The addition of a new machine can be exciting for a metalworking business. It signals progress and growth while giving the team something new and exciting to work and experiment with. In order to make the most of this investment, however, don’t overlook the tools used in the new machine tool. When someone buys a machine tool, they’re usually thinking about things like speed, axis movement or the speed of the toolchanger. It’s understandable. These upgrades can take seconds or minutes out of cycle time. But in order to take full advantage of its capabilities, the right tooling is needed to unlock a machine’s full capability and satisfy customer needs. Here is some of our best advice for making the most of a new machine tool with the right tooling. Michael Herman 6 TIPS for Tooling Up a New Machine Tool
1. Communicate early with your machine tool salesman We often see the following scenario: a shop wants the size and power of a 50-taper machine, but there isn’t quite the budget for it. So, the shop opts for a 40-taper machine and eventually finds out it doesn’t have the needed horsepower or torque. There’s no going back now, so they try to compensate with tooling and variable-cut milling programs to limit the torque and horsepower requirements. This not only slows things down, but also creates a mismatch of tooling for the machine and/or work. Communication upfront with your machine salesman is key. Make sure they understand your needs regarding capacity and what you’re looking to manufacture, all the way to the one percent of work that could come across the machine that might cause a problem.
2. Consider your spindle Each spindle style comes with unique standards, whether it’s a more conventional CAT or BIG-PLUS, or something a bit more specialized like HSK or Capto. If a facility is already heavy on one type of spindle or another, you’ll want to consider the costs of adding an entirely new type of tooling as opposed to using the equipment and knowledge already on the floor. The higher speeds at which you plan to work, the more you’ll want to consider BIG-PLUS or HSK because of their proven track record. 3. Get to know your tooling supplier When investing in a new machine tool, it’s important to take the time to look into the tooling suppliers under consideration as well. For example, many tooling companies do not manufacture from H13 or
tool steel. Those tools are not going to have the life expected to pay for themselves. There’s a good chance that a cheaper tool holder will run for about six months before runout problems pop up—even on a brand- new machine. In addition to material consistency and quality, understand how a tool manufacturer qualifies its standards. For instance, where do they measure runout? If it’s measured in the taper, it doesn’t tell you all that much. But if its measured at some multiple of the tool’s diameter in front of the nut, it’s a much better indicator of what a shop can expect from that tool. If you take the time to understand how tools are made, what the tool manufacturer guarantees and why, you can make a one-time investment, likely for the life of that machine (assuming the tools are properly cared for). That’s a real cost savings.
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