What machining center would you put in a cell?

[REVCAM_Bob]

What machining center would you put in a cell? and why would you choose
it? Does anyone have a cell or a dual or multi pallet changer hooked to a mill?

[NC Cams]

Two words:

Haas - period.

Domestically produced and serviceable. The imported stuff may be cheaper BUT service can get REAL pricey.

Neighbor has 5 (2 lathes and 3 VMC's) and they simply RUN....

[wizard]

One big enough to keep the inmates at bay

OK enough jokes. I'd have to say that that is a very difficult question to answer. I'd first narrow your vendors down to those that can actually supply what you want and go from there.

Dave

[Cncjunkie]

Will it be a set kind of parts or a job shop type setups. Plus what is it that you are go'n to be cutting. We have cells here at work. Niigatas deawoos and etc. also there is machines that you could spend the money and 1 machine do what take 2 or 3 machines to do. Like the mazaks line. plus the price tag isn't 2 bad for a 5 axis machine.

[lgreeves]

Makino would be my choice, if I had the money. Solid, well built, many options, and fast. Makino does multi machine pallet systems. The controls are FANUC based.

[jderou]

It depends on what you are doing. Are you just drilling and tapping? Light milling? Workpiece size? A brother, Kira, or Robodrill will put a Haas to shame if you aren't doing heavy milling. Very high speed and very reliable. The Brothers and Kiras have a rotary front loading pallet changer which changes in about 3 seconds. After months of competition between Brother, Kira, and Fanuc, we just bought 3 more Kiras.

[NC Cams]

Probably the smartest reply to a very vague question:

"...It depends on what you are doing. ..."

Wish I'd have thought of it.

Reminds me of a story when I worked in parts store while going to college.

Guy comes in an asks,

"I need a hone" after he does some small hand motioning. So I go get him a brake hone.

"No, (gesturing bigger) I need a HONE" to which I go back and get him an engine cylinder deglazing hone.

"NO, (gesturing anew) you don't understand!!! I need a HONE, you know BEEP BEEP, a hone...."

To this day I still laugh at that story and I know the ending and it took place nearly 35 years ago.

Moral: you really need to describe what you are going to do if you expect to be given/told EXACTLY what you want.

[l u k e]

Originally Posted by REVCAM_Bob What machining center would you put in a cell? and why would you choose it? Does anyone have a cell or a dual or multi pallet changer hooked to a mill?

I can't help with your question, but what is a "cell"?

[Cncjunkie]

A cell is a work area that makes 1 kinda part from start to finish. or a set of machines of the same type. like to make a rim for a car. I might need a lathe and a mill. The lathe and mill would become the cell. Kinda comes back to lean mfg.

[ajl6549]

yea, mazak fh8800 w/8pallet palletech it,s in a cell that machines, and assembles an hyd. pump drive

[big_mak]

Depends what you are doing.

I'm running an 11 pallet Matsuura. Money in the bank baby. I run R and D during the day, and when I go home its set up to run up to 14 hours unattended. Low rent guy comes in at 5am and changes parts over, and finishes up just as I get in for more R & D.

Are you trying to create cells for product groups? Or to reduce set times for recurring jobs? It's all up to the application. I believe Modern Machine shop has some articles on the subject. www.mmsonline.com

[ajl6549]

Matsuuras are very accurite mc's i ran a vert. about ten years ago smooth, quite and tight. not all that fast but we used it more for it's accuriacy