HOW-TO GUIDE: BUYING YOUR FIRST CNC MACHINE

Important things you need to consider

CNC buyer's checklist

Buying your first CNC machine:
The basic requirements when buying a CNC machine.

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When you're expecting

Things to think about on your Machine

Make sure you have the correct incoming power, sufficient air supply, suitable coolant, and a means to create programs.

Have you got the power?

In your workshop

Ensure your workshop space is open enough for machine operation, as well as for delivery. Make sure your machine is levelled by a technician, order raw material, and have access to a water supply.

Workshop thoughts

Tooling/workholding

Make sure to purchase workholding, toolholders, and cutting tools for your machine, so you’re ready to set up and run jobs.

Tooling details

When you're expecting...

It is helpful to have a swarf/chip barrel, a rolling tool cart, and to arrange training, if needed.

When you're expecting...

Things to think about... On your machine

BUYING YOUR FIRST CNC MACHINE

POWER: Be sure to check how much power your machine requires. Most Haas machines operate on three-phase power. Although some of our smaller machines can operate on single-phase power. If you are installing multiple machines, or plan to have multiple machines in the future, make sure your workshop has enough incoming power to support your needs. You will need to have an electrician properly run power to the Haas machine prior to installation.

PROGRAMMING: Basic programming can be done directly on the Haas control. Since its inception, the Haas control has been designed for easy shop-floor programming. If you are looking for a more advanced programming system on the Haas control, check out our Visual Programming System. For more complex programming, and for 4th- and 5th-axis applications, you will need to find a desktop CAM system. Autodesk and Mastercam are the leaders in this software.

COOLANT: Coolant will become a big part of your machine shop operation. Supplying coolant, mixing coolant, checking coolant, and disposing of coolant will become a weekly part of running your workshop. There are many types of coolant available, and your selection will be influenced by the types of materials you plan to cut, and by which products your local coolant supplier supports. You’ll need at least a 20-litre starter container of concentrate to get your machine operational.

Things to think about... In your workshop

BUYING YOUR FIRST CNC MACHINE

SPACE: Machine tools are big and heavy, and once in place, they aren’t easy to move around. A Machine Layout Drawing is available for all Haas machines, which includes all of the necessary exterior and interior dimensions of the machine. Use this to help lay out your shop and decide machine placement. The general rule of thumb is to make sure you have about a metre of space behind the machine, and at least 1.25 m of space on all other sides.

The space behind the machine is critical, so that the electrical cabinet can be opened fully. This is also the location for the incoming power. Your electrician will need to know this location to properly run the electrical supply to the machine. The location of the chip discharge will vary by machine. You definitely want to take this into consideration for machine placement.

Other things to consider for machine placement are the locations of the doorways into your shop. Most machine shops have large roll-up doors to the outside. Be careful where your machine is placed in relation to these doors, as they can allow large temperature swings in the shop. While the Haas machine has built-in thermal compensation to adjust for normal temperature effects, large thermal changes are not easily compensated for.

If your machine accommodates large workpieces, you’ll need to consider a location with additional space for loading material into and out of the machine. A lift device such as a fork lift may be necessary to load and unload the machine. Tip: Use tape marks on the floor to “see” how different machine locations and orientations will fit in your workshop.

FOUNDATION: For the most part, standard industrial floors with 100mm – 150mm of properly reinforced concrete are sufficient for most Haas machines. A few larger (EC-1600) or faster (DT-1) machines may require anchoring, or a thicker foundation. Refer to the installation requirements for each machine for accurate details.

If at all possible, the machine should be positioned on a single uninterrupted piece of concrete.

WATER: If you are using coolant, you will need a water supply. Preferably, as close to the machine as you can get. Coolant is supplied as a concentrate, and then mixed with water. As the machine operates, some of that water evaporates, which changes the coolant concentration. A good refractometer will help you monitor and maintain the proper coolant concentration for optimal performance. Maintaining coolant typically means adding water to the existing coolant in the tank, mixing it up, and then measuring the concentration.

RAW MATERIAL: This will vary widely, depending on the parts you are making. We can recommend material suppliers to work with. In addition, you will need a means to store your raw material, such as a material rack, and most likely, a means to cut your raw material, such as a horizontal band saw. Many suppliers will offer to cut your raw material for you for an additional fee, usually a charge per-cut. You can offset these fees over time by investing in a good horizontal band saw.

AIR: All Haas machines require compressed air to operate. Air is used for tool changes, turret clamping and unclamping, and other machine operations. The air must be clean and dry, and there must be sufficient volume and pressure for proper machine operation. It is very important to have a high-quality air compressor for machine operation. A screw-style compressor with an air dryer is preferable, but a multi-stage piston-style compressor will work. While the Haas machine has a built-in system for removing water from the incoming air, the cleaner and dryer the air is before getting to the machine, the better off you will be.

Things to think about... Tooling and Workholding

BUYING YOUR FIRST CNC MACHINE

WORKHOLDING: As with raw material, workholding will vary a great deal, depending on the parts you are machining. For a vertical machining centre, you should at least have a 150mm fixed-jaw vice, a few sets of soft jaws, a toe clamp kit, and some basic hand tools.

As your collection grows, you will want to consider different sized vices, and maybe even dual-station vices. For lathes, a collet chuck may be in order, if you find yourself consistently doing bar work.

CUTTING TOOLS: Cutting tools also vary wildly, based on the work you are doing. For a mill and a lathe, a good selection of cobalt drills is a requirement. A set of taps will be needed, as well, as most parts typically have threaded features.

For mills: a selection of end mills is generally needed; make sure to have a set for cutting steel and a set for cutting aluminium. For lathes: some OD turning tools, part-off tools, and a boring bar are a good starter selection.

TOOLHOLDING: Again, this will vary, but here are the basic toolholders to consider for a mill: assorted side lock holders, and ER32 collet chucks and a collet set. A full suite of toolholders would include multiple ER16, ER25, and ER32 collet chucks, along with the corresponding collet sets. Most collet sets come with the necessary wrenches. Pull studs will also be required. A tool-tightening fixture is included on most Haas mills, but a good bench-mounted version is also handy to have. Haas lathes come with a basic set of toolholders.

MEASURING TOOLS: For measuring parts, you will want a good 0-150mm caliper, a steel machinist’s scale, and a set of micrometers. A good magnetic base with a dial test indicator is useful for setting up machines. And an edge finder is a necessity for a mill, unless you add Wireless Probing (WIPS) to your mill.

Things to think about... When you're expecting

BUYING YOUR FIRST CNC MACHINE

SWARF BARREL: It’s good to have at least one barrel for dumping swarf/chips into. A 200 litre (55-gallon) swarf barrel on wheels is great for Haas lathes with a swarf conveyor, or a Haas mill with the chip lift option. Machines with only chip augers need a smaller bin to fit under the chip chute. Having a swarf barrel of some sort will make cleaning out your machine infinitely easier.

TOOL TROLLEY: A trolley for tools and for storing finished parts will help keep things organised. There is a variety of trolleys and wheeled cabinets available, some specific for toolholders, some for parts, and some for a combination of the two. Even starting with a simple Machine Mart or Halfords style tool trolley will help you figure out the best way for things to flow in your workshop.

TRAINING: Talk to us if you need training. We typically provide basic onsite training at machine installation. We can give more advanced training either onsite, or at one of our facilities. Our Haas Tip Of The Day YouTube channel is another great resource.
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HAAS TIP OF THE DAY VIDEOS

Our Tip of the Day videos will appeal to both new and expert Haas CNC users.

Hit the "Load More..." button to see more from the series.

In this Haas Tip of the Day Mark introduces the use of M98 and our G66 macro statements for making special use canned cycles. In Mark's case here he builds a drilling canned cycle that can accommodate changes in extrusion outside dimensions and wall thickness. The possible uses for sub-routines and macro statements like this are many fold.

Click below to reach all the Bonus Content that Mark talks about in the video:
https://www.haascnc.com/video/Video-Bonus-Content.html

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If you enjoyed this video, please hit the like button and share it with a friend who’ll find it helpful . . . and thanks!

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The Perfect Drilling Canned Cycle with M98 & G66 - Haas Tip of the Day

YouTube Video UEwxRmZLN1lvZDI3Y3ktTUloWHNLa0R3VG12Y2xmN3BzNy44M0Q5MzQ0QTcwQzFDMjc5

The Perfect Drilling Canned Cycle with M98 & G66 - Haas Tip of the Day

Mark reminds us in this short TOD what we need to remember when we're using Setting 9 to switch from Inch to Metric mode and back again.

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Need more reasons why you should consider a Haas? Check this out: https://www.haascnc.com/whyhaas.html

If you enjoyed this video, please hit the like button and share it with a friend who’ll find it helpful . . . and thanks!

Follow Haas:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/HaasAutomationInc/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/haas_automation/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/Haas_Automation/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/haas-automation/
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Watch Before You Switch!!! The Inch to Metric, Setting 9 Guide - Haas Tip of the Day

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Watch Before You Switch!!! The Inch to Metric, Setting 9 Guide - Haas Tip of the Day

A quick Wikipedia check tells us that a Precision Reamer is "designed to enlarge the size of a previously formed hole by a small amount but with a high degree of accuracy to leave smooth sides". That is an apt description but luckily Mark goes into much more detail as he compares the different kinds of reamers you'll probably come across in a typical machine shop and the specifics of how you should use Chucking Reamers on your CNC machine tool.

Click here to find the reamer you need at HaasTooling.com:
https://www.haascnc.com/haas-tooling/holemaking/reamers.html?op=/haas-tooling.html&oh=holemaking

Don’t miss any Haas videos. Click here: https://www.haascnc.com/about/Newletter_Signup.html

Need more reasons why you should consider a Haas? Check this out: https://www.haascnc.com/whyhaas.html

If you enjoyed this video, please hit the like button and share it with a friend who’ll find it helpful . . . and thanks!

Follow Haas:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/HaasAutomationInc/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/haas_automation/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/Haas_Automation/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/haas-automation/
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@haas_automation

How Reamers Work - Haas Automation Tip of the Day

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How Reamers Work - Haas Automation Tip of the Day

In this Haas Tip of the Day, Mark introduces us to new "Enhanced" tool changer functionality via Setting 420. This allows you to load and unload tools sequentially by tool number. Mark even gives us a way to perform this function on older controls using a macro statement.

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Need more reasons why you should consider a Haas? Check this out: https://www.haascnc.com/whyhaas.html

If you enjoyed this video, please hit the like button and share it with a friend who’ll find it helpful . . . and thanks!

Follow Haas:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/HaasAutomationInc/
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Load and Unload Your Tool Changer Easily Using Setting 420 - Haas Automation Tip of the Day

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Load and Unload Your Tool Changer Easily Using Setting 420 - Haas Automation Tip of the Day

In this quick Tip of the Day, Mark shows us an easy way to keep your work probe offset intact when clearing the rest of your tool offsets on your Haas mill.

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Need more reasons why you should consider a Haas? Check this out: https://www.haascnc.com/whyhaas.html

If you enjoyed this video, please hit the like button and share it with a friend who’ll find it helpful . . . and thanks!

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Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/HaasAutomationInc/
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Don't Lose Your Probe Offset! - Haas Automation Tip of the Day

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Don't Lose Your Probe Offset! - Haas Automation Tip of the Day

We've made lots of videos where Mark looks at setting the tool and work offsets on your mill. Now he's adding another one and showing us a quick way to set one tool offset or many tool offsets using some simple to understand macro statements. Mark must want us to get our next job started more quickly and easily.

Here are a bunch of links to some of the other "Offset" Tip of the Day videos:
Tool Offsets and Manual Tool Setters https://youtu.be/A7CwqjU2wg8
Set Work Offsets in Seconds https://youtu.be/5I1eG49XnTA
Tool Offsets Explained https://youtu.be/J7dCwBkUNNU
How to: Set Tool Length and Work Offsets https://youtu.be/uNjMIIRttFE
Set a work offset with an edge finder and indicator https://youtu.be/AyMsFtwzrmI
Set a Work Offset and Angle With Your Haas Probe https://youtu.be/amWolMgEM-Q

Don’t miss any Haas videos. Click here: https://www.haascnc.com/about/Newletter_Signup.html

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If you enjoyed this video, please hit the like button and share it with a friend who’ll find it helpful . . . and thanks!

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Use Macros to Speed Up Setting Tool Offsets - Haas Automation Tip of the Day

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Use Macros to Speed Up Setting Tool Offsets - Haas Automation Tip of the Day

We've done a deep dive on ER Collets before! And now Mark is back to help us understand the important differences between Standard, Sealed, and Tapping collets in this Haas Tip of the Day.

Here is the link to our 1st ER Collet Essentials TOD video:
https://youtu.be/WKikm6cQKh0

Here are links to our HaasTooling ER Collets and Toolholders pages where you can find all three of these types of collets:
https://www.haascnc.com/haas-tooling/mill_toolholding/er_collet_chucks.html
https://www.haascnc.com/haas-tooling/er_collet.html

Don’t miss any Haas videos. Click here: https://www.haascnc.com/about/Newletter_Signup.html

Need more reasons why you should consider a Haas? Check this out: https://www.haascnc.com/whyhaas.html

If you enjoyed this video, please hit the like button and share it with a friend who’ll find it helpful . . . and thanks!

Follow Haas:
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ER Collet Essentials PART TWO - Why We Use, and Don't Use, Certain Collets - Haas Tip of the Day

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ER Collet Essentials PART TWO - Why We Use, and Don't Use, Certain Collets - Haas Tip of the Day

When you're machining pockets with an end mill it's not uncommon to get a stack of chips in the pocket that's hard to get out. Mark takes a look at several styles of end mills that cut your chips into smaller pieces, making them a lot easier to get out of the pocket before your end mill gets damaged re-cutting those same chips.

Here are links to the HaasTooling Roughing End Mill, and Chip Splitter pages:
https://www.haascnc.com/haas-tooling/milling/roughing_end_mills.html?scroll=true
https://www.haascnc.com/haas-tooling/milling/roughing_end_mills/03-0677.html
https://www.haascnc.com/haas-tooling/milling/end_mills/03-2145.html

Don’t miss any Haas videos. Click here: https://www.haascnc.com/about/Newletter_Signup.html

Need more reasons why you should consider a Haas? Check this out: https://www.haascnc.com/whyhaas.html

If you enjoyed this video, please hit the like button and share it with a friend who’ll find it helpful . . . and thanks!

Follow Haas:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/HaasAutomationInc/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/haas_automation/
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Control Your Chips! Chip Splitters and Roughing End Mills - Haas Automation Tip of the Day

YouTube Video UEwxRmZLN1lvZDI3Y3ktTUloWHNLa0R3VG12Y2xmN3BzNy5EODkyNDMzRkJBNkQ2NkMz

Control Your Chips! Chip Splitters and Roughing End Mills - Haas Automation Tip of the Day

$If you thought a "refractometer" video from Mark Terryberry would just include the basics of how to use a refractometer then maybe you haven't watched enough TOD videos yet. In typical Tip of the Day fashion Mark delves deep into topics having to do with the refraction of light and how in the end refraction impacts how well your coolant concentration is maintained, which in turn positively or negatively impacts your tool performance, tool life, and surface finishes. Click the link below to reach our YouTube Coolant Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1FfK7Yod27fuiQ4ZSRAnTT7Ut0wJCGRP Here's a link to purchase a refractometer on HaasTooling.com: https://www.haascnc.com/haas-tooling/measuring_inspection/09-0032.html Link to HaasTooling.com where you'll find our entire tooling lineup: https://www.haascnc.com/haas-tooling.html Don’t miss any Haas videos. Click here: https://www.haascnc.com/about/Newletter_Signup.html Need more reasons why you should consider a Haas? Check this out: https://www.haascnc.com/whyhaas.html If you enjoyed this video, please hit the like button and share it with a friend who’ll find it helpful . . . and thanks! Follow Haas: Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/HaasAutomationInc/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/haas_automation/ Twitter – https://twitter.com/Haas_Automation/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/haas-automation/$

Bending Light with Refractometers. Haas Automation Tip of the Day.

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Bending Light with Refractometers. Haas Automation Tip of the Day.