VF

Haas Automation Inc. redesigned its VF vertical machining center product line to incorporate a wide range of enhancements. Haas says its engineers reviewed all aspects of the machines, including motion control, coolant containment, chip evacuation, ergonomics and serviceability, made improvements, and put everything into a new package. To ensure smooth, precise motion control, the 2010 Haas VMCs use digital servomotors and high-resolution encoders on all axes. Combined with software and motor-control advancements on the new machines, these yield higher accelerations and better surface-finish performance, according to the company. With an eye toward preventing chip and coolant egress during machining, Haas optimized the enclosures on the new VMCs, paying close attention to panel fit, service access and internal routing of plumbing and cables. The result is a far better enclosure and a much simpler overall design that thoroughly contains chips and coolant, while increasing reliability and simplifying service. People buy CNC machines to make parts, so the last thing they want is stop to production to remove chips. Haas redesigned the chip pans and reviewed coolant flow in the new VMCs to reduce chip buildup and efficiently flush chips into the auger trough for removal. For high-volume production applications, the 2010 Haas VF-1 through VF-6 VMCs are available with optional chip removal systems that combine multiple side augers with either a front discharge auger or a belt-type conveyor to quickly move chips out of the machines. The new Haas thin-design control pendant mounts directly to the enclosure, providing a lighter but more stable operator interface than the previous version. And there's a convenient storage compartment behind the pendant.