tool changer arm for okk

[keith mc.]

has anyone broke their tool changer arm on a okk mill? Just curious whether to make it my self or buy it for rude us dollars.

[Guest CNC Apps Guy 1]

Prolly gonna be a chore to make the first one unless you have a B/P, but if you routinely break them it would be worth it to make your own.

 

"...rude us dollars..."

Could be worse, you could be paying in Yen then you're REALLY see how low Canadian Currency is valued.

[Storkman]

Yea we have about 5 VM4's with broken toolchangers. Only one end is broke, so the cheesy way to fix it, is basically do a double toolchange using a blank magazine spot. Or if your company isn't cheap, order a new one.

[Guest CNC Apps Guy 1]

Order a new one, reverse engineer it and make your own from then on out.

 

James teh we're machinists aren't we???

[Hardmill]

quote:

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Yea we have about 5 VM4's with broken toolchangers.

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Only you could program a toolchanger to crash(x5)

 

 

PEACE

[Guest]

quote:

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Only you could program a toolchanger to crash(x5)

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What can you say, Storky's good at what he does.

 

I bet he has that double tool change coded into his post

[Guest CNC Apps Guy 1]

Better idea, order one, reverse engineer it and return it. Yeah you'll pay shipping and restocking but certainly less than the cost of the part.

 

Just an idea

[YoDoug®]

A few years back I was working at a shop with a OKK MCV 860. we broke the tool change arm right in the pocket for the tool, cracked clean off. We took it apart and clamped both pieces to an old cat50 holder. Then we welded it back together plus and extra chunk across the back for support. Worked good as new after that.

[TR Mfg.]

I have to ask how do you break the arm?

[Don S at Barefoot CNC South]

quote:

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I have to ask how do you break the arm?

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I think this is aimed at you Storky

[jctjct]

Not to stick up for Stork or anything, but I believe it is just a poor design. We have a Cat50 that was successfully welded like Doug said, and a few 40s that are still broken. I don't know the exact amount, but the arms are very pricey - to the extent that we have never justified it. Stork's workaround is a very good one.

[Storkman]

quote:

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I have to ask how do you break the arm?

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With a big hammer.

[HevyMetl]

I see how they are recouping some of the price drops that I have seen over the last few years.

 

Note to self make parts break and then gouge the he!! out of them for spares and will make more money in the long run. Managers stay happy because they see initial cost lower and they ignore employees and tell them to work around the problem. What the manager says, "We have a workaround? Then why do we need to fix it?" I love how business works.

[Matthew]

We have made a bunch of new tool change arms from broken ones. Don't think I've made one for an OKK yet though. Usually just the one side is broken so we are able to reverse engineer from the good half and rotate it around. We make them out of a stronger material and we add material to the back where we can to strengthen them up. Haven't had a complaint yet!

[keith mc.]

we had it digitized and i could spend a few hours to clean it up the file that is. The job was for a customer of ours. I think it is better to buy new a do what most said reverse engineer it. thanks for the input