Matt@RFR
Titanium
- Joined
- May 26, 2004
- Location
- Paradise, Ca
Short version: I need a tech that can replace an X axis screw/nut/bearings (not sure which) on my Haas VF-2. Machine is down, so the sooner the better. It would be good to have a local tech in my rolodex anyway.
Long version: My Haas is making out of round holes and the X axis is pretty noisy, need to get it fixed. The machine is down because it can't hold the tolerances we need to on the parts we have now, and the jobs coming up. My fault, I should have been much more proactive about it. Called Selway on Tuesday, scheduled a tech for Friday. Today is Friday, got a call saying the tech didn't show up for work and now he'll be here Monday. And Selway doesn't carry repair parts like they used to, so even though they know it's very likely the X screw/bearings/whatever, they won't be bringing parts with them. First visit is to diagnose, then order parts, then second visit to repair. So $1,000 of travel time instead of $500 plus the added downtime... who knows when they might be back. In years past, the machine would be fixed by now.
I also called to see if they would add replacing the backup battery since it's 11 years old now. I told the guy on the phone (very helpful guy, they still have good phone support) that I already bought the dual battery replacement kit, but the damn thing doesn't plug in to my board. He verified that the Coldfire I stuff is like that. So then he tells me flat out that there are only a couple techs that know what they are doing and he wasn't sure who would be coming to the shop, so we would have to play the battery replacement part by ear. Are you fucking kidding me?
I sure wish I could offload the Haas for a downpayment on another Brother. But after the fire we have been hot/cold and am having a very hard time finding employees, and that would just be too much risk, even for my dumb ass.
Long version: My Haas is making out of round holes and the X axis is pretty noisy, need to get it fixed. The machine is down because it can't hold the tolerances we need to on the parts we have now, and the jobs coming up. My fault, I should have been much more proactive about it. Called Selway on Tuesday, scheduled a tech for Friday. Today is Friday, got a call saying the tech didn't show up for work and now he'll be here Monday. And Selway doesn't carry repair parts like they used to, so even though they know it's very likely the X screw/bearings/whatever, they won't be bringing parts with them. First visit is to diagnose, then order parts, then second visit to repair. So $1,000 of travel time instead of $500 plus the added downtime... who knows when they might be back. In years past, the machine would be fixed by now.
I also called to see if they would add replacing the backup battery since it's 11 years old now. I told the guy on the phone (very helpful guy, they still have good phone support) that I already bought the dual battery replacement kit, but the damn thing doesn't plug in to my board. He verified that the Coldfire I stuff is like that. So then he tells me flat out that there are only a couple techs that know what they are doing and he wasn't sure who would be coming to the shop, so we would have to play the battery replacement part by ear. Are you fucking kidding me?
I sure wish I could offload the Haas for a downpayment on another Brother. But after the fire we have been hot/cold and am having a very hard time finding employees, and that would just be too much risk, even for my dumb ass.