Who is going to IMTS and what are you planning on seeing?

[makinoman]

Title says it all. This is my first year attending the show, and I was curious as to what my fellow community members are planning to see. What do you guys find to be the most important to check out at the show?

[Kool Parts]

Man this section is Dead
Doesn't sound like you are a shop owner, so doing your homework on new machines wont be a top priority. In fact if a guy isn't a owner or going on behalf of the owner I don't know why anyone would go....unless you lived right there. Its a big mess going a hundred miles an hour Man I love it..
Gary

[makinoman]

Well I work as an engineer at my job so while yes I am not an owner, they send us to the show every year. I was supposed to go in 2006 but declined. And while we dont exactly buy the machines ourselves, we do influence the decision making. I myself plan on looking at the various machines they have this year, but will be spending the majority of my time in the software section looking for things that may help streamline things on the shop floor more.

edit: I was more or less just curious as to what others are focusing on. There may be somethings that I havent thought about checking out.

[Kool Parts]

Biggest new trend that I have seen, and that I have my eye on is the turn mill. If you have a part that fits they can shave a ton of mins off. I have one that I just cant make enough of that will fit perfect. A time study shows I can take 1 hour 25 min off
I need to hit the software section heavy myself. That pavilion is open a hour earlier that the rest of the show so that works for me. Otherwise I would have probably waited until the end of the week when I am worn down to a nub
Gary

[the thrill]

Kool Parts, my company has sold mill/turn centers to customers that run them 24/7 with zero problems and also to customers that eliminated 16 operations from a single part (which paid the machine off in 9 months at $800,000). If you're looking for a good quality mill/turn with little to no problems and don't mind sticker shock, look into the Mori Seiki NT.