Organizing Tools in a Horizontal

[DTHOMSON]

When organizing tools within a horizontal, does it make any sense to (initially anyway) organize by diameters? Or by reach? Is there strategies I should be thinking about now as we are just starting down this journey?

Thanks.

[Guest]

Start with your 1st part and go from there. Organizing your magazine for the most part will do nothing but limit you. The only exception I make to that rule is I try to put short run tools closer to the door in a matrix (like spot drills that have short cycles mostly). On a chain it makes no difference because you're going to be all over the place anyway after a while. This is one of those ideas that sounds good in theory, but in practice, it quickly becomes a mess.

 

I would vote against putting multiple length of cut tools of the same diameter. I've seen some guys have a stub, standard, and an XL when a standard and an XL would have done the job. You'll need to maximize your tool use. A tool that is not necessarily THE most efficient but fits a larger percentage of parts is the better option whenever possible.

 

HTH

[RaiderX]

foghorn speaks very good logic. simplify and standardize will go miles over complication and confusion. dont over think it and it will fall in place

[Sticky]

Don't waste time organizing by any sort of type. Something will come up at some point and throw a wrench in the works.

 

Like James said, work on trying to make each cutter count, it might seem like you have a lot of holes to fill now but they disappear fast.

[specv]

I wouldn't waste the time either, we normally have 2 or 3 jobs in each machine and each time they run it may be a different combination of jobs. So the tools are never in the same spot twice.

[DTHOMSON]

It's unanimous. It looks like I was over-thinking this.

Thanks everyone!!

[Guest]

It's unanimous. It looks like I was over-thinking this.

Thanks everyone!!

Just trying to save you some grief.

:cough: learn from my mistakes :cough:

[MIL-TFP-41]

the only thing I have done in the past was organize by material....ie wine rack 1 & 2 are for titanium...3&4 aluminum...ect. 240 tools is not enough. 400+ then we are talking

[Sticky]

the only thing I have done in the past was organize by material....ie wine rack 1 & 2 are for titanium...3&4 aluminum...ect. 240 tools is not enough. 400+ then we are talking

 

I started doing this too, but then I ran out of room.

 

I've recently started buying drills and taps that perform in most stainless' and aluminum, so I don't have to have 4 types of M6x1 taps in the machine. The performance or tool life is a little less in some materials, but I get more space in the matrix, and less tooling to stock and manage.

[RaiderX]

thread mill is your friend. any tool that works multi purpose is a plus

[Newbeeee™]

^^^ You can also do a huge amount of work with an 1/8" ball nose...

[Peter - Avivi CNC Solutions]

^^^ You can also do a huge amount of work with an 1/8" ball nose...

+++111111+++111111111!!!!!!!+111

:D

[DTHOMSON]

RaiderX...Thank for the tip!

Newbeeee.......That is interesting. I wasn't thinking of a 1/8" ball mill as a very versatile tool. What comes to my mind (now) as possibilities are small surfacing, chamfer, possibly spot drilling. Are there others?

[Newbeeee™]

DT - I was taking the mickey!!!

That'll teach me for trying to be funny...

However, yes, you can do all of that and more.

We do a lot of scanning (45deg type) with a square end tool - you can get into the sidewalls tighter than a ballnose.

Start with the tool at lowest point and 1st cut scan up (talking ally or brass here)

[DTHOMSON]

Thanks Newbeeee. My bad. I appreciate the help.....and the humor!! Honestly! I have learned soooo much on this forum that I don't want to overlook anything!!

[Newbeeee™]