Swiss machine in residential garage?

[FundaFast]

All - I am thinking about putting a swiss machine (16mm max) in my garage (which is in a residential neighborhood) to run production on a very simple part. My main concern is noise. Does anyone have a good idea of the noise (dB) generated by this size machine? I have been in front of several swiss machines, but never in "isolation", so I can't reasonably say how much noise a single machine would actually make. Thanks in advance.

[danrudolph]

If your machine uses compressed air, as most do, your max noise level will be Swiss+Air Compressor. The piston-type compressor coming on and off is more annoying than anything, we have a rotary screw compressor that had some of the lowest noise ratings we could find. We planned to have it in the same building as our machines, but quickly moved it out due to the noise and cycling.

It's all about your process too, we have a job that uses max spindle speed and air lines to control chips. That can be heard across the street easily. Then we have a job that uses about live tools with the spindle stopped for most of the cycle and is nearly silent.

I would not want to be in a garage in a suburban development, but if you have some room between your (friendly) neighbors, you'd probably be fine.

[tea hole]

I can say it depends.
What RPM will these simple parts be running? Do you plan on using a high pressure coolant pump?
It is my opinion that a swiss machine in a residential garage in a residential area may be too loud for the neighbors. I have been next to some running parts at low RPM with no high pressure coolant and well adjusted bar guides that didn't make much noise at all.

[ProProcess]

Noise aside, I would be more concerned about...

• Local Zoning
• Your Home Owner's Insurance policy
• Liability of the endproduct

It's always seems feasible to run a simple job at home, but the reality is just too much of a stretch.

Good luck!

[FundaFast]

Proprocess - thank you for the response. I've got the local zoning sewn up, though my permit is contingent on noise. That is why I am sweating that aspect in particular. It wasn't easy either...

Home-owners and liability of end product is good to go too. Having said that, I will be restricted on expansion based on product liability.

This is mostly a "see if I can" experiment, that will return only a small profit... I ain't quitin' my day job.

Thanks again, any additional insight is always appreciated.

[FundaFast]

Tea Hole - Good points. I'll be running the same part out of several different materials (aluminum, 416) so RPM will vary. I suspect max rpm will be 6000. High pressure coolant is not necessary. I'll also be running only one stock size, so hopefully bar guides can be pretty dialed in.

Under these circumstances, what are your thoughts? Obviously, my desire to make this happen might be jading a realistic perspective.

[FundaFast]

Danrudolph,

Thanks for the reply. The machine will require compressed air, and this has been a huge concern of mine. I am looking at the small rotary screw compressors (3-5hp) that come with sound enclosures. They are "rated" to 68dB max, though I do not know how often they will cycle since the tanks are small (60gal). They are also expensive, but if it is too loud, there is no point since my local zoning won't allow disturbing noises (for good reason!). What size was your rotary screw compressor? Do you know the dB rating? It concerns me that you had to move it outside.

For process, it is a very simple part (OD turn, live tool flats, thread, ID broach, OD turn on pick-off). However, I suspect I'll need some air to keep chips off the pick-off.

Furthermore, If I go through with this, I will be buying a used machine (1993-1995) for cost reasons. I know it'll be louder than a new machine... not sure by how much. Any insights?

I am positioned in an older subdivision, with larger lots (0.5 acre). I am on a corner, with my only adjacent neighbor on the opposite side of the lot from my garage. Having said that, my garage is attached to my house, so excessive noise would annoy me, my kids, and my wife (in opposite order).

[ProProcess]

... so excessive noise would annoy me, my kids, and my wife (in opposite order).

Now that's FUNNY!!!

This is by no means an endorsement but a quick Google search found this

[Brian-Gilliam]

Most machines are going to have a fair amount of hum from drive and servo motors. I would be most concerned with high frequency loud noise from the air blow on the pick-off and eject cycle. If this is something that you're serious about I would look into sound dampening substrates to hang in said garage. Do it yourself home recording studios are big business these days and soundproofing materials are readily available online, or depending where you live, in pro audio shops.

Just my $.02

[gizmo_454]

My first thought would not be about noise, but power requirements. Our 1993 Citizen E32 (1-1/4" cap) runs a 70 amp breaker on 208/230V 3 phase. Granted, a smaller machine will take less, but I don't know how well that will run, if at all, on a phase converter. And being in a residential area, I highly doubt the power company will drop 3 phase power at your house. That being said, and assuming you get that worked out...

Our E32 is fairly quiet, when compared to our Haas SL-10 lathe. The lathe has a warning on the side that "Noise can exceed 70 db". The swiss, does not make any note about it, probably because it was out before the really big push for warning labels.

At 30' x 120', with an 8' ceiling, our shop is not much more than a huge, glorified, garage. The E32 is located about 7' from the nearest garage door. Outside, with the door closed, you have to listen closely to hear it. Granted, being a larger machine, I do tend to keep the RPM down. I don't think I have run it over 4000 RPM yet and it is a 6000 RPM spindle. The air blow for the sub can be loud, but we have a small valve attached to the line for it. That way I can adjust it for what we need, not just all out all the time.

As far as air is concerned, I think it will depend on the machine you buy as to how much air compressor you will need. Other than the air blow in the sub, the only thing that takes air on our E32 are the barfeed when loading a new bar, and the hand air hose for blowing parts off. You should easily be able to get away with a small 3-5 hp compressor from Home Depot or the like to run that one machine. Even then, the compressor will be considerably louder than the swiss.

I hope this helps some.

Mike

[underthetire]

another concern is, a lot of Swiss machines from that era require cutting oil, not coolant. I wouldn't want 40 gallons of hot oil circulating around in my garage, especially if im not there.

[mactec54]

FundaFast

You won't have a problem it sounds like you are already on top of it, I know a guy that has 5 swiss type machines in his garage with no problems

The bar feeder may at times make the most noise, if this does put a PVC tube inside it to quieten it down

Get a Phase Perfect for your 3Phase power & you will be running