Need advice on machine purchase

[Justin Beebe at Folsom Tool]

We are looking for a vertical milling machine that would be dedicated to milling and drilling aluminum extrusions. The extrusions are approximately 100 inches long and only a few inches wide. We want to be able to mill and drill them complete without moving the setup so the machine would have to have at least 100 inches of travel in X and 10 inches in Y. These jobs can be run with less than ten tools so a tool changer with ten tools would be sufficient. We also want a spindle with 10,000 to 15,000 rpm. Any suggestions on where to start looking are greatly appreciated.

[Joe788]

There's a shop near me who uses a 120 inch Mazak VTC for exacty what you're describing. It's a fixed table, so it's really easy to make parts even longer than that if needed.

 

If a full power machining center is overkill, a Haas GR510 might be a good option.

[Bruce Caulley]

I'm with Joe, a router of some sort would be the best bet.

 

Bruce

[Greg Williams]

I would look at a Fanuc Robodrill for that

[chris m]

I saw a machine at IMTS that was built expressly for this, but I'll be doggone if I can remember who made it; sorry

[Mic6]

Haas VF12

[Mr. Wizzard]

a router seems reasonable, but the gummy aluminum extrusion will prove problematic if you can't lubricate the tools.

Been there, done that.

[Allan]

These guys build the machines built just for this purpose:

 

http://www.elumatec.com

 

HTH

 

Allan

[Mic]

I would look at a Fanuc Robodrill for that

 

Fanuc Robodrill and 100 inch X travel?

[chris m]

Allan, nice pluck; I do believe that's the one I was thinking of!

 

C

[Greg Williams]

Fanuc Robodrill and 100 inch X travel?

 

Ah whoops, We are poor advanced metric souls here, I had a little conversion problem.

[Justin Beebe at Folsom Tool]

Thanks for all the replies we are looking into the Haas GR510 and some of the Elumatec machines. Mr. Wizard the Haas GR510 runs with coolant.

[Mr. Wizzard]

Runs with coolant, beautiful. That should do the trick