Re: Defiance VTX-1 VMC?

If you have the space, I'd be looking for a used Haas mini mill with
the current price being $11K on the Defiance.

~petev

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "pizzafacepizzaface"
<boutakis@h...> wrote:

> Thanks alot for the great info. The Machine I am looking at was
> built late 99, It seems to be similar to what you are describing
> except it has a tool changer, and has a pc based controller. It is
> on eBay right now, and it looks like it's going to end at about 8-
> 9k. He claims less than 10 hours on the machine. Do you think

that

> is a good price for such a machine? What did you pay for yours?
>
> Thanks
>
> here is the ebay link:
> http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?
> ViewItem&item=3808868874&category=58252&sspagename=STRK%3AMEBWA%
> 3AIT&rd=1
>
>
> --- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "Marcus and Eva"
> <implmex@a...> wrote:
> > Hi Pizzaface:
> > I own a Defiance VTX1.
> > I bought it in 1999.
> > It is an earlier model with the Bridgeport DX32 control, not the
> later
> > Creative Evolution control.
> > Here's my two cents' worth:
> > The basic machine construction is OK with these caveats:
> > - the head was not perpendicular to the table in either plane,

and

> needed to
> > be refitted.
> > - the tee slots are not parallel to the x axiz motion
> > - the table is a hot rolled mild steel plate about 1 1/2" thick

and

> has
> > curled 0.0007" in "X".
> > - the machine is lightly built with 5/8" ballscrews and teeny

linear

> > bearings
> > - the spindle is very simple in design, more like a router than a
> heavy duty
> > mill, but it does 10K all day and has been totally trouble free.
> > - the pneumatic collet clamp mechanism needed to be rebuilt.
> > The machine controller is easy to learn and use, and has lots of
> nice
> > functions like macro programming and full variable programming.
> > It uses some goofy proprietary G codes that you'll need to learn.
> > The controller is notorious though, for its inability to handle
> acceleration
> > and deceleration properly on short linear moves at high feedrates.
> > This makes the machine hop around like a machine gun when you are
> doing
> > surfacing of convoluted shapes with lots of direction changes.
> > The result is poor finish and accuracy, and an inability to do

high

> speed
> > machining of hardened steel without trashing a lot of cutters.
> > This is purely a DX32 controller problem, and Bridgeport was sued
> over this
> > defect in a class action suit some years ago.
> > Defiance later switched to the Creative Evolution control which

was

> reported
> > to be excellent.
> > My machine came with no toolchanger, and although one was

promised

> by
> > Defiance, I'm not sure if one was ever actually produced.
> >
> > On to my use experience:
> > I bought the machine to do a contract I'd won for developing an
> insect
> > habitat for the space station.
> > I have milled literally mountains of Delrin on the machine, and,
> once its
> > defects were corrected, it performed like a champ.
> > It is lightly built, but I have nonetheless used it to mill
> hardened A2 at
> > 62 Rockwell C; this with a 1/2" cutter milling a 2" deep pocket,

and

> > although it didn't like it, it did it!!
> > I can take a cut of 0.050" in aircraft aluminum with a 4 flute

1/2"

> cutter
> > at 5000 RPM and 30"/min without problems.
> > I've milled lots of electrodes on the machine, all in Telco, and

it

> handles
> > that very well too.
> > The precision of the machine is less than stellar...it ain't no 2
> tenths
> > machine, but I can circular interpolate within 0.0005" if I keep

the

> > feedrate down and the cut light.
> > I do a good bit of small routing of ABS housings for a local
> manufacturer,
> > and it's been brilliant in that role too, mostly because it's

tiny

> enough to
> > be handy to get into while sitting in a nice comfortable chair.
> > It's biggest limitation is the lack of a toolchanger...production
> machining
> > without one is a losing proposition unless your parts typically

can

> run
> > unattended for 20 minutes or more.
> > As a prototyping machine it's been excellent, again because it's
> little and
> > handy.
> > My machine has no coolant, and I don't want any because it's my
> plastics
> > machine.
> > Without coolant though, you can't expect to do any amount of
> production
> > machining in metals.
> > The way covers are Gortite; I've no idea how they'd stand up to
> coolant, but
> > I'd suspect no too good.
> > It's a good little mill, but don't expect to drill 3/4" holes in
> steel with
> > it; there ain't enough rigidity in the head to handle it.
> > That's it in a nutshell..hope it's of some use in your decision.
> > I'm not sorry I bought mine...I got a decent deal and I made back
> its cost
> > in the first two months I owned it.
> > I still use it daily even though I've got a Haas too.
> > If the machine's in good shape, and if you don't hope to hog out
> big pockets
> > in huge mold bases with it, it's worth owning.
> > Cheers
> >
> > Marcus
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "pizzafacepizzaface" <boutakis@h...>
> > To: <CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com>
> > Sent: Thursday, April 15, 2004 1:37 AM
> > Subject: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Defiance VTX-1 VMC?
> >
> >
> > > Hi, does anyone have any experience on a Defiance VTX-1 VMC? I

am

> > > looking at buying one of these puppies, and I was wondering how
> good
> > > it would be for aluminum and steel? How viable is it for small
> > > production runs?
> > >
> > > Thanks