Hi Everyone,
I work for a small mold shop that has been busier than ever for the last 6 months, and it looks like this next year is on track to be even crazier.
We're looking at picking up a couple new machines to support the increased workload, and to also improve our efficiency. Like many shops we've been finding it hard to find skilled help as we grow and we're hoping we can make up some of the difference with automation and new technology. Will be making another thread in the near future regarding our search for a 20x40 class VMC (or?) for mold base machining.
Our current electrode machine is a Mikron HSM500 high speed CNC, it has an HSK40 spindle w/ 40k rpm and holds 36 tools. This machine shares duties between cutting copper electrodes to keep our sink edm machines running, and hard/soft milling of core and cavity inserts along with any other mold parts that come along.
We are happy with the performance of this current machine, just need to increase capacity and would like to find a machine to dedicate to cutting electrodes only. This would free up the HSM500 for more hard milling jobs and other work and also offer other advantages like not having to share tools between copper and steel cutting etc.
We would also like something that can be used with a pallet changer or possibly some type of robotic parts changer. It looks like most of the dedicated electrdoe machines are meant to be used this way, since they have smaller table sizes I don't see how else you could keep them running overnight unless you have really long running electrodes?
We aren't using any real automation in the toolroom right now, but we like the idea of adding a CMM for checking electrodes and connecting with our sink EDM in a "cell" type of arrangement. I will admit that's probably a little ambitious but we would at least like the option of growing into this type of setup in the future.
I sent off an email this morning to our Mikron guy, I see they have an "HSM200" machine which looks like it could fit the bill. Small table, automation friendly, 50k rpm. Sounds great, but would still like to explore what else is available.
Some other names we are looking into:
Roeders - Comes highly recommended by someone here. Have them coming by soon
Makino - Also have a salesman coming by to talk with us
Okuma - do they have anything small enough?
??????
There's so many different machines out there, wondering if there's any other manufacturer we should be looking at, or any other advice? Thanks in advance!
I work for a small mold shop that has been busier than ever for the last 6 months, and it looks like this next year is on track to be even crazier.
We're looking at picking up a couple new machines to support the increased workload, and to also improve our efficiency. Like many shops we've been finding it hard to find skilled help as we grow and we're hoping we can make up some of the difference with automation and new technology. Will be making another thread in the near future regarding our search for a 20x40 class VMC (or?) for mold base machining.
Our current electrode machine is a Mikron HSM500 high speed CNC, it has an HSK40 spindle w/ 40k rpm and holds 36 tools. This machine shares duties between cutting copper electrodes to keep our sink edm machines running, and hard/soft milling of core and cavity inserts along with any other mold parts that come along.
We are happy with the performance of this current machine, just need to increase capacity and would like to find a machine to dedicate to cutting electrodes only. This would free up the HSM500 for more hard milling jobs and other work and also offer other advantages like not having to share tools between copper and steel cutting etc.
We would also like something that can be used with a pallet changer or possibly some type of robotic parts changer. It looks like most of the dedicated electrdoe machines are meant to be used this way, since they have smaller table sizes I don't see how else you could keep them running overnight unless you have really long running electrodes?
We aren't using any real automation in the toolroom right now, but we like the idea of adding a CMM for checking electrodes and connecting with our sink EDM in a "cell" type of arrangement. I will admit that's probably a little ambitious but we would at least like the option of growing into this type of setup in the future.
I sent off an email this morning to our Mikron guy, I see they have an "HSM200" machine which looks like it could fit the bill. Small table, automation friendly, 50k rpm. Sounds great, but would still like to explore what else is available.
Some other names we are looking into:
Roeders - Comes highly recommended by someone here. Have them coming by soon
Makino - Also have a salesman coming by to talk with us
Okuma - do they have anything small enough?
??????
There's so many different machines out there, wondering if there's any other manufacturer we should be looking at, or any other advice? Thanks in advance!