Okuma Lathe opinion

[hydrospin01]

We're looking at picking up a new lathe, nothing too fancy, 3 or 4 inch bar capaicity and maybe even Live tooling capablities depending on what corparate sets my budget at. What does everyone think about Okuma's lathes? any limitations? We have one of there mills works great, Where also looking at a Mori, Mazak and for kicks a HAAS lathes as well.

[WOLOG]

Go for the Mori!!!!! I have a NL-3000Y/1250 and a NL-2500SY/700. The turrets are massive and the control is great. I do not like the Okuma setup at all. Mazak? Linear ways and not a Mori!

[WOLOG]

Oh yeah, I have a Haas SL-30BB. It is a good machine but not nearly as rigid as any of the others. The turrets are too small in my opinion.

[muddobber76]

The OKUMA machines are up there in the top of the line catagory in pretty much every aspect. This is also reflected in the price. It is a high quality machine that will outlive most most others in the top brand group. If you buy used make sure you are aware of ANY issues, for Okuma parts and service can be astronomical.
Hass is a disposable machine, good overall value but 4-6 years is about the life span.
Mori is still a great platform and compares well to Okuma. I have current and past experience with all these machines on all levels, operating,programing,purchasing,servicing,etc, and the bottom line is like everything else in our economy.. You Get What Ya Pay For..

[Edster]

WOLOG, what don't you like about the Okuma's setup?

Did you check out the ST-30 at IMTS? I remember when you were looking for new lathes you were interested in Haas, but they couldn't get you any info.

How are the NL's working out for you?

[WOLOG]

Edster,

I am not a VDI fan and it seems like the Okuma turrets are VDI. I use a lot of long boring bars and the Mori's have tons of rear clearance behind the turret. As I hear it, the Okumas are made all over the place. not so much in Japan anymore.

As far as Haas and the ST-30, I am not so interested any more. Since there was a machine at Westec and IMTS and a production machine is still not ready says a lot. I have 3 good Haas machines but they are not Moris!

The NL's are awesome. I will post some pics Monday when I get back to the shop. I probably should put that in the Mori section so I don't offend the Okuma folks.

[Edster]

Yes the okuma turrets are vdi. I think the mori has a better design for the turret especially with the motor in the turret. I think these machines are very close and it's a give an take kind of thing. The mori has a better turret, but the okuma has box ways on the subspindle. The mori is built in japan, but has a control that is basically a fanuc. Some okumas are built in japan and some are built all over the place, but they all have okuma built controls and servos, and the p200 controls with windows xp are great. I think they are both excellent machines and for the most part these differences are like splitting hairs.

I saw the ST-30 at Imts and wasn't too impressed. By then I had my okuma so that might have been it

[hydrospin01]

Cool, I thank you all for your help, the only lathes i have much experience with has been a couple of old colchesters one with an O-T control the other with oine of the first 21-iT controls. So far i got my quotes from everyone except Mori. Surprisingly Mazaks price is right there with haas. Other people have told me Mazaks are good machines but ther design changes so often that parts eventually become hard to find. Okuma's price is up there but like muddobber said you get what youi pay for. I cant wait to see mori's quote.

[Edster]

I've got some pics and 2 vids of our new okuma in this thread if your interested. http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=63680

[phx]

hi,

the 2axis Okumas you can have in 3 kind of turrets, direct, vdi and bt(radial)

i work with all kind of this, and i most like the VDI, (getting the first part is fastes way)

@hydrospin if you have the change diverent tools often a day, like me to make single parts there is no better speed like the vdi.
(my opinion) and the collision free space is better the the direct system.

i make a lot more diverent parts dayli with the okumas as on the fanuc controled lathes.
But what is the best for you, only YOU know your Parts and daily Work.

regards.

[rlabonte18]

We have several makes of lathes, Okuma , Hardinge , Miyano, and Haas, I am also familiar with mori and mazak. I would not recommend a haas lathe. Other than that they all have there good and bad points. I think it is best to choose one that has reputable local service company and buy what they service. We have had some problems with the newer machines and with warranty a local service company that can be there same day is priceless. Personally I prefer our box way Miyano overall.

[taproot]

I've used several Haas lathes and mazaks. Used Okumas working for an aftermarket wheel mfg - big, 18" chucks. For the price, a mazak seems to be a haas that you pay a lot more for with worse service. I don't know about their older machines, but all their new equipment was far from impressive - the NEXUS/FUSION controls are the worst on any machine I've used.

The OKUMA lathes were ROCK SOLID. Never had a single mechanical or control problem. They never were down, so I don't know about their service.

I guess it depends what your budget is.