Best Auto Feed Drilling Machine

[Clive603]

Can't see a CNC of any description being viable from a return on investment and time saved basis unless it has plently of other work to keep it going after it's knocked out a months current production ina couple or four days.

Job seems tailor made for an updated something out of the bigger range of multi-head drill presses. Basically arrange an automatic positioning system on the table with a simple pallet type work holder carrying a suitable number of workpieces. With a two head system an annular cutter in the first drill and a long "stepped serial" style tap in the other. Tap would be a special tho'. With more heads you could reduce the load using ordinary serial ones.

Fill the pallet, put it on the table and let the machine do the positioning and drill / tap down feeds. When one pallet is done swop pallets and re-load the first one.

Basically simple end of Lego robotics control really. I'm sure suitable multi-head drill presses can stiil be found at affordable prices. Given how common it is for even small shops to need several holes drilled / tapped in "lots" of the same part I'm very surprised that such things aren't around commercially at small shop sensible prices. Whether all new or conversion kit for the old style multi head drilling machine.

 

[Garwood]

You guys suggesting a manual machine with an operator must not run a business or live in 2022.

Have you guys hired a machinist lately? $40/hr to load one part at a time and crank handles is dumber than dumb.

$10k will easily buy a good used vmc to run batches of parts.

Turret lathe- lmao!

 

[604Pook]

I beat out " modern " factories and machine shop prices frequently with manual machines. Even on parts runs in the hundreds. It's not the machine, it's tooling, labor, machine maintenance, etc... Some parts are still faster on a Carlton or turret lathe. I doubt any cnc can thread as fast as a Geometric head! ( I know mine can't)

One of the most well off guys I knew (he passed away) beat the price on competition Chinese made parts, pre covid supply issues, on old machines, using very simple not complicated automation using mainly air cylinders and limit switches. No PLC's, no controllers. They weren't pretty setups, but they did the job and they did it consistently.

I try and remind myself this, you don't always need the newest fanciest gadget to get a job done. Sometimes some elbow grease and keeping things simple is the best way.

 

[hvnlymachining]

I doubt the manual vs cnc debate will die before even the youngest member here. Both have their benefits. But both have down sides as well. Cost being a HUGE factor as manual machines tend to lend themselves better to the needs of the small job shop with far less maintenance cost than it's cnc counterpart. However CNC machines are better at keeping messes contained, operating long production runs faster ( sometimes, depends on the part) and completing complex parts much faster than manual machines. Just as you need a good machinist for a manual machine, you also need a good programmer to make a CNC work.

 

[Garwood]

I doubt the manual vs cnc debate will die before even the youngest member here. Both have their benefits. But both have down sides as well. Cost being a HUGE factor as manual machines tend to lend themselves better to the needs of the small job shop with far less maintenance cost than it's cnc counterpart. However CNC machines are better at keeping messes contained, operating long production runs faster ( sometimes, depends on the part) and completing complex parts much faster than manual machines. Just as you need a good machinist for a manual machine, you also need a good programmer to make a CNC work.

I could hire ten good CNC programming and setup guys for $40/hr this week.

I might be able to find a good manual guy in a few months of searching and he'll probably want $60+/hr

A used CNC is way cheaper than paying high wages.

 

[johfoster]

you also need a good programmer to make a CNC work.

If you are just making the variations of this one part, couldn't you have someone help get you up and running in a day or two? No need to hire a fulltime programmer with a high salary, whoever is doing these one at a time could surely swap parts I would suspect.

 

[Vecair]

I think Overland is correct Pmoore. I see your company makes several products that could be made on a modern CNC which might make them more competitive. All your saddle clamps of differing sizes could be fixtured and run on CNC quickly and efficiently. You might want to contact a machinery company in your area that could recommend, sell and set up such an operation. They usually have used machinery that could fit the bill. Like Overland said you don't want to be stuck in the past with old manual machinery. Good luck South Carolina! Cheers from a Tarheel.

 

[604Pook]

Or how about shopping this job around? Send them out to get done. May be the cheapest option going. I have a few parts I can't be bothered to bring inhouse, just because someone else can do it faster and cheaper with their employees, while I do more profitable for my machines work.