wheelieking71
Diamond
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2013
- Location
- Gilbert, AZ
Okay, shit is brewing over here. I have some really big decisions to make..............
I think we all know, I run a production job that is a two piece assembly. One of the parts currently gets serviced in a Brother R650.
The other in a haas VF3ss/APC (these are both pallet changing machines).
I am currently doing about 1000 assemblies in 65 hour weeks.
Well, there is a second assembly coming (I have already made a few thousand of them). They are very similar parts to the originals.
But, just different enough that all the work-holding is different (same exact tools though). Current demand is a little lower than the original parts.
But, they are expected to surpass the original by end of next year. Anyways, I need to be making all 4 parts at the same time!
This means I need to bring in at least two more machines. Ideally I would bring in another Brother 650, two Brother 450's, and send the haas on down the road.
If I buy new iron, that is a whole lot of coin for one little fat man! So, if I am considering spending that kind of $$$$?
Maybe it is time I start to seriously consider stepping up to a horizontal. One 400mm horizontal with 4 tombstones could service all 4 parts.
I am sure it would have to run 24/7 to get close to the throughput of a row of Brother pallet-changers (if it could even get close).
But, this brings me to my second problem: man-power. I am having a hard time finding good help. I had a new kid in here that was starting to do pretty good.
But, he lasted two months and bailed to go install solar panels on roof tops in Phoenix in July/August! (it must suck pretty bad working for me! LOL).
I know horizontals rule the production world. And, for good reasons (chip management alone! LOL). But, Brother pallet-changers are fast-fast-fast.
I currently lose about an hour a day to chip management. This will double if I double the machine count. And, I don't think one person is going to have much fun tending to 4 brothers!
I know personally, I would much rather tend to one fast horizontal.
I am kinda stymied here. My gut says "go with the Brothers". My brain says "who the fuck is gonna feed those bastards?!"
I think we all know, I run a production job that is a two piece assembly. One of the parts currently gets serviced in a Brother R650.
The other in a haas VF3ss/APC (these are both pallet changing machines).
I am currently doing about 1000 assemblies in 65 hour weeks.
Well, there is a second assembly coming (I have already made a few thousand of them). They are very similar parts to the originals.
But, just different enough that all the work-holding is different (same exact tools though). Current demand is a little lower than the original parts.
But, they are expected to surpass the original by end of next year. Anyways, I need to be making all 4 parts at the same time!
This means I need to bring in at least two more machines. Ideally I would bring in another Brother 650, two Brother 450's, and send the haas on down the road.
If I buy new iron, that is a whole lot of coin for one little fat man! So, if I am considering spending that kind of $$$$?
Maybe it is time I start to seriously consider stepping up to a horizontal. One 400mm horizontal with 4 tombstones could service all 4 parts.
I am sure it would have to run 24/7 to get close to the throughput of a row of Brother pallet-changers (if it could even get close).
But, this brings me to my second problem: man-power. I am having a hard time finding good help. I had a new kid in here that was starting to do pretty good.
But, he lasted two months and bailed to go install solar panels on roof tops in Phoenix in July/August! (it must suck pretty bad working for me! LOL).
I know horizontals rule the production world. And, for good reasons (chip management alone! LOL). But, Brother pallet-changers are fast-fast-fast.
I currently lose about an hour a day to chip management. This will double if I double the machine count. And, I don't think one person is going to have much fun tending to 4 brothers!
I know personally, I would much rather tend to one fast horizontal.
I am kinda stymied here. My gut says "go with the Brothers". My brain says "who the fuck is gonna feed those bastards?!"