The Haas Toolroom Mill: Powerful, Flexible Simplicity

Prototypes, one-off parts and tooling have two things in common: They require quick turn-around, and they often require modifications in midstream. Rather than set up and program a machining center for simple operations – drill an extra hole here, shave off a couple thou' there – many machinists find it easier, and faster, to throw a tool in a manual mill and do it by hand.

The new TM-1 Toolroom Mill from Haas Automation, Inc., provides the best of both worlds: It combines the ease and simplicity of a manual machine with the power and flexibility of full CNC, to give you a knee up on the competition.

The Toolroom Mill operates on either single- or three-phase power, and its standard 40-taper spindle features an automatic drawbar for tool retention, making tool changes fast and easy. An optional 10-pocket tool changer is also available for faster cycle times and automatic operation. The 7.5 hp (peak) spindle spins to 4,000 rpm, and all axes are driven by high-performance, brushless servo motors. A one-piece cast-iron base/column damps vibration and provides rigidity for heavy cuts.

For extreme flexibility, the Toolroom Mill has three modes of operation. In full CNC, the machine operates via the G-code program, with all axes controlled by the CNC. In full manual mode, X and Y axes are moved via handwheels and the Z axis is controlled via the jog handle, with the Haas control providing an accurate digital read-out of position. In combined manual/CNC mode, the Toolroom Mill provides jog travel limits, motorized feeds and index jogging – again, with the control providing digital read-out.

Unlike knee mills, the Toolroom Mill provides a full 16" of Z-axis travel, so there is no need to manually raise and lower the table to machine taller parts or use long tools. With generous travels of 30" x 12" x 16" (xyz), the TM-1 provides plenty of room for machining larger work, yet it is easily moveable with a pallet jack and takes up very little floor space. The machine's 48" x 10.5" table accommodates multiple vises and/or chucks, as well as 5C indexers and small rotary tables. Three standard T-slots make clamping odd-shaped and oversized parts a breeze.

The TM-1 comes standard with Haas Visual Quick Code, a proprietary conversational programming system that makes creating simple G-code programs nearly effortless. With Visual Quick Code, the machinist simply selects the desired operation from an on-screen list (e.g., bolt-hole circle, drilling, tapping, pocket milling, etc.), then chooses the template that best matches the part. Visual Quick Code prompts the operator to fill in the dimensions, speeds and feeds, then generates the appropriate G-code to match. Complex parts can be programmed by selecting a template for each part feature and inserting the generated G code into the same (or an existing) program. For more flexibility, machinists can modify existing templates, or even create their own templates for specific parts or operations.

Base priced less than $20,000 (U.S.), the Haas Toolroom Mill is an affordable, powerful alternative to retrofit knee mills, one that provides the flexibility and precision of the Haas CNC system.

Haas Automation, Inc., 2800 Sturgis Road, Oxnard, CA 93030. Tel: 805-278-1800; Fax: 805-278-2255.