As a former Final QC guy from Haas, I was picked to prototype the testing and calibration procedures for many of the more recent machines, including the Toolroom mill. So, I'll throw in my .02. If you want to one off smaller parts, this could be the machine for you. But remember, this has small travel compares to its bigger brothers. And if you plan to hog, or take heavy cuts in more difficult materials, this is not your machine. About 3 months into production, after about #140, they went from a 2 piece casting, to a one piece. This is more ridgid, but a tad less accurate. FWIW, accuracy for a Haas mill is usually less than .0005/inch(50 millionths of an inch) error per 12" circle,(spec) and we usually comped them to half of that. These machines comparitively speaking are slightly less accurate than the other Haas VMCs up to about the VF-6. All in all, a cheap versatile mill. But, FWIW, my money would go to a used Haas, (fully refurbished at the factory), probably a VF2 or 3, Hi torque (30 Hp) if you can find one, for about the same money....Go to the Haas site for info on their used machines, many people don't know that Haas buys back their older machines and sells them either as used(as is, but within specs) refurbished(parts that wear out first are replaced, bearings etc) and rebuilt( taken down to casting and completely redone). Of course, for each step up, there is a step up in price, but they are very reasonable compared to new.
I would be comfortable buying any of their machines (VMCs), but I would look else where when choosing a lathe....And no, I don't work for them anymore, or get kick backs etc, this is just my opinion...Mike