Yama Seiki (Awea) vs YCM

[Brian B 74]

The company I work for is debating between the above 2 manufacturers for a new CNC.  Yama Seiki offers a large bridge mill (VP2012) with a Fanuc 32M control for less money than YCM is offering for a C-Style frame machine (NTV-158B) with a Fanuc 31i control.

 

Thoughts?

 

The company I work for specializes in plastic injection mold building.  I have reservations about the 32M control being a standard cnc control (no look ahead).  Both machines would have CAT50 - 10k spindles.  

[peon]

I used to operate three Yama-Seiki's which were purchased brand new with the  Fanuc 18i controller.  The machine is garbage.  STAY AWAY!!  After several spindles, loose gibs from the factory and  thermal comp issues in the spindle Z axis on ALL 3 machines, you'll have more headaches than you need.   As far as the 32M which you inquired, I'm sorry I haven't had any experience with that particular controller.  We also build tools for the plastic mold industry.

[Joe788]

I don't know about that particular model, but one my buddies has a bunch of YCM 40x20 machines. Seems like he adds another new one every year or so. He sings pretty high praise of them.

[Johnny M]

I have a Awea SP2016 CAT 50 10 000 RPM Glass Scale Machine for about 2 1/2 years. I have had no problems with it.
I also own a Awea BM 1600 C frame machine also no problems.

 

[Brian B 74]

Johnny M - what do you cut on your Awea?  Job shop parts?  Molds?

[peon]

Keep in mind, with the small molds we build, we are ALWAYS using small cutters below 1/4", therefore running at 10,000 rpm all day.  After a few hours at that speed, the spindle would grow in the Z .003" on all three machines.  If you had an overnight run, you were screwed.  Machining moldbases with larger cutters and slower spindle speeds were fine. 

[Johnny M]

Brian,

 

I cut A lot of Mold Bases / Die Sets / Etc ...

Fire away if you have any specific Questions or pm if you like better.