Haas TL-3P

The Haas TL-3P is a large toolroom lathe with 29 in (737 mm) of swing over the front apron, 63 in (1,600 mm) between centers and a 30 hp (22.4 kW) A2-8 spindle bored to 4.62 in (117.3 mm). Its figures point at long, heavy shaft work at moderate speeds, not at small parts turned fast.

The diameter figures have to be read together. Maximum turning diameter is 29 in with a tool post and 21 in (533 mm) with the 8-station BOT turret, while swing over the cross slide is 14 in (356 mm). A short, large part held near the chuck can use most of the swing. A shaft long enough to pass over the cross slide cannot be bigger than 14 in. The largest chuck in the table is 15 in (381 mm), bar capacity through the spindle is 4 in (102 mm), X travel is 16 in (406 mm) and maximum turning length is 60 in (1,524 mm).

The belt-driven spindle peaks at 300 ft-lbf (407 N·m) at 500 rpm and tops out at 2,400 rpm. That ceiling is 20% above the 2,000 rpm of the TL-3, which shares the 30 hp rating, the torque figure and the bore. It is still a slow spindle for small diameters, where carbide wants more surface speed than 2,400 rpm can give. For bigger pipe and heavier cuts the TL-3B goes the other way: a 7.08 in (179.8 mm) bore, 40 hp (29.8 kW) and 1,400 ft-lbf (1,898 N·m) at 150 rpm, with a 1,300 rpm limit.

Axis thrust is 5,600 lbf (24,910 N) on X and 5,100 lbf (22,686 N) on Z, and rapids are 450 ipm (11.4 m/min), so a full traverse of the 63 in Z travel is not quick. The tailstock takes MT5 tooling, and the table gives 7 in (178 mm) of manual quill travel. The turret indexes in 1 s. Plan for 4 scfm of air at 100 psi (113.3 L/min at 6.9 bar), a 45 gal (170 L) coolant tank and either 220 VAC at 70 A or 440 VAC at 35 A, three-phase. Haas lists a starting price of US$69,995.