Help!!! buying Haas mini mill maybe an issue

CPIindustries said:

So I'm looking into buying a haas mini mill and I was able to find one for sale the other day. Went and checked it out spindle sounds mint runs great cut with no issues at all makes perfect tool changes. Only thing I ran into is if you are using the hand dial in .01 increments when moving the table very slowly in the X or the Y it's a real loud rumble and jumpy movement that eventually leads to what sounds like the ways rattling but moving it normal speed not slow or even quickly it's fine. One thing I forgot to do is jog it slow or at least put it in .001 increments and move it. But my question is I plan on looking at it once more and if it still makes that noise even when I'm jogging it or moving it in .001 increments what could it be and is it even worth taking a risk on this machine or should I just move on.

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CPIindustries said:

13k$ But I'd like to try and get it a little lower with about 10000 hours and it's an 03. Has rigid tapping comes with about 10 holders solid hut holders a holder when your starting out. Standard 6k spindle and 10 tool changer. Programmable coolant and also obviously have the coolant tank and pump. Software wise I'm not too sure what you mean didn't know there were different kinds. but it has sat for about a year they don't use it anymore they have 5 others. There was some rust on the ways but when I tested it and the coolant hit it I wiped them and it came right off. Seems fairly solid that noise was the only thing that really scared me but it seems like that's normal because like I said at a quicker speed or running you don't hear that.

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SIM said:

Machine is on linear rails..aka bearings, its not solid ways, where is the rust?
I ask as I am fairly sure those rails should have way covers over them and not exposed to contaminants. That said covers are kinda crappy and stuff still finds its way in...but exposed is another story. Rails should not be rusty...can't be good to run a bearing on a rusty rail (race. Also if rails exposed the ball screw would be too...again not good to be exposing that to chips, coolant and...

Maybe I'm wrong, haven't had my head in a mini in years, maybe they do something different

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Turbo442 said:

It has linear rails but Haas still calls the covers way covers. The noise he is hearing is likely caused by the rubber seals on the covers jumping a little bit. Probably made worse because of a little surface rust on the covers. If that’s not the case, like the noise is coming from a ball screw, well then that’s a different story. The current owner may have some newer machines. The processor board in this mini is no longer in production although I believe Haas will sell a refurbished board to some one that needs it. You should be able to upgrade the control/software/pendant on this machine for around 7k if you had to. That would give you the new 15” LCD and 17.xxx software. But at that point your looking at $20k into the machine. Probably why the owner is selling. I know ....stressful. You roll the dice. Sometimes you gotta just pull the trigger and go for it. Honestly 10-15k is not that much $$$ to get started. I came from upstate NY. Way upstate. You probably don’t have much to choose from locally. You kind of get what you get. I moved to the west coast. Lots of Minimills and VF’s to choose from out here. As soon as you buy your machine you will find a bunch of awesome deals on mills!




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CPIindustries said:

I'm sure you're right I'm just going to try and oil them next time I look at it and see if that helps or completely eliminates it. I'm sure they haven't seen oil in 1.5 years since it doesn't run last prg he had on the control was dated 4/2016. Will testing for backlash let me know if it's the ball screw or not. If not what does backlash testing tell you?

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CPIindustries said:

So Only thing I ran into is if you are using the hand dial in .01 increments when moving the table very slowly in the X or the Y it's a real loud rumble and jumpy movement that eventually leads to what sounds like the ways rattling but moving it normal speed not slow or even quickly it's fine. One thing I forgot to do is jog it slow or at least put it in .001 increments and move it. But my question is I plan on looking at it once more and if it still makes that noise even when I'm jogging it or moving it in .001 increments what could it be and is it even worth taking a risk on this machine or should I just move on.

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Stirling said:

This sounds exactly like my tm-2 mill.
In my situation the rumble is made from excessive play in the ball nut.
Placing an indicator on the table shows me 0.002" backlash in the system.
If you can tuck a dial onto the ball screw. And put the needle on the ball nut mine shows 0.002" movement.
The noise is caused from the screws suddenly acceleration and deceleration. Essentially banging the table weight back and forth on the ball screw

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IWUP said:

Did you end up purchasing the machine?

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CPIindustries said:

Going for the final once over today if the table doesn't show backlash during that noise that sounds like the way covers are going to shake off and also no noise in a slow jog I think I'll take it. Too many what ifs or unknown problems that could be really expensive I'm hoping backlash is under .0004 and no table shaking when I hear that noise. Who knows they could've stopped using it over a year ago because they were having these problems and they are just trying to screw someone. But I'll update you in a few hours on if I buy it or not and some pics of it too. Could be a nice start to my shop but I'll keep looking if it's not worth it.

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