Originally Posted by PBMW  Do you really think so
Geof?.......
.........20k and faster has a LOT to recommend. Faster cycle times....All those balanced toolholders stay in that one machine anyway. I LIKE the idea of 180 tools in a machine. |
I did say '
can be more hassle'; doesn't have to be.
If you have a system in place, or dedicated tooling that stays in the machine, I think the benefits can be well worth the hassle.
But the interesting thing is that going faster does not affect cycle times much, or I should say it didn't in some tests I did. We have a job that goes on the 15,000rpm machine and one time I punched the over-rides up to the maximum; I did have balanced tools.
It made a hell of a lot more noise, the finish was markedly shinier, and it took only a few seconds off a roughing sequence that takes about 2 minutes. I find multi-part fixturing a much better way to improve part cycle times because it divides tool change times over many parts; couple this with a side mount changer and it is seems better than running the spindle faster on our stuff. The noise was also a factor; it was noisy enough to be painful. Although I should mention I have two VF2s facing each other in a 'cell' and both were running. Simple earplugs where not adequate and wearing big ear protectors all day long is a pain and I don't want to impose that on my guys.
But when I have visitors in the shop and that job is running I will punch the over-rides just to see them wince.