[kojack]

It looks hollow in some areas ....

I would like to machine 1 to 2 inches off the top of table ....

I Don,t want to make the table weak... 800 lbs needs to sit on it ..


or is there any way to take the table off and put a small sub plate on it ...

I think I'm just going to break out the face mill and start cutting the table (chair)

[307startup]

Normally I would try to offer some reasonable advice...but this is like watching a car accident in progress.

I say go for it...make sure to make a video or at least take pictures.

[307startup]

Ok...let's try this again. Being as it's that time of year...being of good cheer & whatnot...

I'm going to make a few assumptions here (I know what assuming gets a person...)

One, the workpiece is too large for the available travels...
Two, you are the operator & not the owner...
Three, you are an operator & not a machinist...

DO NOT cut down your table!!! Don't even attempt this! There are several reasons I say this...the most obvious being that your table will be WORTHLESS after this job is finished. Your machine doesn't have long enough travels to cover every square inch of the table, so you'd just be cutting a big rectangle in the middle of your table. Not to mention your newly surfaced rectangle wouldn't have a proper finish or tolerances for perpendicularity & squareness. Your table will lose massive amounts of rigidity & will flex an inordinate amount...possibly causing it to bind during travel, due to the ballnuts on the X axis screw twisting +/- relative to the Z axis, or the carriers for the rails doing the same.

Why would this even be an option you would consider???

If you need more Z clearance, why not make a custom riser you can lift your column with?

[Kipper]

Normally I would try to offer some reasonable advice...but this is like watching a car accident in progress.

I say go for it...make sure to make a video or at least take pictures.

You Sir are a sick puppy :yesyouare: I'm with you!


Please ignore his second post as he's spoiling the fun!

Bah Humbug!

[MikeOD]

I get pissed at myself when I accidentally make a tiny mark in a table...if you want to cut 2" off of the table, you might as well save yourself the work and just give me the machine...it'll be easier for you to do, and you'll have the same result in the end, a machine you can't use (except in this case, it will be because it's mine now, not because it's been rendered useless).

[DRD]

I know of 2 people who have cut the table on Haas mills, to get more z travel, and the machines perform just fine.
Haas offers the cut table, as a option on some of there machines. Call Hass, and get the prints on the table, and you can make a move from there.

[kojack]

Thanks for all the replies ...

Im not worried about the machine being useless after I cut the table

I am The owner and I have been making chips Since 1988

If I need a machine with a table I will buy another ...

My question was On the rigidity of the table after I mill it ..

I make about $600 per hour cutting these parts ..

I just got this machine 8 months ago it has 200 hrs on it

[Donkey Hotey]

If you make that kind of bucks, why don't you buy a VF-4? It's got more Z clearance. I'm assuming that you're talking a VM2 or 3. At that kind of profit, just buy the right machine for the job and don't risk ruining this one.

One other thing: you will never sell that machine to anybody. It's value will plummet to nearly zero once you cut that table. If you can afford that, you can afford to buy the right machine.

This is so far out there that I have to wonder if you're trolling us.

[kojack]

If you make that kind of bucks, why don't you buy a VF-4? It's got more Z clearance. I'm assuming that you're talking a VM2 or 3. At that kind of profit, just buy the right machine for the job and don't risk ruining this one.

One other thing: you will never sell that machine to anybody. It's value will plummet to nearly zero once you cut that table. If you can afford that, you can afford to buy the right machine.

This is so far out there that I have to wonder if you're trolling us.

The VF-4 has the same Z table to spindle ht 29 inches

This is a VM-3 I got it for a steal .

I Can make due right now with out cutting the table

I have some new jobs in the future that I will need a few inches of clearance..

I will make sure I video the table getting machined If i do it ...

Do you think a HFO would install A riser block ?

Or would I have to pay a non Haas Serviceman to do that

and would I have to make a custom gord tube and extend all the wires and

coolant lines ...



Thanks for the tips

[Geof]

How about using really short tool holders?

[kojack]

How about using really short tool holders?

I would need to have one tapered and shrink fit

The tool in the spindle is 6 inches long with 5 inches exposed


The part is 23.5 tall Thatsdoesnt leave me much ...

[Donkey Hotey]

I thought the VF-4 had a higher spindle height than the VF-3 but the site says otherwise. Why not a VF-5 then? I'm pretty sure it's the same cabinet and has 4" more Z. It's good that you have this much work for it.

[kojack]

I figured some of the Haas people would chime in by now ...

Calling Haas can be fun

[MikeOD]

I figured some of the Haas people would chime in by now ...

Calling Haas can be fun

I wouldn't be surprised if people from the factory want to avoid it.

[HuFlungDung]

It couldn't be that difficult to machine and install a 2" riser block. It might also be necessary to make a temporary gantry to safely lift the machine column by the top of its column. Just taking a look at my VF3, I don't know if there is any cables that would need to be extended for a mere 2" gain.

[MikeOD]

Choice of material for a collum riser could be a big deal though. Iron versus steel can be a very big deal. Depending on how that theoretical riser were made...that machine could still cut great...or it could just always chatter and not make a good part...I think buying the VM-6 or VF-5 is the best choice here...given the $$$ being discussed and necessity for the machine that you KNOW will perform rather than one that you know MIGHT NOT perform when modified...which could result in a loss of money up front followed by the necessity of buying another machine anyways...so you'd also lose more time.

[kojack]

I would think putting a riser in would be hard to do ...

anyone ever take there table off ...?

[SORCHEROR]

why not buy a horizontal hass?

[kojack]

why not buy a DMG or Mazak

I dont want a horizontal


I just want more Z with what I have ....

My next machine will be a VF6 or bigger ...

[307startup]

I would use a piece of Dura-bar...it comes in several different grades. It cuts much nicer than average cast-iron...no inclusions and a consistent density throughout, this is a nice benefit from the continuous cast-iron process.

I would machine it to match the column and base (obviously) and follow with surface grinding both surfaces...however I would dowel-pin the riser and bolt to the column (using existing pattern)...and dowel-pin the riser to the base and bolt to the base (using existing hole patterns...so as to maintain ultimate stiffness & squareness per the machine as it currently sits)

I've never been a big fan of the riser blocks that simply act as a spacer and have longer through-bolts...a pretty hokey design if you ask me.