Buy new or old machine? Brother TC-22A ?

[laurent12100]

Hello​

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I have a Mazak AJV18 with 4th axes​

I would buy a second center, right now I don't really have money for new machine but I'm affraid for a new issue on the mazak, I just changed spindle so expensive...​

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I'm very limited in space, I can only have 1500mmx2500mm​

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I look affordable machine like Syil X5-X7 on the other side I interested by Brother but it more expensive and can't buy it right now..​

Or maybe buy an old robodrill ? hard question

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I find a Brother TC-22A​

12.000 [tr/min]​

27 tools

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but I don't know if it's good release ?​

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thanks for any advices​

 

[LOTT]

Could we get some more info? Like:

What year and how many hours are on the machine? How's the condition? How much are they asking?

What parts (size, material, and quantity) do you make? Any 3D surfacing?

 

[laurent12100]

Could we get some more info? Like:

What year and how many hours are on the machine? How's the condition? How much are they asking?

What parts (size, material, and quantity) do you make? Any 3D surfacing?

Brother TC-22A - years 2001 -- less 10 000€
I will ask more information

I made small parts - 30mm to 100mm steel and alloy
non 3d surfacing for now

 

[BROTHERFRANK]

The TC-22A was top of the line when it came out in 1998. They were excellent machines but it is hard to say how it was run and maintained for the last 22 years. They were usually run hard and not maintained very well with a few exceptions here and there. The tool changer is twin arm style with side mount magazine. More complex than the standard type drum style. Are you good at troubleshooting and repairs? What is parts and service availability like in your area? Once you've got all of the service issues (likely) sorted it could be a nice machine for you.

 

[laurent12100]

I try to repare everything,
I can have parts and support not so far

 

[laurent12100]

TC-22A use RS232 for send program ?
I think parameters are save with battery like other machine ?

 

[laurent12100]

 

[laurent12100]

I find another TC-22 A - 15 000€ with spindle rebuilt


The seller says me, "Brother is special to use it" (what does he meen ?) "All brand have same logic but brother is nice but differente"

someone can explane more about this ?

how learn fast, if I buy it ?


one day a salesman offered me a very old brother, apparently it could only be used conversational? is that possible?

I would use Fusion with this TC-22 A
Can I program in Gcode with this machine ?

thanks

 

[BROTHERFRANK]

Brother control is different but very simple. Many of my clients prefer it over other popular controls. You can learn the basics in a few hours. Load tools and programs, set work and tool offsets, run.... The 22A can be run in G code mode or conversational mode. A00 control. I would not want anything earlier. A00 came out around 1998. Fusion can be used to program 22A in G code mode only. Limited memory so no 'adaptive' tool paths for roughing. Programs get too large for the limited memory. I avoid the conversational like the plague... Can your local Brother support answer these questions for you?

 

[Vancbiker]

The Brothers I did service work on in the mid to late 80s were proprietary conversational programming only. Very limited on motion capability for anything other than facing cuts or the simplest of linear shapes.

 

[laurent12100]

between :
- tc-22a new spindle and 26tools
- tc-s2a ,
who is better ? tc-22 for me

 

[laurent12100]

Hello
someone now if it's possible to add A Z-nano on Tc-22A ? @BROTHERFRANK

thanks

 

[BROTHERFRANK]

Hello
someone now if it's possible to add A Z-nano on Tc-22A ? @BROTHERFRANK

thanks

Yes. We installed on those. Blum can quote I think. Use Brother Auto tool setting function. Have to turn on Soft Switch 1, bit 1 or 2 from right as I recall. Then Auto Measure function appears at bottom of MDI screen.