The Haas slamming has begun. I can't say it isn't earned but, maybe not always deserved.
In a previous life, I was in a lab, staffed and run by engineers. We did rapid development of new concepts. It was a
technical readiness accelerator: mature an idea, in a short period of time, with a small budget. It seems very similar to what you described.
I personally own a 2007 TL-1 (the previous design where it had actual handles, not just jog wheels). For the lab I opted for an SL-20. I added the visual programming templates to the SL-20, so it could be programmed exactly like the TL.
Our working model was to keep the machine turret always loaded with standard tools. The SL-20 always had a basic turning tool, a grooving tool, parting tool, a few stations dedicated to drilling and tapping, and a few empty for as-needed tools.
I got to live a parallel life, with both the TL and SL, at my disposal, for about 7 years. I share in case one of the older machines shows up used and you're tempted to buy it.
My order of preference, for what you asked:
- Current TL-1/TL-2
- ST / SL-20
- Original TL-1/TL-2.
This is not to suggest that I don't love the older TL-1. The ranking is because of coolant and chip management. The SL-20 kept everything inside and didn't leak a drop. Despite not having a conveyor, chips fell to the bottom and were easy to clean out the end. Coolant stayed in the machine. It was nice. Frighteningly fast.
Problem with the SL-20 was around the issues of dealing with a hydraulic tail-stock and hydraulic chuck. Sometimes you just want a scroll chuck, a face plate, etc. You don't want an hour of hydraulic draw-tube antics to change to a 5C or 16C collet closer. You want the finesse of feeling how tight you're clamping the part. You may also want the freedom of a set-tru chuck instead of having to make soft jaws just to get three parts dialed in.
What haven't I liked about the original-design TL-1? Chip and coolant management and they didn't offer a good tool turret in 2007. Both issues have been addressed. The current optional tool turret is an 8-position flat design. While I guess that's not an ideal layout, it's better than no turret at all. If I were you, I'd tool it with standards, as we had in the SL-20. You're always able to knock something out without setting a bunch of tools.
The current TL-1 / TL-2 is all servo driven (no manual hand-wheels). A pendant with electronic jog wheels is optional. I don't know if it's necessary (though I don't know all of what they have have designed into them).
I do like the manual hand-wheels on my generation of TL and would miss them on the current machine. I don't often use them for turning. It just seems faster to jump into manual mode, spin the handles and jog right up to a part face, set zero and things like that. Given the superior chip and coolant management, I would eagerly give up the mechanical handles to get the current casting and enclosure.
Programming the TL is nice. Sometimes you want to turn a particular diameter and that's it. The tabbed standard operations generate everything you need, with a few values added. This option was also added to the SL-20, making it equally nice. I do most of my programming at the control. The software allows you to stack up multiple operations, using the templates and building the program as you go.
I haven't used it on the current version of the software (Next Generation Control) but, on mine: you perform your operations on the first part: profile turning, threading, drilling, tapping, parting. You turn on the macro recorder and run through the series of operations a second time with everything loaded and working how you want. It "records" those steps and can replay them. What it's doing is simply building a program and dumping it into MDI. You can save that program for future use, or don't.
If I want a bushing an exact diameter, it's quick to go into OD turning, enter the dimensions, desired feed rate, start point, etc., then push cycle start. It does exactly what you asked. If I truly need exact dimensions, I'll leave 0.005-0.010" on the diameter and reprogram a finish pass after making offset adjustments. It will hit tenths if you're methodical about the setup of the tools and managing insert wear. I recently posted elsewhere about being able to hit 1.0001 or 0.9999" and couldn't quite chase out that last tenth.
Sales and service: this is going to be completely up to your local Haas Factory outlet. It could be awesome and it could be terrible. The old business model was: anybody could take either Mill or Lathe training, at the factory outlet, for free. As many as wanted, within reason. It used to be a three-day class and is worth it IMO.
With that aside, YouTube is obviously full of videos about how to use Haas products. Love or hate the brand, the level of official and informal support out there is nice when you're trying to familiarize a new and casual user.
If you're the owner, training and motivation of your employees will be part of the package you're assembling here.My approach was: "you're going to get a chance to learn this. Everything you learn and use, you'll be able to go out and do on your own in the future."
You're no longer asking them to learn something only for you and the benefit of your company. It's a portable skill. If you're hiring the engineers who
want to do the kind of work you outlined, this all becomes a perk instead of a chore. One of the guys I used to work with is now an owner, another is about to buy and a third is casually looking for something in his area.
And once you have one Haas, replacing the Fadal won't be far behind. Knowing the control and having transportable skills between the machines is another reason for the Haas success. It's fine to be a full-time machinist and have the time to learn all the kinks and tweaks of another control. Its a totally different when it's just one hat you wear, for ten hours a month.
Damn, I wrote another book...
