gang tooling / small lathe recommendations

[Chris Rizzo]

big need to add a small machine here....anyone have any recommended machines? Looking to make parts no bigger than 1.25 dia, stainless and aluminum. Qty of part 250-4000. Must have c axis and preferably be fanuc controlled. Bar feeder, parts catcher, etc. etc. Sub-spindle would be great, but we are looking into something in the $75k (or less) range. So our sub spindle most likely will be an operator performing second ops.

 

I'm really thinking about a gang tooling machine for a variety of reasons. Quick tool changes (no tool changes!).. they seem alot cheaper because of no turret. I'm also intrigued by the possiblity of quicker setup changes with having all tools for a job mounted to a sub-plate type affair and changed all at once. I don't have any experience with gang type tool machines, and would appreciate any feedback also regarding gang vs. standard turret machines.

 

Right I'm looking at a Doosan 200G machine...65k pretty much loaded.

 

thx

[Tim Simmermon]

I just ran across this the other day. I'm not sure of the price, but it definitley looks like a nice machine.

 

Hardinge Gang Tool Lathe

[chris m]

Does Methods sell the Doosan line up your way? If so I would consider that a big plus. Can you get live tools with a Gang machine?

 

You may want to search for Gang Tool because there was some discussion on them a few moths ago.

 

C

[Camdude®]

we have 5 hardinge GT27SP gangtool lathes and i wouldn't trade them for anything. Bulletproof,run 24-7-365, easy to program, hold amazing tolerances, even in plastic. We have top plates but i really odn't swap em out unless i go from very small to large dia.( under 6" ).

i have all my tools loaded for od id face and cutoff, anything else i add as needed. that means tool numbers don't change do i can get programs and setups done quickly.

[Chris Rizzo]

The MMT dealer out here is Selway, which we've had so/so experience with. CNC Machine Sales has the Doosan line, and there service is second to none IMHO. I'll see who has Hardinge out here.

 

Camdude, are you guys running any C-axis on them?

 

thx fellas

[billystein]

look at ganesh in chatsworth,ca. not bad and not very expensive.