I have run this machine since the fall of 89. I estimate that it has run at least 517 thousand parts. May 1st a Preventive maintenance inspection was performed on the machine and she wasn't the same machine after that. So it is being removed from service tomorrow.
After I had run 11 parts of an order of 15, I had added a total of .01 taper into the program for a part that was 3.7 inches long. I also told someone I thought it had .006 backlash and the maintenance man confirmed it. The machine is valued at $5000 and to replace the thrust bearings and fix other problems will be about the same money.
Tomorrow they will put a 1993 Okuma Cadet in its place and then that machine will be replaced in about four months by a Okuma 4 axis. We do not have the programing support necessary to put the 4 axis in place until fall. So the next 8 months will be full of CHANGE for me.
The Plant Superintendent has congratulated me on wearing out a machine, but it doesn't feel like a good thing to me. Then again, it serves as a reminder that nothing lasts forever.
SDE
After I had run 11 parts of an order of 15, I had added a total of .01 taper into the program for a part that was 3.7 inches long. I also told someone I thought it had .006 backlash and the maintenance man confirmed it. The machine is valued at $5000 and to replace the thrust bearings and fix other problems will be about the same money.
Tomorrow they will put a 1993 Okuma Cadet in its place and then that machine will be replaced in about four months by a Okuma 4 axis. We do not have the programing support necessary to put the 4 axis in place until fall. So the next 8 months will be full of CHANGE for me.
The Plant Superintendent has congratulated me on wearing out a machine, but it doesn't feel like a good thing to me. Then again, it serves as a reminder that nothing lasts forever.
SDE