America machine builder behind on purpose?

[CNCRim]

I just wondering what take America machine builder to so long to catch up with their counter part like Japanese and Germany even Korean? For example, the multiaxis lathe with Y-axis/5-axis, Mazak and Moki offered those futures 10 years and now Haas, Fadal(few name) just come out just with Y axis version..... Why? are we try keep think simple and economic or we don't have that capability. I double it 'cause we can go to the moon.

[RICHARD ZASTROW]

A little history here. Kearney & Trecker built a barfeeding combination CNC Lathe/ HMC in the 1980's. Called it "Partsmaker" So did Sundstrand about the same time.

There were many machines built in the USA that were too far ahead of their time.

There was a Gerber display at the NMTBA show, 1978 I think, where a probe followed a mans head and reproduced a bust in the next booth in real time. I know it can be done now, but that was 32 years ago.

And when did the Japanese or Chinese land their man on the moon and return them to earth?

Don't get me wrong, both the Japanese and Chinese as well as others are very capable of doing some original and advanced things. I just feel we aren't giving due credit to the originators.

Ask your self this, What have I done to advance the art?

Like my boss used to say, "I don't need problem identifiers, I need problem solvers."

Dick Z

ps: Both kearney & Trecker and Sundstrand are out of business; gone. Why? Could it be that those who question their demise buy cheap machines from countries whose governments subsidized their machine builders? And continue to do so?

[MILLMARK]

Hey Richard Z, I love your bosses line! Mind if I adopt it?

[GITERDUN]

Originally Posted by CNCRim I just wondering what take America machine builder to so long to catch up with their counter part like Japanese and Germany even Korean? For example, the multiaxis lathe with Y-axis/5-axis, Mazak and Moki offered those futures 10 years and now Haas, Fadal(few name) just come out just with Y axis version..... Why? are we try keep think simple and economic or we don't have that capability. I double it 'cause we can go to the moon.

Gee- maybe it's because people in the industry have the English skills of a 3rd grader.

[RICHARD ZASTROW]

GITIRDUN, There seems to be a lot of that going around. LOL

Seems nobody found that spell checker icon up there. We need a grammar checker as well.

Could basic education (or lack thereof) be part of the problem?

Dick Z

ps: MILLMARK, go for it. As I mentioned, I wasn't the author. LOL

[Eurisko]

Originally Posted by GITERDUN Gee- maybe it's because people in the industry have the English skills of a 3rd grader.

CNCRim asked a valid question. And your criticism of the way the question was posted contributes nothing to the forum.

Did it occur to you that English may not be his native language?

[GITERDUN]

Originally Posted by Eurisko CNCRim asked a valid question. And your criticism of the way the question was posted contributes nothing to the forum. Did it occur to you that English may not be his native language?

Why? are we try keep think simple and economic or we don't have that capability. I double it 'cause we can go to the moon.

If English isn't his native language, then who is this "WE" he's talking about?

[Geof]

Considering that Japanese machine builders probably don't speak or write fluent English I doubt that is a prerequisite for building advanced machines.

[Al_The_Man]

Originally Posted by Geof Considering that Japanese machine builders probably don't speak or write fluent English I doubt that is a prerequisite for building advanced machines.

Anyone who has tried to decifer the first Fanuc manuals will attest to that, which were basically transliterated rather than translated.
Al.

[Eurisko]

Originally Posted by GITERDUN If English isn't his native language, then who is this "WE" he's talking about?

There's a process called immigration. Many red, white and blue Americans weren't born here. They came from other countries. Just as your ancestors probably did.

[skullworks]

The OP missed the fact that just because the product was not in the current product line does not mean that we can't produce it.

A manufacture is in the business of making products that will sell for profit. If the line offered is making a higher margin than certain other machine configurations which are less in demand and have a lower profit margin then the manufacturer is actually operating by sound business principles.

U.S. Business tend to target the mass markets and aim for high volume rather than niche markets.

Haas did not grow to its current size counting on 5 axis machines. It was the basic VF0 - VF2 that fueled growth.

Volkswagon sold bugs with very minor changes though the years because the market would buy all they made just as is. Sure they added other models, but the bus and bug was where the real production numbers were.

Never confuse the fact that what a business chooses to offer often has nothing to do with there ability to offer an item.

[christinandavid]

Originally Posted by RICHARD ZASTROW Like my boss used to say, "I don't need problem identifiers, I need problem solvers."

Of course, if the guys running the place can't identify the problem themselves or are in denial that the problem even exists...then offering suggestions to solve said problem tends to result in this...

DP

Now, if the solution costs nothing in terms of time/money/radical way of thinking, it is more likely to be embraced. But does such a solution exist?