CNC Retrofits - an economic solution
Machine tools are precision machines for the machining of metal or plastic parts for a variety of industries. Machine tools are the work horses of the metals manufacturing industries - without them your business would not exist.
Today, especially in Australia, there are a lot of European made machine tools that were built around the 1980s that are still in operation. These machines are a credit to their engineers for still making swarfs. However the electronics may be causing reliability issues and mechanical components may be showing signs of wear.
If a machine tool no longer provides the capability it was purchased for, or if the requirements have changed there are several options at your disposal. The most common options that machine tool owners explore are:
- Purchase of new machine tool
- Outsourcing of jobs
- Retrofit of existing machine tool
The purchase of a new machine tool comes with a large price tag and often a long lead time. Don't forget to include the concrete foundation (which for a heavy machine such as a floor borer or large vertical borer can be as much as the machine itself). If you can afford it, the outcome is generally positive.
The outsourcing of machining jobs may be a short term solution. But the additional transport costs, the profit margins of your contractor and the quality risks associated with this means you can quickly lose your competitive edge.
A CNC retrofit on your existing machine tool can be the most cost effective method of gaining the workshop capacity you need. A mechanical overhaul combined with a CNC retrofit can cost less than 30% of the price of a new machine tool whilst providing the same outcome with a quicker turn-around.
Of course, it is important to accurately assess your requirements up front to ensure your retrofit goes smoothly and delivers what you require:
- Are your servo drives providing accuracy and reliability? How will they interface with the new CNC?
- Is the measuring system up for the job? Will the new CNC be able to interface directly or are converters required?
- What electrical works need to be undertaken? No good having a brand new CNC if an auxiliary function then causes trouble.
- Is the mechanical scope of works understood? If the machine previously was manually operated the mechanical drive train needs to be examined. Often lead screws are fitted, for CNC it is recommended to use ball screws to eliminate backlash of the drive train.
- Does adding additional capability to the machine increase your efficiency? i.e. the addition of a live spindle or rotary table
The team at ASAP Power has over 15 years experience with the retrofitting of machine tools. We specialize in customised machine builds to suit your requirements.
Contact me today to discuss your requirements.
Aaron
0420 226 880