5 has 50 in (1,270 mm) of X where the VM-3 has 40 in (1,016 mm), on the same 54 × 24 in (1,372 × 610 mm) table with the same 26 in (660 mm) of Y and 25 in (635 mm) of Z. The VM-5 lists CT40, BT40 or HSK-A63; the VM-3 lists CT or BT 40. Spindle speed, power, table load, feedrate and rapids are the same in Haas's figures.

03 How does the VM-3 differ from the VM-3-50?

The VM-3-50 has a CT or BT 50 spindle with 60 hp (44.7 kW), 350 ft-lbf (475 N·m) at 900 rpm and a 10,000 rpm top speed. The VM-3 has 30 hp (22.4 kW), 90 ft-lbf (122 N·m) at 2,000 rpm and 12,000 rpm. Travels are identical, and the VM-3-50 table is listed at 54 × 24.5 in (1,372 × 622 mm). Choose by the cut: the VM-3 for small tools at high speed, the VM-3-50 for large cutters in solid blocks.

04 How much does the VM-3 weigh?

Haas's shipping section gives one weight for this model: 15,600 lb (7,077 kg) with the 50+1 side-mount tool changer, which is an optional configuration. No separate weight is listed for the base 30+1 machine. The domestic pallet is 156 × 102 × 105 in (397 × 260 × 267 cm) for the base machine.

05 What are the tool limits on the VM-3?

Each tool can be up to 13 in (330 mm) long and 12 lb (5.4 kg). Diameter is limited to 2.5 in (64 mm) with a full magazine and 5 in (127 mm) when the adjacent pockets are empty. The changer holds 30+1 tools and needs 2.8 s tool to tool, 3.6 s chip to chip.