Re: Is part design lagging cnc capability?

D Murphy wrote:

GarlicDude <pulsar@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in
news:139dt9h3219jab4@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx:

Joe, Not sure whether your an owner or not, but sometimes it's the
lack of capital that prevents the smaller shop from buying the
$600,000 piece of equipment.

When your bootstrapping your way up it's much easier to finance
something in the $100,000 range than the machine with all the bells
and whistles, even though in the long run it can be worthwhile. A $50
K loader on a $100K lathe ups the payments in a big way and the
bankers make you spreadem even more.

There's some truth to that but...

Consider Joe's scenario 5 extra operators, even at 9 bucks an hour are
going to cost you 13. 13x5x2000=$130,000.00 per year. A cost that can
only go up. That's $10,833/month which can buy a whole lot of automated
machine tool. And that's just one shift, go to three and before you know
it you're talking real money.

OTOH, I was at a place recently (a young company with some real talent)
and one of the investments they need to make is in a 5-axis mill. So do
they buy a Haas for cheap money, or do you by something better for a
whole lot more money? Given the materials being cut and the tolerances,
the expensive machine doesn't have any huge advantage. It would be a bit
faster, and probably more accurate. But they don't need the accuracy and
the speed won't pay for the price spread.

As much as it pains me to say it, the Haas is probably the right choice
for them. And I've heard all the arguments about it being a throw away
machine and all. All I know is that I'd like to be able to buy a car
that retains its value as well.

The problem is that as they grow, they will probably get busier, then
buy another. Then another, and so on. But there will be a point where it
will make more sense to get off of that train and buy some 5-axis HMC's
instead. The tough thing to figure out is when to pull the plug and go
in the other direction.

--

Dan

CNC Videos - <http://tinyurl.com/yzdt6d>



A cost anaylsis of a upgraded machine tool should be done before you buy
it. Will the now machine give you a better return on your investment
than what you are now running? What is the amount of risk you are taking
in light of a downturn in the economy?
The biggest question is ' do you want to run a machine shop or do you
want to make money


John
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Help: Bike shop trying to screw me (I think)
    ... BEFORE doing anything to it which would cost you money. ... I wouldn't take the bike back to the same shop. ... cleaned out the rust that had built up in the gas tank, ...
    (rec.motorcycles.tech)
  • Re: Help: Bike shop trying to screw me (I think)
    ... BEFORE doing anything to it which would cost you money. ... I wouldn't take the bike back to the same shop. ... cleaned out the rust that had built up in the gas tank, ...
    (rec.motorcycles.tech)
  • Re: Is part design lagging cnc capability?
    ... going to cost you 13. ... it you're talking real money. ... As much as it pains me to say it, the Haas is probably the right choice ...
    (alt.machines.cnc)
  • Re: 693,000 more jobs lost in December..and the Republicans still dont get it
    ... I wish I could make a house addition for a shop, ... Money isn't likely to be cheaper than it is now for a long time. ... money vs. the cost of real estate, but I am not really ready to move. ... I'm not really thrilled with my place but the thought of moving cures the ...
    (rec.crafts.metalworking)
  • Re: Cost question
    ... It can actually save you money in some cases where it is combined with phone ... Shop around! ... Frank McCallister ... >> Does anyone know the cost of a T1 line? ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.server.sbs)