Originally Posted by
pjr170
....I am looking into the Haas because of the features that it has, rigid tapping, tool changer etc. The machine needs to be easy to program as well.
I also have a TL-3, Which I hate, because it will not machine anything longer than 12" without chattering. Because of this I am a little weary of the TM's rigidity and skeptical of the quality......
Your wariness may be justified.
Positive comment first, then other comments:
Haas machines have a very user friendly control in my opinion, the toolchanger is good and they have useful features such as rigid tapping.
Their quality matches their price; they are not expensive machines, but they also, in my opinion, are not quite as good at quality control as they could be. I have encountered silly little problems like loose bolts on Haas machines.
A getting to the TL3...yes it lacks rigidity. The bed of the machine is simply not stiff enough. I believe Haas actually has a fix for this which extra supports that can be placed between the bottom of the bed casting and the floor spaced between the feet on the machine...you should contact your dealer or the Haas factory directly and ask about these.
An open mind is a virtue...so long as all the common sense has not leaked out.