I'm looking at setting up two large volume production turning centers to turn aluminum parts and have been working with Nakamura (WY-150), More Seiki (NZX1000), Mazak (HQR-150), and Citizen Miyano (BNE51-MSY).
Any thoughts on these machines?
Well, Mori dumped Ellison for sales and support and decided to try it themselves. It's my favorite MTB aside from Toshiba but I wouldn't buy one now half price until they get the support network fixed.
Mazak, Well, It's usually a good piece of iron except as soon as they get e tech trained with a bit of experience they quit and go freelance. So back to support again.
Nak is sold and serviced by Methods and they have a decent name so it would be a consideration. Nak has damn good iron, good engineering, and good manufacturing.
Citizen, I don't know enough about Millennium to make a recommendation.
You left out too much information to get any good advice here and you're listing slant bed lathes and Swiss lathes yet just say large volume aluminum turning.
Are the parts over 1.5" diam? That would rule out the citizen.
Do you already have a specific order for large volume runs or just hoping/expecting?
If so, do you need twin spindles and twin turrets?
What's your budget and what kind or ROI are you expecting?
So many more MTB's out there to be looking at but you need to be specific about what you want your equipment to do.
And I would rethink the whole "This is what our future employees know how to use". Sorry but not going to let that dictate my purchasing strategy.
