Overview of Haas Automation: Think you know everything there is to know about Haas Automation and their innovative CNC machines? Think again! As a leader in the CNC machine tool industry, Haas is constantly evolving and releasing new products that are revolutionizing manufacturing. From their VF Series vertical machining centers to their toolroom lathes, Haas has a machine for virtually every application. But it’s not just about the machines. Haas is focused on complete manufacturing solutions, including software, tooling, workholding and more.
Their machines are fast, rigid and incredibly precise thanks to proprietary technologies like Super Speed Control. And with a global network of Haas Factory Outlets, they make sales, service and support more accessible than ever. So whether you’re a home hobbyist, job shop or Fortune 500 manufacturer, read on to discover why Haas CNC could be the perfect fit for your needs. You just might learn a thing or two about capabilities you never knew existed!
Introduction to Haas Automation
Haas Automation is the largest CNC machine tool builder in the Western World. Founded in 1983 by Gene Haas, Haas Automation is a global leader in CNC machine tools. They are known for their innovative and affordable CNC machines like vertical machining centers, horizontal machining centers, CNC lathes, and rotary tables.
Gene Haas – The Visionary Behind Haas Automation
Gene Haas founded Haas Automation in 1983 and still serves as the CEO today. Haas had a vision to make CNC machines more affordable and accessible. He wanted to make manufacturing in the US competitive again. Under Haas’ leadership, Haas Automation has introduced many innovative and affordable CNC machines to the market.
Innovative and Affordable CNC Machines
Haas Automation is known for building innovative and affordable CNC machines. Some of their popular machines include:
- VMCs (Vertical Machining Centers): Haas VMCs are versatile, affordable and easy to use. Models like the Mini Mill and VF series are very popular.
- HMCs (Horizontal Machining Centers): Haas HMCs are fast, rigid and highly accurate. Models like the UMC-750 and EC-1600ZH are excellent for high production environments.
- CNC Lathes: Haas CNC lathes like the TL-1 and CL-1 provide an affordable solution for secondary CNC lathe operations.
- Rotary Products: Haas rotary products include rotary tables, tilting rotary tables, and trunnions that provide 4th and 5th axis capability.
Commitment to Education and Training
Haas Automation has a strong commitment to education and training. They offer many programs to help educate students and train the manufacturing workforce. Some of their programs include:
- Haas Technical Education Centers (HTEC): Haas has partnered with over 2,000 schools worldwide to provide schools with Haas CNC machines, curriculum, and instructor training.
- Haas Certification: Haas offers certification programs for operators, programmers, machinists, and engineers. These certifications verify a student’s skills and make them more employable.
Haas Automation has been innovating and shaping the CNC machine tool industry for over 35 years. With a wide range of innovative and affordable CNC machines and a strong commitment to education, Haas Automation aims to strengthen manufacturing in the US and around the world.
History of Haas Automation and Founder Gene Haas
Gene Haas founded Haas Automation in 1983 to build affordable, high-quality CNC machine tools. Haas started the company in his garage, and through determination and innovation, turned it into the largest CNC machine tool builder in the Western World. Today, Haas Automation has a 900,000 square foot manufacturing facility, and a worldwide network of Haas Factory Outlets.
The Early Years
Gene Haas was a machinist by trade, working as a job shop owner. He wanted to build vertical machining centers that were more affordable, so he could buy more of them for his own shop. When he couldn’t find a machine that met his needs at a price he could afford, he decided to build his own. The first Haas CNC machine was the VF-1, launched in 1988. It was an immediate success, and propelled Haas into becoming a major machine tool manufacturer.
A Culture of Innovation
Haas Automation has always been on the cutting edge of machine tool technology. They were the first to introduce affordable CNC machining centers, and they have continued to innovate ever since. In the 1990s, Haas introduced the first Windows-based CNC control, with an intuitive interface any machinist could operate. They were also first to develop networked CNC controls, tool management systems, and 5-axis machining centers.
Commitment to Education
Haas believes strongly in education and workforce development. In 1995, they started the Haas Technical Education Center (HTEC) program, which provides schools with free CNC machines, curriculum, and teacher training. Over 2,500 schools worldwide participate in HTEC. Haas also sponsors numerous manufacturing scholarships and internship programs to develop the next generation of machinists and CNC operators.
Through Gene Haas’ vision, determination and constant innovation, Haas Automation has grown into one of the most successful machine tool builders in the world. They remain dedicated to providing high-quality, affordable CNC machines and comprehensive education programs to shape the future of manufacturing.
Haas Automation’s Innovative CNC Machines
Vertical Mills
Haas Automation is known for producing innovative CNC machines, especially their vertical mills like the VF and VM series. These vertical machining centers are highly rigid, providing the stability required for precision parts manufacturing. The VM series features a small footprint, perfect for job shops where space is limited. The VF series includes high-performance mills suitable for everything from simple 2.5D work to complex 3D machining.
Turning Centers
In addition to vertical mills, Haas Automation manufacturers CNC turning centers, including the ST series. These turning centers provide fast, accurate turning for high production environments. The ST-10 and ST-20, for example, offer a compact design, fast rapids, and high cutting power, allowing you to turn high-volume, complex parts. The ST series includes live tooling, which enables milling, drilling, and tapping operations to be performed on turned parts.
Rotary Products
To maximize the capability of their mills and lathes, Haas Automation offers a range of rotary products. This includes rotary tables that provide 4-axis milling capability, tilt/rotate tables for 5-axis work, and trunnion tables. These rotary products expand the range of geometries you can machine and increase productivity.
Tooling and Workholding
In addition to the CNC machines themselves, Haas Automation offers a range of tooling, workholding, and other accessories. This includes milling tools like end mills, taps, and reamers, as well as turning tools like grooving tools, threading tools, and inserts. They also offer vises, chucks, fixtures, and other workholding solutions to securely hold your parts. With the right tooling and workholding, you’ll get the most out of your Haas CNC machines.
Haas Automation is clearly an industry leader, producing innovative CNC mills, lathes, and other products that provide functionality, accuracy, and value. Their vertical mills and turning centers, combined with rotary products, tooling, and workholding, enable you to machine complex parts with speed and precision.
Vertical Machining Centers by Haas
Haas Automation is known for manufacturing innovative and affordable vertical machining centers (VMCs) for machine shops. A VMC is a CNC milling machine with a vertical spindle. Haas offers a wide range of VMCs to suit the needs of any shop.
Their popular VF series are full-featured, high-performance VMCs at an affordable price. The VF-1 is their smallest model, perfect for low-volume production and prototyping. The VF-2 is a step up in size and offers faster rapids and a larger work envelope. The VF-3 is ideal for high-volume production with its dual-pallet changer and faster spindle.
For larger parts, Haas offers the VF-5 and VF-6 models. The VF-5XP and VF-6 offer extended Y-axis travel for extra-long parts. Newer models like the VF-7, VF-9, and VF-11 provide massive work envelopes and powerful spindles for almost any application.
If speed is what you need, check out the VF-S models. The VF-2SS and VF-3YT offer high-speed spindles up to 20,000 RPM for aggressive metal removal. The VF-6/50 is equipped with a 30,000 RPM, 50-taper spindle—one of the highest-speed VMC spindles available.
For complex parts, the VF-T turbo series provides faster rapids, higher feed rates, and beefier tool changers. The top-of-the-line VF-12/15 series combines massive work envelopes, 20,000 RPM spindles, and automated pallet changers for high-volume and high-mix production environments.
Whether you need an affordable, compact VMC for job shop work or a large, fully-loaded machining center for production, Haas Automation likely has a vertical machining center to suit your needs. Their innovative designs, premium components, and unbeatable price points have made Haas the world’s leading manufacturer of CNC machine tools.
Horizontal Machining Centers Offered by Haas
Haas Automation is a leader in horizontal machining centers (HMCs). Their HMCs are innovative, affordable and highly productive. Haas HMCs offer large work envelopes and fast rapids to maximize productivity.
The Haas EC-400 HMC is a popular choice for high-volume production. With its 40-taper, 15,000 RPM inline direct-drive spindle and programmable coolant nozzles, the EC-400 can make quick work of aluminum and other non-ferrous materials. The EC-400 has a work envelope of 40” x 20” x 20” to handle a variety of part sizes.
For larger parts, the Haas EC-630 features a 50-taper, 12,000 RPM geared head spindle with plenty of low-end torque. It has a work area of 63” x 31.5” x 30” that can machine parts up to 10,000 pounds. The EC-630 is a great solution for heavy cuts in tough materials.
On the compact end, the Haas DT-1 is a fast and affordable HMC with a small footprint, perfect for low-volume job shops and schools. It features a 30-taper, inline direct-drive 12,000 RPM spindle and a work envelope of 26” x 16” x 16”.
Every Haas HMC includes features like rigid tapping, high-pressure coolant, and 4th-axis drive interfaces as standard. They are also compatible with popular options like probe systems, tool presetters, and workholding solutions.
Whether you need an ultra-productive high-volume HMC or an extremely compact model, Haas Automation has you covered with their innovative horizontal machining centers. With over 175,000 Haas CNC machines installed worldwide, Haas provides the high-quality, affordable CNC machines that machinists trust.
Specialty CNC Machines Manufactured by Haas
When it comes to CNC machines, Haas Automation is an industry leader. In addition to their well-known vertical and horizontal machining centers, Haas also produces several specialty CNC machines tailored to specific applications.
Compact Mills
If you’re tight on floor space, a compact mill could be perfect for your shop. These small but powerful mills are built with the same rugged construction as larger Haas machines, just in a more space-efficient footprint. Compact mills are ideal for schools, small machine shops, and anyone looking to maximize productivity in a minimal amount of space.
Toolroom Mills
A toolroom mill provides the speed, power, and accuracy for efficient part production while also delivering the versatility required for short-run jobs and prototype work. Toolroom mills offer a large work envelope, fast rapids, and a high-speed spindle to dramatically reduce cycle times. With a toolroom mill, you’ll have a flexible, universal CNC machine capable of handling a wide range of machining tasks.
Universal Machines
A universal machine combines the functionality of a mill and lathe in one platform. Haas universal machines provide milling capabilities including live tooling, as well as turning functions like multiple turrets, a programmable tailstock, and a programmable steady rest. With a universal machine, you can perform multiple operations on a single part without needing to transfer it between machines. These multifunctional CNC machines deliver extreme versatility and value.
Rotary Tables
Rotary tables add an extra axis of motion to CNC machining centers, enabling indexed, continuous and contouring rotary moves. Haas rotary tables provide precise, rigid support for machining round parts. They allow you to perform milling, drilling and tapping operations on the circumference, face, and side of the workpiece in a single setup.
To sum up, Haas Automation produces an array of specialty CNC machines tailored to specific applications. Whether space is limited, multifunctionality is needed, or round parts require machining, Haas has you covered with compact mills, universal machines, toolroom mills, and rotary tables.
Tooling and Accessories for Haas CNC Machines
When it comes to cutting tools and workholding for your Haas CNC machine, you have a lot of options to choose from. Haas Automation offers a wide range of tooling and accessories specifically designed for their machining centers and lathes.
Cutting Tools
Haas provides high quality end mills, taps, threading tools, grooving tools, and more to handle all your machining needs. Their tooling is optimized for high performance on Haas machines. For example, their end mills feature variable helix geometries and coatings suited for high speed machining. They offer ball end mills, square end mills, roughing end mills, and specialty tools like dovetail cutters.
Workholding
To securely hold your parts in place during machining, Haas offers vise kits, workholding kits, and rotary tables. Their vise kits provide a quick and easy way to add a vise to your Haas mill. Workholding kits include components like collet pads, toggle clamps, and precision vises. And for complex 5-axis and multi-task machining, Haas rotary tables provide an affordable, space-saving solution.
Starter Kits
For new Haas owners, starter kits provide a bundle of essential tooling and accessories to get you up and running quickly. Kits typically include end mills, taps, a vise, collet chuck, and other useful items. Haas also offers certification kits to help you learn how to safely set up and operate your new machine.
With Haas tooling and workholding, you’ll have everything you need to maximize the performance of your Haas CNC machine. And when you buy direct from Haas, you can take advantage of their competitive prices as well as financing options to help make tooling more affordable. Keep your Haas machine running efficiently with high quality, specialized tooling designed specifically for Haas Automation.
Training and Support Resources From Haas
Haas Automation is committed to providing customers with world-class training and support. They offer a wide range of resources to help you get the most out of your Haas CNC machine.
Haas University offers online and in-person courses on programming, operation, and maintenance of Haas CNC machines. The online courses are self-paced and free, covering everything from basics to advanced techniques. In-person courses are held at Haas Factory Outlets and Technical Education Centers around the world. Haas also provides certification for operators, programmers, and service technicians.
The Haas Technical Education Community provides educational institutions with Haas CNC machines, educational curriculum, and instructor training. Over 2,000 schools worldwide participate in the program. Students can learn valuable skills that prepare them for a career in manufacturing.
An extensive library of documentation is available on the Haas website, including operator’s manuals, programming guides, and service manuals for all Haas products. You’ll also find a variety of helpful videos, technical bulletins, and tips.
Haas Factory Outlets and distributors provide local customer service and support. They offer emergency service, preventative maintenance, repair, refurbishment, and a wide selection of genuine Haas replacement parts. Many locations also have showrooms, training centers, and tooling suppliers on-site.
The Haas website has an online parts ordering system for genuine Haas parts as well as a variety of workholding, cutting tools, and other accessories. Most parts can be shipped within 24 hours.
Between the training opportunities, educational programs, documentation, and local service available, Haas provides customers with resources for success at every step of the process. Whether you’re just learning CNC or an experienced machinist, Haas support helps you get the most out of your machine tools.
Overview of Haas Automation FAQs
Haas Automation is the largest CNC machine tool builder in the Western World. If you’re new to CNC machining, you probably have a lot of questions about Haas and their innovative machines. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about Haas Automation.
How did Haas Automation get started? Haas Automation was founded in 1983 by Gene Haas. Gene started the company in his garage, building affordable CNC machining centers. Haas has since grown into the dominant CNC machine tool company in the US, providing high-performance mills, lathes, and rotary products at competitive prices.
What types of CNC machines does Haas offer? Haas offers vertical machining centers (VMCs), horizontal machining centers (HMCs), CNC lathes, rotary tables, and 5-axis machines. Their product line ranges from compact mills and lathes to large toolroom mills and high-speed machining centers. Whatever your machining needs, Haas likely has a solution.
Why are Haas CNC machines so popular? Haas CNC machines are renowned for their affordability, reliability, and ease of use. Haas uses standardized components across their product line, allowing them to build high-quality machines at lower costs. Their control interface is also very intuitive, with minimal training required. And with over 175,000 Haas machines installed worldwide, you know you’re getting a proven, trusted product.
Where can I buy Haas CNC machines? Haas CNC machines are sold through a global network of machine tool dealers called Haas Factory Outlets or HFOs. There are over 175 HFOs located throughout North America, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. You can find your local HFO on the Haas Automation website and visit them to view Haas CNC machines in person. Many HFOs also offer used Haas machines, tooling, parts, and other workholding equipment.
Does Haas offer financing for their CNC machines? Yes, Haas Automation Finance offers financing solutions for the purchase of new and used Haas CNC equipment. They offer competitive rates and terms to suit your needs. Leasing a Haas machine is a great way to acquire advanced CNC technology with minimal upfront costs.
Conclusion
As you can see, Haas Automation is a leading innovator in the CNC machine industry. They are dedicated to making top-quality, high-performance machines that help manufacturers and machinists be more productive. From their extensive selection of tools and accessories to their unmatched customer service, Haas has built a reputation for excellence. So if you’re looking for precision, reliability, and versatility from your CNC machines, be sure to check out Haas Automation. Their innovative technology and passion for manufacturing ensure they will continue pushing the boundaries of what CNC machines can do.
