Buying a HAAS ST20Y CNC Lathe!

The Live Tool CNC lathe is here! You know that CNC milling machines are our comfort zone so when it was time to purchase this lathe, the process was a little daunting. This is a basic overview of the Haas ST-20Y, its features/options, why we chose those options, and how it works. We'll discuss the bar feeder, Y-axis, live tooling, Sandvik Capto tool holders, dual spindles, parts catcher, the Royal QG-65 collet chuck, and the automatic tool probing arm.

I love lathe. And no, I'm not just looking at things in the shop and saying I love them...

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Reach us / CNC Info:

[EdgePrecision]

It sounds like you have already though of this. But if you eventually change all your stationary turning tools to the Capto system. Than you can offset them in the control as their own offset. The repeat ability of the system is so good you can just swap the tools for different setups. Just like what you showed for your milling tools. If you need a boring bar, drill or a VBMT or CNMG turning tool in that station. Here we have even used it where there were interference problems with the tools and the chuck or machine cabinet. For instance running a long silent boring bar that would hit the cabinet behind the chuck when turning up close. Just put a program stop with the turret back. Mount the bar. Bore move back, stop remove the bar and continue the program. This system is accurate enough that you don't have to retouch off the bar doing this. If you do stops like this in a program where there could be a real problem if you forgot to remove the tool. This is what I do. I put about three or four M00's in a row with a note saying what to do. That way when you push cycle start and nothing happens you will look at the control and see your note. Believe me when I tell you this has saved me a number of times.

[cwhuffman]

I never thought I would see the day John buys a full sized CNC lathe. They grow up so fast. Cant wait for new lathe content!

[mjohns]

I bought a new ST20 in July. Really happy with it. The newgen control for the lathes is a great step forward from the last one. I did make some custom slideway covers to protect the tailstock runners when its parked up and just on chucking on dints if you drop tools while setting tooling too.

[ChrisDePrisco]

I'm just happy to finally know what that "gun" I've been seeing around lathes is for! :D

[Batti]

This was HUGELY informative to someone who has not encountered a beast like this. Thank you SMW!!!!

[bcbloc]

Lathes are a whole new world but it is a glorious one!! :-)

[Thepriest]

Your shop has grown by leaps and bounds in the last few years. Keep it up!

[larryblount]

I love my TL-2. Fast outgrowing it to wanting a STxx-Y for more tools, live tools, full automation, automatic tool offsets, etc. Looking forward to lots of videos. I have projects suited well for your machines. Congrats.

[andywilson]

Capto tool holders are hands down the best in the business

[Max_Marz]

bout time... been chuckling about some of the stuff you say about lathes for years. YOU GON LEARN TODAY.

[patrickwynne]

You've got a ton of comments but just in case you do see this: Heads up with the bar feeder/chuck combo you have. We have the same setup on 3 DS-30s. The spindle pushes forward when it's clamping and this can cause a bit of variability in the stick out length of your stock. 95% of the time it's off by a few thousands so it's insignificant but every once in a while it will come out too far, by 3/8 to 1/2 inch! When we first started about every 2 weeks we would crash or blow up a tool when facing and couldn't figure out what was going on. Now we keep a stop mounted in a tool holder on the turret and push against the stop every time it bar feeds. It's a work around but it beats the alternative. Just a heads up!

[wazwuz]

I’m planning to get Haas ST this year. I’m excited to learn more from your future video about ST. Thank you

[darkwinter]

So... you’re finally getting around to it...

[richie]

Amazing how far you have travelled in the last couple of years.

[HuskyMachining]

I gotta say, I am thinking of quitting my day job one of these days and turning my hobby into a dream job and I would not be where I am today if I didn’t stumble on this channel back in loved watching you make stuff and learning how parts are made (I was not a mechanical engineer or anything so this was all new and exciting for me). Hell, I bought my first mill (tormach) mostly because of the confidence of watching you do your thing with your tormachs and I bought my first newer machine (haas, and super pumped to start playing with it) for a lot of the same reasons. I owe you one my man.... hoping you do another collaborative project, and if so, please put me down to make a part.... it would be an honor....

Well my shitter break is over so I’ll stop ranting.

[chadhess]

I added a wash down hose to my st30. Be particularly careful when spraying any coolant above and around the light. There is a tray that snakes the wire to the electrical panel and will short that light and blow a fuse in the electrical panel. Have fun! 😀

[maxcox]

I setup a ds30ssy all the time! You are 100% right that sub spindle can get in the way every now and then but are ds30ssy alarms out if the sub spindle is in the way. We don't have the ngc it's the older software but on startup we have to home each axis 1 by 1 congratulations on the new lathe you will love it! As for coolant line to clean it out we just put a y adapter with a garden hose to rise out are machines

[matthewfrance]

Nice video and nice lathe. (8:30-8:33) The finishing spindle has actually been available on Haas lathes for about 14 years (since about 2006) on the TL15 and TL25 lathes with finishing sub spindle and live tools, however Y axis was not available at that time.

[gregorycrepin]

!!! Be careful when you do the "Power Up" procedure, I'm working on a ST35y and when I did the procedure one morning the turret just crashed out of nowhere on the tailstock at full speed!!! HAAS said it was a bug with the newer software and it happened a couple times already with others new lathes. It was totally misaligned and after 2 visits from a HAAS tech it still is... But great machine when it works fine haha

[WasNiksIsNiksWordtNiks]

Geeat video John, love the fact you’re making that part on the lathe. Lathes with barfeeders are great automation machines for all kind of parts.