DMG and Siemens 840D

[GoetzInd]

Does anyone have experience with this type of control? We are looking at replacing a machine with a DMG GMX mill turn with this thing on it. Right now we have 18i and 31i. Any feedback on both DMG and Siemens would be helpful. Thanks.

 

Mike

[[email protected]]

We had a Hyundai Lathe with the 840d controller. It was the biggest POS I have ever dealt with. Of course that was around '99 or 2000....they might have inproved since then. The only way to transfer programs was with a 3rd party German software and it was POORLY translated in English.

Pain in the A$$

 

JMO

[X-L Engineering Corp]

We have 3 Twin-32's and 1 Twin-42 DMG's at our other facility and the amount of down time is more than anybody should ever have to deal with. I personally don't work on them but I do see the monthly Machine repair statements.

 

Before you buy you should talk to some owners in the area and see what they think about the support they get in IL, and especially now that they have teamed up the guy from Arthur Machine Tool to create another Company.

 

Bottom line ask around!!!

[Rick Henrickson The Boeing Co.]

You would think in IL that they would have great service since there main office is in schaumburg I would talk to them about all your issues.

[GoetzInd]

quote:

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there main office is in schaumburg

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Yep, their building is 5 minutes down the road from us. You'd think they would be pretty good.

 

Mike

[Rick Henrickson The Boeing Co.]

Wow that is Sad I use to work for a NW machine tool sales company and we sold DMG they were always real good then, maybe they had a change of people? I am sorry to hear that

[Smit]

Don't buy a DMG. They are good machines, but DMG has the worst service and support of any machine I've ever experienced.

 

M2C

[Newbeeee™]

We bought a 2axis lathe with a siemens control (810T - Baby brother of 840) as it is light years ahead of fanuc for on machine programming. In my opinion there is no comparison between this and the manual guide.

I have never worked a mazak, but I'm assured the siemens is very similar to mazatrol?

The down side of the 840 is it usually has a hard drive. This will usually last 3 years before needing replacing.

We went the 810 route because it doesn't have a hard drive.

 

FWIW, I love fanuc controls. We have 4 machining centres with Oi and 31i but do all the programming off line for these.

Just didn't want it to sound like a knock fanuc post.

HTH

[Mick]

I've used and programmed Siemens 840D controllers. They are horrible, and by far the worst controllers I have ever used.

 

The drill cycles are cryptic, with the -23,0,1,0,1,0 etc etc coding.

 

My favourites are Okuma, and then Fanuc, in that order.

 

We have a DMG DMU125P 5 Axis machining centre with a Heidenhain TNC530i controller. I've used that on a limited basis, and I've found that not too bad. The machine itself has served pretty well so far, so it is only used lightly, in a R and D role.

[Newbeeee™]

Just to clarify, I am using shopturn. This is conversational.

Not the ISO side of the control, so all programs are cycles and I just fill in the prompts.

Easy peasy!

[heavychevy2155]

I used to program some Siemens control's, we used MC V9 Lathe. I liked using Mastercam to program them, but the Siemens support funtions could do most all functions you would want to do on a lathe. It had some really nice drilling and threading cycles. Used g54 g55 and so on, easy to set up. The monitors would go out and it was very sensitive to temp changes (didn't like the heat).

 

Siemens parts are very expensive, and sometimes it takes awhile to get what you need. If it was my coin I would go the Fanuc route. Well I did go the Fanuc route, my lathe has a Fanuc 18T, man that thing is so easy to get running.

[m_morgan]

The 840D is a highly advanced controller (eg. it can machine pure NURBS data), but that doesn't necessarily mean that it'll be right for the job.

 

I've used two "DMC Evolution 70" 5 axis milling machines, one with a Siemens 840D and the other with a Heidenhain control. The Heidenhain control was a much easier learning curve for the operator (it's like fill in the blanks picture stuff), but the 840D produced MUCH better finish on 5 axis parts, and the cycle times I thought were quicker. Plus the operator got used to it after a few weeks.

 

I'd plump for the Siemens control if it's a 5 axis mill. It DOES have different cycle codes, but you'll get used to that in no time. The surface finish and cycle time reduction would swing it for me.