M.B. Naegle
Diamond
- Joined
- Feb 7, 2011
- Location
- Conroe, TX USA
We're in the market to replace one of our old VMC's and I'm interested to hear the opinions of some other Houston/Southeast Texas shops regarding what brands, and probably more importantly, what dealers and service centers have done them right.
We are a shop dedicated to our own product line and our work typically falls into small batch production, custom/1-off jobs, and repair work. Its a lot of smaller stuff (not oilfield). We are most familiar with Fanuc control and would like to stick with it.
The machine we are replacing is a 1996 Bridgeport Torq-Cut 22 with DX-32 control, CAT 40 spindle, 12" by 36" table travel (approx.), and very basic amenities.
We are looking for a similar machine in the scope of it's size and capacity, but with better support, Fanuc control, better quality of build, and as many extra's as budget allows. 4th axis and larger capacity is not needed as we already have another larger machine (with a 4th axis) that rarely see's it's full table used. Even from the perspective of filling a bigger table with workstations, we have such a high job turnover that we would still be changing stations out between jobs. We'd rather use our floor space for 2 small mills than one big one. Two things that I could see helpful are chip conveyor's and augers, and part/tool probing. I don't see us utilizing pallet changers that much.
I've been researching every brand of machining center I can find over the last year or so and now I'm trying to find out which one's are supported locally, and which one's will be the best value. I should also add we would like to find a brand/dealer to stick with in future machine upgrades. Hardinge/Bridgeport was our last go-to company for machinery, but our last VMC we bought in 2006 kinda burned us in regards to the overall quality of the machine and how the dealer handled the sale (I think it was Regal, who's gone now anyway). So I want to be sure we find a good company to work with. Our next purchase will likely be a new turning center and I see value to getting into drilling/tapping centers, but not right now.
Used machines are entirely on our mind, but we'd like to stick with nothing older than 10 years and we would still need local support.
Our Budget is $30,000 to $80,000. I think that rules out Mori and Mazak (both local).
The 3 company's we've contacted so far are as follows
Haas
Champion Machine Tool - looking at a VF-2. I have mixed feelings about Haas as I think they are the best machine you can get... in the cheap market. Support seems excellent, with a few horror stories every now and then. The control is of course Haas and not Fanuc, but people seem to like it. I think in terms of quality they would actually be an exact replacement of the Torq-Cut, but you get what you pay for and I would like to get something better if we could....
Doosan
Ellison Tecnologies - looking at a DM400. Everything I've seen about Doosan makes them seem like they are just as good as Mazak or DMG, but they don't seem to have the same reputation either. That said the DM400 would fit our needs (minus the machine being lubed with grease. I hate that) and Ellison seems to have great service.
Amera-Seiki
Amera-Seiki Houston - Seem like a well built machine but can't find much as far as their track record in service or how well built they are (other than what they have told me of course). ??? Who has worked with them?
Who am I missing?
We are a shop dedicated to our own product line and our work typically falls into small batch production, custom/1-off jobs, and repair work. Its a lot of smaller stuff (not oilfield). We are most familiar with Fanuc control and would like to stick with it.
The machine we are replacing is a 1996 Bridgeport Torq-Cut 22 with DX-32 control, CAT 40 spindle, 12" by 36" table travel (approx.), and very basic amenities.
We are looking for a similar machine in the scope of it's size and capacity, but with better support, Fanuc control, better quality of build, and as many extra's as budget allows. 4th axis and larger capacity is not needed as we already have another larger machine (with a 4th axis) that rarely see's it's full table used. Even from the perspective of filling a bigger table with workstations, we have such a high job turnover that we would still be changing stations out between jobs. We'd rather use our floor space for 2 small mills than one big one. Two things that I could see helpful are chip conveyor's and augers, and part/tool probing. I don't see us utilizing pallet changers that much.
I've been researching every brand of machining center I can find over the last year or so and now I'm trying to find out which one's are supported locally, and which one's will be the best value. I should also add we would like to find a brand/dealer to stick with in future machine upgrades. Hardinge/Bridgeport was our last go-to company for machinery, but our last VMC we bought in 2006 kinda burned us in regards to the overall quality of the machine and how the dealer handled the sale (I think it was Regal, who's gone now anyway). So I want to be sure we find a good company to work with. Our next purchase will likely be a new turning center and I see value to getting into drilling/tapping centers, but not right now.
Used machines are entirely on our mind, but we'd like to stick with nothing older than 10 years and we would still need local support.
Our Budget is $30,000 to $80,000. I think that rules out Mori and Mazak (both local).
The 3 company's we've contacted so far are as follows
Haas
Champion Machine Tool - looking at a VF-2. I have mixed feelings about Haas as I think they are the best machine you can get... in the cheap market. Support seems excellent, with a few horror stories every now and then. The control is of course Haas and not Fanuc, but people seem to like it. I think in terms of quality they would actually be an exact replacement of the Torq-Cut, but you get what you pay for and I would like to get something better if we could....
Doosan
Ellison Tecnologies - looking at a DM400. Everything I've seen about Doosan makes them seem like they are just as good as Mazak or DMG, but they don't seem to have the same reputation either. That said the DM400 would fit our needs (minus the machine being lubed with grease. I hate that) and Ellison seems to have great service.
Amera-Seiki
Amera-Seiki Houston - Seem like a well built machine but can't find much as far as their track record in service or how well built they are (other than what they have told me of course). ??? Who has worked with them?
Who am I missing?
