BRIAN.T
Cast Iron
- Joined
- Jul 23, 2018
- Location
- Los Angeles
I'm kicking around a few ideas on how to speed up setup times for my mills. My shop is your typical job shop, we might do 4 setups a day between the mills. We've got 6 mills ide like to streamline.
My 5 axis has a full Lang setup, and 60 tools preloaded, I've got it dialed in really well to the point where switching jobs might take me 10 minutes. Ide like to apply similar methodology to my 3 axis jobs.
First idea is to have a large selection of tools preset for each mill, so all my setup guys have to do is load specific tools and go. The problem is, I would need at least 60 tools/holder per machine, perhaps 100k investment. Some reprogramming needed
Another similar idea is to change the method of tool touch off. I'm thinking of having everyone touch off tools to the table (or some standardized point) then offsetting the work coordinate Z accordingly. This would at least keep everyone on the same page, no more of the excuse "I didn't know where z was" This idea isn't dissimilar from using a tool setter, however I don't fully trust my guys with tool setters. No reprogramming needed.
The last idea would be to implement a Lang type setup in all my mills, the problem here is the cost of investment (not an issue if it's foolproof). The other issue, and I see this as a huge issue, is the lack of flexibility, in a job shop you never know what you may have to do. I'm moving vises all the time, taking 4th axis off tables, taking windows and doors off machines, getting locked in to 3 different setup positions may prove fatal for us. Potentially tons of reprogramming.
Please let me know what you think of any of these ideas, and let me know of any other tips you might have. Thanks
My 5 axis has a full Lang setup, and 60 tools preloaded, I've got it dialed in really well to the point where switching jobs might take me 10 minutes. Ide like to apply similar methodology to my 3 axis jobs.
First idea is to have a large selection of tools preset for each mill, so all my setup guys have to do is load specific tools and go. The problem is, I would need at least 60 tools/holder per machine, perhaps 100k investment. Some reprogramming needed
Another similar idea is to change the method of tool touch off. I'm thinking of having everyone touch off tools to the table (or some standardized point) then offsetting the work coordinate Z accordingly. This would at least keep everyone on the same page, no more of the excuse "I didn't know where z was" This idea isn't dissimilar from using a tool setter, however I don't fully trust my guys with tool setters. No reprogramming needed.
The last idea would be to implement a Lang type setup in all my mills, the problem here is the cost of investment (not an issue if it's foolproof). The other issue, and I see this as a huge issue, is the lack of flexibility, in a job shop you never know what you may have to do. I'm moving vises all the time, taking 4th axis off tables, taking windows and doors off machines, getting locked in to 3 different setup positions may prove fatal for us. Potentially tons of reprogramming.
Please let me know what you think of any of these ideas, and let me know of any other tips you might have. Thanks