When John Page, Co-Founder and Long-Time Head of The
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volume 3 number 9 spring ’99 covercoverstorystory CustomCustom BuiltBuilt DreamsDreams fromfrom thethe FenderFender CustomCustom ShopShop ff ee aa tt uu rere ss TTouchouch ProbesProbes andand ProcessProcess ControlControl Daily Grind Yields Yearly Success CutCut Test:Test: HaasHaas High-SpeedHigh-Speed SoftwareSoftware Choosing the Right Affordable Machine > C O N T E N T S > volume 3 > number 9 > spring ’99 FEATURES > IN THIS ISSUE Grinding Out Profits . 4 he term CNC machining usually conjures up visions of Co v e r st o r y Affordable Toys – Getting the Most Bang for Your Buck . 8 machine tools ripping through blocks of steel or aluminum, sending chips of metal slamming against Maintaining Control With Touch Probes . 24 T the machine’s enclosure. But, according to Webster, machine Fender is an American icon, and Application Solutions . 33 Fender guitars are known around the tools are defined as: power-operated machines used for world for their characteristic quality, gene r al cutting and shaping of metal . AND other sound and style. With the help of their substances. In this issue, our cover story details how Fender Haas VMC, the Fender Custom Shop INDUSTRYNEWS takes these characteristics to another uses one of these ot h e r su b s t a n ces to create mus i cal mas t e r p ie c e s . level as they turn customers’ musical Y2K Update . 3 Yes, that’s a guitar on the cover. And, yes, it’s made of dreams into reality. wood, as most guitars are. The unique thing is, it was WESTEC Wrap Up . 3 machined at the Fender Custom Shop on a Haas VF-4. Haas Year End Figures . 26 Although wood is a material not usually associated p14. Trade Show Calendar . 31 with CNC machining centers, it actually can be harder to work with than metal. Wood changes shape constantly due to moisture variations, and it’s more abrasive, because it PRODUCTUPDATE sucks all kinds of grit up from the soil into its cell structure. As a result, bits and tools don’t last as long. In fact, some Gantry Mill Under Development . 30 ® woods will destroy a tool immediately. Another concern is High-Speed Software . 30 burning, use th e wron g speeds and feeds and a perfect guitar bo d y quickly becomes a useless hunk of firew o o d . Getting back to steel, we visit a Canadian grinding Co v e r ph o t o RACINGREPORT shop that increased its bottom line by adding Haas machining centers, and we take a look at controlling Building a dream. Designer Eric Strunk Gordon Kicks Off Season With Daytona Win . 2 created this issue’s stunning cover to processes through the use of touch probes. Dan Gurney, Arciero-Wells Join Sponsorship List . 26 illustrate our story on the Fender Custom In light of the recent influx of “low-cost” machines to Shop. Special thanks go out to Byll the American market, we present some things to consider Williams for the photography, before signing on the dotted line. And we show just how and to Surfcam for their help EDUCATION with the wire frame. much “bang for the buck” you get with a Haas. Haas Helps Students Reach for the Stars . 12 On the new-product front, we test cut the latest high- speed software for Haas mills, and give you a glimpse of what’s on the horizon for the rest of 1999. THE MASTHEAD CNC Machining is published by Haas Automation, Inc., 2800 Sturgis Road, Oxnard, CA 93030 • 805-278-1800, Fax 805-988-6918. Postmaster: Return invalid addresses to Haas Automation, 2800 Sturgis Road, Oxnard, CA 93030-8933 postage guaranteed. CNC Machining is distributed free of charge by Haas Automation, Inc., and its authorized distributors. CNC Machining accepts no advertising or reimbursement for this magazine. All contents of CNC Machining are Copyright © 1999 and may not be reproduced without written permission from Haas Automation, Inc. CNC Machining is distributed through a worldwide network of Haas Automation Distributors, and by individual subscription request. Contact Haas Automation headquarters via mail or fax to be added to subscription list. Published quarterly. © Haas Automation, Inc. & CNC Machining Magazine names. Designed and Printed in the U.S.A. www.H a a s C N C . c o m > RACE REPORT Racing > INDUSTRY NEWS he 1999 racing season is well underway, and from with Haas: road courses and ovals to trackless trails through Haas In The Year 2000 the desert, the Haas logo is making the rounds at T C A RT FedEx Championship some of the most famous racing venues in the world. thus are not limited by the year 2000 prior to November 1998. In such cases, if Long Beach, CA . April 18 functions in the software for critical the floppy file is dated 00 (meaning While most vehicles competing in Shootout.” He followed that with a Nazareth, PA . May 2 imbedded machine controls. In other 2000), it will cause the file to not be motorsports today are equipped with multi-million-dollar win ($2.1 million, Madison, IL . May 29 wo r ds, the year 2000 date problem is not listed when a directory listing is some part or device machined or the largest in auto racing history) the All Haas machines manufactured applicable to the Haas operating system. requested using either the LISTPROG developed on a Haas, there are a following Sunday at NASCAR’s big Milwaukee, WI . June 6 after November 1998 are fully Y 2 K In addition, Haas machines built F4 method or the Advanced Editor I/0 number of race teams which proudly one, the Daytona 500. Gordon also Portland, OR . June 20 compliant. prior to 1996, as well as curre n t menu FLOPPY DI R E C TO R Y m e t h o d . carry the Haas logo into competition. received the “Driver of the Year” award Cleveland, OH . June 27 All Haas CNC controls comply production brush-type machines (VF-E This is a very minor problem that can be These racing organizations have at the annual ESPY awards ceremony with the year 2000 date re q u i re m e n t s . and VF-EXT), do not use a real time worked around by loading and saving e n t e red into a special type of the following night. Since Haas began building CNC clock. Therefore, there is no year 2000 files to floppy disk using the sponsorship agreement with Haas Teammate and fellow Winston Cup machines, they have utilized an internal date problem with these machines. <filename>F2 and <filename>F3 Automation in which the team and champion (’96) Terry Labonte will again calendar with four places to enumerate However, a minor glitch has been method. This method works regardless Haas become technical partners. Haas field the #5 car for ’99, maintaining the NASCAR Winston Cup the year. Further, Haas controls are not d i s c o v e red when reading the 3.5” of the date in the control or the dates on provides the teams with CNC machine team’s reputation as the highest rated PC-based DOS operating systems, and floppy drive on machines manufactured the floppy files. tools and technical upgrades, while the stable of racing cars in NASCAR. Wally Bristol, TN . April 11 teams allow Haas to use their shops as Dallenbach, Jr. has signed on as driver Martinsville, VA . April 18 New Lathe Brochure Hits the Streets working showrooms where prospective of the #25 car, following his successful Talladega, AL . April 25 clients can see Haas machines at work efforts as a substitute driver during the The all-new Haas SL-Series CNC level of manufacturing excellence for Fontana, CA . May 2 in an environment that demands latter part the ’98 season when he lathes hit the streets in January, and a 1999, and the new brochure provides all absolute perfection. garnered three top-ten finishes. Richmond, VA . May 15 new bro c h u re detailing these cutting- the information necessary to select the Teams carrying the Haas logo In the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Charlotte, NC edge machines is now available. This right machine and high-pro d u c t i v i t y include: Series, Hendrick Motorsports will again “The Wi n s t o n ” . May 22 new bro c h u re features more than options to do any job. campaign the #24 GMAC Chevro l e t Charlotte, NC . May 30 35 full-color pages packed with To receive your free copy of the new Hendrick Motorsports pickup truck driven by previous series photos, specifications and detailed SL bro c h u r e, contact Haas Au t o m a t i o n Dover Downs, DE . June 6 champion Jack Sprague. Sprague information about the full line of at: 800-331-6746, or fill out a literature Following an unprecedented fourth missed winning last year ’ s Brooklyn, MI . June 13 SL-Series turning centers. request form at www.HaasCNC.com on straight NASCAR championship title, championship by a mere three points, Pocono, PA . June 20 Haas SL-Series lathes present a new the world wide web. the three-car Hendrick Motorsports finishing 2nd with 4,069 points. Look Sonoma, CA . June 27 team again is bringing emotions to a for some good racing here. boil in 1999. Three-time winner Jeff Haas Sweeps up at Westec ’99 Gordon (’95, ’97 and ’98) previewed the PacWest Racing Group season with a forceful move to the front By the time you read this, Haas foot booth with 16 machines of the pack during Daytona’s “Bud The two-car PacWest CART team Automation will be reaping the rew a rd s re p resenting every product line, in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series had a rough year in ’98, of another successful WESTEC.