What would you consider low hours on a VMC?

[bellinoracing]

Well I looked at a 1996 lagunamatic 3516 machine yesterday and it has over 9,000 hours on it. I Would you call that a lot, average, or low hours because I have no idea? Also the hour meter only went out 4 digits so i guess it could have had 19,000, 29,000, or who knows. Does the hours add up whenever the machine is on or just when the spindle is turning?

Thanks

 

[5 axis Fidia guy]

We fire up our cnc's and leave them on 24/7 so the clock is ticking, I would be more concerned with spindle hours personally. Some machines might not have a seperate meter for that, some of ours do, some don't. Sort of like a high mileage car, I would rather have one with lots of highway miles compared low miles but all city driving, I don't think the hour meter is a good indicator imo.

 

[Mud]

Here's the opposite question - http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/cnc-machining/what-lot-hours-cnc-machine-tool-119459/

 

[Solar71]

8,760 hours = 1 year

So 9,000 hours is about 1 year and 10 days of on time. Thats really nothing for a 14 year old machine. its been on 1 out of every 14 hours... thats less then 2 hours per day...

But if you are talking FEED/CUTTING time, Thats ALOT!!!

 

[SIM]

The wrong guy on the machine for a few minutes could be worse then the right guy after 10,000 hours.

I think you may be able to use as an indication of what may need to be replaced, repaired etc...but only a general idea.


Answer...I don't know, but it would be subjective at best.

 

[Fasto]

My 1989 Hurco

those are servo-on hours so control hours would be greater, and cut hours less, you'd think.
If you buy that machine, I'd check the auto-oiling. If auto oiling isn't working lots of things are going to be worn out no matter how low hours it is.

 

[Laurentian]

Our Bosto 312 1982 : 39391
Backlash very reasonable and still on original screws
Watch the Bijur pump motors, ours stopped for a couple
weeks until I noticed while cleaning one evening
Love that Vactra 2 !