learning a new machine

[jserio]

so, as many of you know, i'm a cnc machinist. i used to run a mazatech(could be spelled wrong) H-400 mill. well, it crashed a few weeks ago. not on my shift btw.  anyways. company was planning to get rid of it in a few months anyway so they decided just to can it early. so the past few weeks i've kinda been plant Buddha Loves You. doing whatever needs done in whatever department. the upside is that i am keeping my machinist pay. which for floor positions at my plant, is the best you can get once you're at top out. i should be there by the end of summer. well, the past couple of days i've been learning to run a Mori Seiki 12" chuck lathe. an intresting machine. a bit different than i'm used to with the mill. then my boss comes to me tonight and tells me he's got good news for me, some more stability in my work. i'm thinking, cool, they're gonna get another machine earlier than planned. wrong. the guy who's training me on the mori is going back to another plant from whence he came last summer.  soon. don't have a date yet but soon i'm told. so, when he leaves i'll be running the mori for a few weeks. then, big changes in the machining dept. since we purchased a makino a51 recently, it will be assuming the work of not only my old machine but also alot of work(and soon to be all the work) from another machine. so, that leaves some folks without a job sorta but not really. it only really affects me because i'm the least senior machinist. we have 11 machinist but only 9 actual machining positions once the makino comes on-line full time. so, they say, i get to run the mori for a few weeks. then, the guy on my shift who is going to be running the makino is going to first shift for 7 weeks to train. during this time, i get his machine. but only until he's done training because once he's done training, he goes back to second shift and the makino goes fully productional which in turns shuts down the machine i'll be running at that time. so, once again, i'll be stuck as plant Buddha Loves You until another machine is brought in or someone else transfers. oh, but they've given me a nice title. i'll be called a "floater". still in machining dept, still keep my pay. i'm not really bitching bout it. i just hate not haveing a full time machine to run. i don't like not knowing what or where i'm going to be working when i go in.  but the plant production manager has told me that sometime in the next 12 months they do plan to bring in another machine. so, hopefully when that happens i can get a steady machine position again and hopefully even get to go back to first shift where i'd really like to be.  guess i just gotta wait and see what happens. okay, after all this rambling, i do have a question for those of you fellow machinists. what do you prefer to run? mills or lathes? and why? 

[yamahonkawazuki]

i gotta see some pics of the new pride and joy. if you cant, thats cool as well

[jserio]

the new machine they just bough is a makino a51...here are some specs. i'll try to get a pic from their webpage.




A51 SPECIFICATIONS 


   Pallet: 15.7"
X: 22.0"
Y: 22.0"
Z: 23.6"
Spindle RPM: 12,000 (18K)
Rapid Traverse: 1,969 in/min
Cutting Feedrate: 1,574 in/min
Maximum Workpiece: ø24.8" x 35.4"
Maximum Payload: 880 lbs
ATC Capacity: 60 (40, 134, 219 )
Tool to Tool: 0.9 secs
Chip to Chip: 2.3 secs
Maximum Tool Length: 14.2" (18.1")
Maximum Tool Diameter: 6.7"
Maximum Tool Weight: 26.5 lbs


Makino's a51 features a fast spindle response that shortens machining times for parts and components made of light alloys and cast iron. The well-balanced support system enhances cutting capabilities in the uppermost region of the machining range. Rigid machine construction supports high acceleration performance. Three-point support system for quick installation.
   
Related Articles


MAKINO INTRODUCES NEW 5-AXIS ROTARY TABLE
 
Video


X, Y, Z, B Rapid Traverse
56K Dialup    Broadband


Additional Information
- CAT40, 12,000 rpm Spindle
- 60 Tool Magazine
- One Degree Indexing Table
- Three Point Support
- Splash and Chip Shield
- Lift-up Chip Conveyor and Tank
- Center Trough with Base Coolant Wash
- Spindle Temperature Controller
- Overhead Shower Coolant System
- Fluorescent Work light



Table
- Table Working Surface:
   400mm x 400mm (15.7" x 15.7")
- Load Capacity:
   400kg (881 lbs.)

Feedrate
- 40,000mm (1,574")/minute

[jserio]

so this is the new machine they just bought. i should eventually get to learn to run this one but it may be awhile. 

[jserio]

oh, and they bought an 8 pallet changer to go with it...haven't found pics of it yet... but it's really cool. 

[yamahonkawazuki]

so  , you say youre a cnc machinist, using this thing. ( eventually), what is it you make with it, ( or will) ( or can you say?)

[GeeP]

I prefer a 1948 American Pacemaker 20" heavy pattern, very similar to this machine:



Digital computers hadn't been thought of yet.

[jserio]

i work for Crown. we make forklifts. i work in the motor plant. so many of the parts i make are motor components.  end heads, rotors, shaft assemblies etc. i like my job.  

[jserio]

nice machine geep we had an old barber-colman gear hob cutter in my plant that i ran for awhile. it's gone now. 

[yamahonkawazuki]

hehe geep i was trained on one of those. and jserio, you could prolly come up with some "custom" engine parts

[ohgood]

I prefer a 1948 American Pacemaker 20" heavy pattern, very similar to this machine:



Digital computers hadn't been thought of yet.

ohhhhh, nice. how's the tailstock on that baby ? does she taper near the chuck ? can't really see the ways.... but i'm sure they're clean and oily

[ohgood]

I like carrying stock from the cut off saw all the way through the mill/lathe/grinder until its heat treated, and possibly finish ground. The smaller stuff is safer, and suits me better.

As you can see from the video, I've suffered some big boring stuff too:

<embed style="width:400px; height:326px;" id="VideoPlayback" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=3769124117629872452&hl=en" flashvars=""> </embed>

<embed style="width:400px; height:326px;" id="VideoPlayback" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=945426306386756504&hl=en" flashvars=""> </embed>

<embed style="width:400px; height:326px;" id="VideoPlayback" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=3769124117629872452&hl=en" flashvars=""> </embed>

hope the links work

[makenzie71]

I prefer manual lathes...vertical are my highest preference.  I don't like the hands-off work about a CNC lathe, but they really run off the production.  We used a lot of deawoo and maizon (sp?) machines at the ITT plant I worked at, but I stayed away from them.  Mostly because I simply had no interest in running them, and partly because they were so poorly cared for that the smallest thing would crash them.

I haven't used much in the way of a mill...it's fun stuff but I haven't enough experience with them to judge between lathing and milling.