We are looking at a getting a new 5 axis mill. Currently we cut 95% 6061, but we plan to start making some of these parts out of steel once we get the new machine.
We have quite a bit of experience with 5 axis machines. We had a UMC750 for a couple years, we sold replaced with a Doosan DVF5000 that is served with a robot and runs production parts for us. We currently have a UMC 1000 that we have been doing mostly prototyping and odd jobs on, but it isn't accurate and rigid enough to use as a production machine for our new product line.
Speaking of which, the main parts driving this purchase are one piece that is basically a rectangle 23 x 18 x 2 inches. Nothing critical/tight tolerance wise, but it does have 5 axis features. The other is a square, 20 x 20 x 4 inches with a couple of faces that need to be flat and parallel within a 0.001 over the 20 inches and a large bore that needs to be positionally and dimensionally within 0.0005. This second part will be made out of steel eventually on the new machine.
The machine needs to be able to be equipped with an automation system, preferably a pallet cell. We intend to run lights out with it like we currently are with the Doosan.
The machine needs to be able to handle tools at least 14 inches long in the tool changer.
Our pad is currently only 5-6 inches thick. We are going to rip it out in put in a proper foundation under whatever tool we get.
Machines we are looking at
The DMG and Okuma are pretty close in price (about$700-800k for the machine and pushing $1M with the automation). The Maatsura is a bit more ($1.2 ish total with automation)
DMG Monoblock 85 or 95 equipped with PH cell
- Haven't decided between the Siemens or the Heidenhein control. I think we could learn either one and don't have a strong preference after seeing both in person.
- The machine looks awesome and it is impressive how small the footprint is
- The travels are bigger than we need, but we had to go up to this size from the 65 in order to get the tool length we need
- I am only aware of one shop in our area that has any DMG machines and they are lathes. Another shop had a mill, had a terrible service and support experience and got rid of it.
- We are also considering the 65H, but it actually costs more than the vertical 85/95 machines
Okuma MU6300 with Fastems Pallet system
- The machine looks like a beast. Everything on it is massive.
- The footprint of this machine is a lot bigger than the DMG especially withe the Fastems pallet system which ends up sitting behind the machine making not jut wide but also deep. It would be a really tight squeeze to get it into our current shop space, and it would block in the machines behind it.
- The control is a bit different, but not really in a bad way from what I have seen
- Three shops in our area that I am aware of have Okuma mills, and all have had a very good experience with them, two of them have smaller 5 axis machines.
Maatsura MAM72 with PC18
- Similar to the Okuma, beastly machine
- I like the operator access a lot more than the Okuma
- The machine and pallet system are aligned so it is longer than, but not as deep as the Okuma arrangement
- Honestly don't know as much about this machine as the others. Saw it at IMTS and decided to quote it out.
- It has a Fanuc 31i control which is the same on as the control on the DVF5000 we have. However we hate that controller and we really want something other than Fanuc our next tool. Engraving is next to impossible on our Doosan and doing anything takes 10+ button pushes.
Any thoughts on these machines? Any others I should look at?
As far as service and support goes, should I have any concerns about that? I am located in Montana in case that helps.
We have quite a bit of experience with 5 axis machines. We had a UMC750 for a couple years, we sold replaced with a Doosan DVF5000 that is served with a robot and runs production parts for us. We currently have a UMC 1000 that we have been doing mostly prototyping and odd jobs on, but it isn't accurate and rigid enough to use as a production machine for our new product line.
Speaking of which, the main parts driving this purchase are one piece that is basically a rectangle 23 x 18 x 2 inches. Nothing critical/tight tolerance wise, but it does have 5 axis features. The other is a square, 20 x 20 x 4 inches with a couple of faces that need to be flat and parallel within a 0.001 over the 20 inches and a large bore that needs to be positionally and dimensionally within 0.0005. This second part will be made out of steel eventually on the new machine.
The machine needs to be able to be equipped with an automation system, preferably a pallet cell. We intend to run lights out with it like we currently are with the Doosan.
The machine needs to be able to handle tools at least 14 inches long in the tool changer.
Our pad is currently only 5-6 inches thick. We are going to rip it out in put in a proper foundation under whatever tool we get.
Machines we are looking at
The DMG and Okuma are pretty close in price (about$700-800k for the machine and pushing $1M with the automation). The Maatsura is a bit more ($1.2 ish total with automation)
DMG Monoblock 85 or 95 equipped with PH cell
- Haven't decided between the Siemens or the Heidenhein control. I think we could learn either one and don't have a strong preference after seeing both in person.
- The machine looks awesome and it is impressive how small the footprint is
- The travels are bigger than we need, but we had to go up to this size from the 65 in order to get the tool length we need
- I am only aware of one shop in our area that has any DMG machines and they are lathes. Another shop had a mill, had a terrible service and support experience and got rid of it.
- We are also considering the 65H, but it actually costs more than the vertical 85/95 machines
Okuma MU6300 with Fastems Pallet system
- The machine looks like a beast. Everything on it is massive.
- The footprint of this machine is a lot bigger than the DMG especially withe the Fastems pallet system which ends up sitting behind the machine making not jut wide but also deep. It would be a really tight squeeze to get it into our current shop space, and it would block in the machines behind it.
- The control is a bit different, but not really in a bad way from what I have seen
- Three shops in our area that I am aware of have Okuma mills, and all have had a very good experience with them, two of them have smaller 5 axis machines.
Maatsura MAM72 with PC18
- Similar to the Okuma, beastly machine
- I like the operator access a lot more than the Okuma
- The machine and pallet system are aligned so it is longer than, but not as deep as the Okuma arrangement
- Honestly don't know as much about this machine as the others. Saw it at IMTS and decided to quote it out.
- It has a Fanuc 31i control which is the same on as the control on the DVF5000 we have. However we hate that controller and we really want something other than Fanuc our next tool. Engraving is next to impossible on our Doosan and doing anything takes 10+ button pushes.
Any thoughts on these machines? Any others I should look at?
As far as service and support goes, should I have any concerns about that? I am located in Montana in case that helps.