Did I get SCAMMED?? 2007 HAAS VF3-SS 5th axis purchase

I purchased a 2007 Haas VF3-SS sight unseen. This is my experience.
music credits:
intro: Stock Media provided by ikoliks / Pond5
outro: Stock Media provided by OrchestraForest / Pond5

[@productionspeedfixtures6371]

Next time have the local HFO where the machine is located and have them go do a look over. They do it for around $999-1200 They open every thing and do a full inspection and give YOU the report. All of this would have been found out about prier to payment. I have purchased 6 used haas VF2ssyt and sl30 and all was sorted out before purchase. worth every penny.

[@dnjmachine]

We have bought 2 used machines out of state. It's worth finding and paying a local to the machine hfo or repair guy to go look at the machine for you if you cant go yourself. We did on our VF4SS. Think we paid 400 or 500 but they went out checked everything we asked sent videos of the tests well worth the cost in my opinion. Atleast he could have checked the option on the machine and heard that z axis problem without any skill. Cheers -Daniel

[@dragonflyfab9703]

I just missed a near fatal. The mill was local so went for a looksee The machine was in 95% condition. The guy didnt clean backside Y covers and mangled the Z covers. Good tool change and Z sounds. Keyboard and cabinet looked good, but the dealer didnt get back to me. 4 weeks later seems dude defaulted on the bank loan so BoA had the title and had issued a repo. WOW

[@HuskyMachining]

I have 3 haas, all bought used and each one of them has cost me a few grand after they were on my shop floor. 2 of them run all the time (vf1 and a vf2) so those machines were totally worth it to me but it does make me want to buy a new machine for my next mill. Especially since the used market is almost the same price as new these days

[@aj7utu]

5th axis WIRING. 5th axis enabled in the CONTROL. The moral is to ask for an internal photo of the cabinet and looking down from the top of the machine along the spindle axes. For ceramic machining, I would be just as concerned about the spindle bearings and linear ways as the ballscrew.

[@cooley2379]

Sorry to hear about your experience. Although I am glad you have shared this as I have been looking at machines on eBay. This video makes my think that going through a local dealer is going to be a better idea. Praying you can get these issues squared away.

[@kazlx]

Used machine dealers are worse than used car dealers. You're better off finding something from a private seller or buying new.

[@petedetects7012]

It happens i bought a cnc tool and die grinder. It was not the correct power 440 3phase . When I was told it was 220 3 phase . On my third time moving it because it was in the way my employee dropped it . The scrap guy came by a week later . Learned not to buy from auctions.

[@gorak9000]

I can't imagine not going to look at something like this before you buy it (unless you're buying a busted machine for scrap price, like the machine I bought - even then, the previous owner said "you better come see it in person"). Even seeing a machine in person, there can be a lot more wrong with it than you realize, but again, when buying at or below scrap price, and it's a hobby machine, and not "losing money" if it's not running, I guess it's not that big of a deal.

[@patrickflannery1143]

sorry for your loss . Good luck in the future.

[@dejanbrice8774]

Oh yeah I'd be taking someone to court for that sale if they didn't take it back or sort the issues. That's awful.

[@triggerguard1]

I got a similar treatment from Champion Machinery on a Mazak. When they replaced the spindle, which was supposedly done right before I bought it, they didn't hook up the airlines correctly and it wouldn't too change. Then they didn't adjust the zaxis tool change position, which caused me to break off three of my tool fingers in the umbrella changer. TPS didn't work either, as well as a missing yaxis way cover. I'm never buying used on CNC's again. Manuals, yes, but not CNC. That made the second lemon I bought used.

[@MuellerNick]

I know, this doesn't help you. But I bought a Haas TL-2 just by pictures. Built 2008, 2 years old. I paid 12k €. When it arrived, I was shocked! It had just 70 spindle hours.

[@davidogden9380]

Another negative to an older Haas is the older cpu's are no longer supported. If it goes you will need new main board, cpu and control.

[@rustyshackleford928]

That is unfortunate. But on the bright side, you can fix all the issues. With the deep dive you do, you will know every nook and cranny on that machine. It may become one of your finest purchases ever. So don't be hard on yourself. Its a beautiful machine that's making you money and it will be much better when you fix a few items. What did Ebay say? Is there any recourse with them? Did they at least hammer this dude or what? Let us know the aftermath and thanks for an enlightening the video!!

[@PeckhamHall]

The Saleman probably got a nice ebay account with used machine parts, the bandits!!

[@jackkara91]

Never bought from Ebay, but I have bought a CNC lathe sight unseen in totally unknown condition from 1999. All I knew is that it powered on and that it was in use until 6 months prior. It was 5k for the lathe and another 4k to fix all the issues with it. It holds 3 tenths on the diameter which is all I really need from it.

[@DJ-yp4kc]

Great advice.....take the time to go Look in Person...you will save in the Long Run

[@philtacti7240]

for the osziation sound it culd be the dwell setting hat the exact same noise in the c axis

[@khaledrouabeh8552]

Nice machine. Congratulations

[@icarus_ap]

could be swaft behind the z waycover or dry oil/grease

[@adamdrummonds9506]

The sound in the z-axis is more than likely the drive

[@ttgtomr]

Would have been a great price for that machine if it had the 5th axis.. Hope you get sorted out, those drives are expensive

[@pavelstrelchuk216]

You got scammed

[@aj7utu]

Without knowing what he paid, cannot say that.

[@rodkubis384]

He paid 42,000$😊

[@weldmachine]

It is risky buying Anything sight unseen. IF the Machine was a little bit cheaper. It might not be so much of a surprise to see what you finished up getting in the end. But, you did pay for exactly what should be included with the Machine. A couple things that might help make sense of what you actually purchased ?? The word, Salesmen does ring an alarm for me personally. Never Trust a Salesmen is a rule to live by. You did ask the right questions when inquiring about the machine. But ?? Salesmen would be the first drama if not most of the dramas you are left to deal with ?? The Voltage of the Machine was most lightly misinterpreted by the Salesman. Possibly reading from a document that might have been for a different Machine. Instead of looking at the Electrical tag on the Machine ???? Why doesn't it have a 5th Axis Servo Drive ? You mentioned this was included in the advertisement. But ?? You mentioned it's 5th Axis "Enabled" ??? Not totally sure about HAAS. But. Some manufacturers call "Enabled". Wired ready for Axis to be fitted. You need to be careful with some manufacturers when ordering a New Machine ?? Enabled sometimes means ready for the Servo Drive to be installed. But. NO Servo is actually included with the machine ??? Again this could be back to the Salesmen reading a document instead of actually looking at the Machine ??? The Noise/Load on Z Axis ?? Might be the Support Bearing for the Ball Screw. A common part to fail in a Machine that has been running abrasive materials, such as Ceramics or Cast Iron. Both Bad for a CNC Mill especially. The rest of the list of dramas or lack of's would be back to the Salesmen. Simply being too lazy and Not even looking at the Machine ???? Chip Conveyor, Voltage, Drives etc But ???? In general ?? It's back to you for Not actually looking at the Machine or possibly paying a local tech in California to check over the machine for you. Regardless of all that is Not good with the Machine. In general you have a Nice Tidy Machine that needs some work. I'm sure in time and unfortunately some $$$$$ to be spent you will have a Very Good Machine. All the best with your latest purchase. Thanks for bringing us a long for a look 👍

[@tdg911]

What comes around goes around. Hard lesson learned on this one. Sorry that happened to you but there’s no way I would have bought a machine for these prices involved with this machinery

[@andrewyanke1787]

"What comes around goes around". If only this was true. Its like saying magical karma will get him one day when the timing suits lord Karmas schedule. The seller probably won't ever put himself in this position after knowing what he did while he snickers with his wad of cash that he earned with dishonesty. The truth is, the only way to feel relief now is to find the cock sucker and take a fat dump on his car windshield and smash it under the wiper blade.

[@connerprince1748]

We have a 2006 VF4 and in the mornings if you engaged the drives the z axis would hum/vibrate really loud until you hand jogged it to a position that it wouldn’t and left it there for a few minutes until it warmed up. Sometimes it would alarm out it was so bad. Turns out it was something that went bad in the axis drive. Replaced it and the z axis is at least 4 times quieter believe it or not. Wonder if that’s the issue your having with yours.

[@jderou]

I have actually begun to suspect the drive. I disconnected the screw from the motor and casting thinking it would be obvious what was wrong but everything felt smooth, including the motor. It doesn't make noise sitting still though so who knows!

[@connerprince1748]

@@jderou you can try switching out the Z axis drive with either the X or Y axis drive just to test it and see if the noise goes away. That’s what we did and how we determined it was the drive. I’d be willing to put money on it that’s what your problem is. We had the same issue to a tee.

[@jr540123]

Fifth axis enabled simply means that the option to install one is allowed in the software for the machine as not all Haas's have it factory allowed or enabled that far back. Sucks you got burned on the sale friend.

[@qqqqqqqq1407]

you should get paid whatever profit they made off of it

[@roamin9871]

5th axis means its enabled in the controller, there is no drive because the drive controls the motor on the 5th axis, depending what size 5th axis you install determines the size of the drive needed to run it. You enabling the 5th axis means your machine was enabled in the controller/software. Now you pico your 5th axis setup and suitable drive. As for the rest, sorry to hear.

[@joshuawentworth7426]

Who buys this without having a picture of the inside of the electronics cabinet!?

[@jderou]

IIRC there were pictures but they were crap. Hindsight being 20 20....

[@ipadize]

i mean imo thats scam. You asked if its 240V and he answered yeah its 240V when its clearly not.

[@landonjacobs8392]

What i would do is strip the whole machine down and rebuild it and upgrade it to the 5rh axis with b axis and than I would buy a chip auger for it.

[@benbeckett]

Could you do a video on your monitor on your older haas please?

[@jderou]

Will try to do that thanks

[@ProfessionalAmateur22]

Are you sure that the tool changer has a drive? Because my haas VF5 only has drives for the axis’s

[@jderou]

The ss has a drive for the changer.

[@SlowReactionDriversAreTheWorst]

Yep, you got cheated out of your hard earn money. Totally not worth it considering, Not just a 2007, but a 2007 Haas. That CNC has been neglected No TSC. No chip auger, with no chip exit port. No 5th axis drive. Consider the accuracy is no good after the Machine has been crash (who knows how many or how bad of a crash). Look at the back panel of the machine enclosure, dent marks from parts flying out of the vise or fixture. If you put everything listed above back to working order, that equal down time and money for parts and labor. Should have saved your money for a new VF2.

[@WesleyHarcourtSTEAMandMORE]

Was the dealer in the SF bay area? Im asking because im looking at a similar machine from a dealer out there.

[@jderou]

That sounds right, will send you a pm if I can

[@jderou]

The machine came from that area, but the dealer was out of Chicago.

[@WesleyHarcourtSTEAMandMORE]

@@jderou gotcha. I'm looking at a place in the South Bay, Fremont/San Jose area. They advertise a lot on Craigslist.

[@dfpolitowski2]

Get the promises in writing. Happens all the time I got sold a car in the same manner. Guy lied about its faults.

[@competitionenterprisesraci3271]

So how did you fix the 440v issue? Thanks bobby m

[@sosaltysereezy]

He added a transformer

[@jderou]

Yes, 240v to 480v transformer (big grey thing behind the machine). Technically it is a 480 to 240 that is wired backwards

[@wyatt5391]

They scammed you it looks like. I hope somehow you got back some money or something. Who did you buy it from ? i never want to go to them.

[@jderou]

Revelation Machinery

[@marcsolorzan9487]

lol ceramics big nono... We consider tormach disposable machines for doing our ceramics.. the stuff is NAAAASTY

[@Donkusdelux]

Never go with Haas. They are cheap for a reason. Cheaply made.

[@TheTrex600ESP]

Haas is good machines, but like with all machines, you have to maintence them.