Manual machine tools still occupy a place in machining factories
October 06, 2023
There is no denying that computer numerically controlled machine tools are the most productive tools for machine shops, but many managers and owners say that manual machine tools are still occupying a place in machine shops. Some machine shops do not have any automatic machine tools but only manual machine tools. Still profitable.
In January 2007, an editorial on the theme "American Mechanic Magazine" won many readers' replies, especially those who only have manual machine tools. Therefore, we decided to investigate the continued use of manual machine tools.
This situation does not involve the contrast between the old school and the old school. Instead, the key is to find the machine that is best suited to the machining task and can achieve the best results in the existing equipment on hand, just as the manufacturers using CNC machine tools have their own specific expertise parts and batches. This is also true for manufacturers who only use manual machine tools.
Parkcr MachineWorks LLC (Parker Machine Tool Plant), Sterling Machinc (Pound Sterling Machine Tool) and Apparatus Repair & (Engineering Repair and Engineering Company) are three machine shops that use only manual machine tools and serve different markets. They all use manual machines for the same reason: When there are only one or two parts processing batches, manual machine tools are the most efficient and able to maintain their business.
Parker Machine Tool Plant owner Ed Taddeo said "I have no objection to CNC, but for our business, CNC equipment does not work." The factory is located in Grand Junction, Colorado. The service targets transportation (large trucks) and earth moving vehicles. Oil industry and so on. The factory is operated by 2 people. There are 40 manual machine tools, including lathes, planers, grinders and boring and milling machines, which can manufacture industrial parts and carry out repairs. Factories sometimes process two parts a week, and sometimes 10 can be processed because parts are sometimes very complicated. If there is a batch of 20 workpieces, Taddeo thinks it is a large batch and may subcontract it to other factories.
The factory's processing targets are generally 1 or 2 large and heavy parts, sometimes weighing up to 2.72 tons (6000 pounds), requiring special keyways or holes up to 1524mm (5 feet) deep.
Taddeo said “I don’t know what features the parts to be machined next have, so there must be many different machine tools. Although the machines are very old, they are large and large parts are the markets we are good at. We are the only ones in the town of this area. Manufacturers of such artifacts.” Similarly, Tony Gatto, president of SterlingMachine in Cedar Lake, Indiana, said that because each part of the factory is different and requires different machine tools, in his factory, the machine tool ratio There are many mechanics operating the machine.
He said: "If you are a manual processing plant with 1 or 2 pieces per part processing time, then you must have a large number of machine tools because you never know what kind of parts will be processed later." He added at the same time, All his machine tools are not losing money.
This factory has a total of 7 people and 15 manual machine tools, which repair or manufacture parts such as presses, cold forging machines and valve bodies. Parts that can weigh no more than 4.54 tons (10,000 lbs) can be attached, and 90% of the parts do not have drawings.
Last year, the factory delivered 354 artifacts. Some of these parts consist of multiple parts, so Gatto said that the number of parts may be close to 600. He also said that their factory often bids with CNC processing plants and will generally win the bid.
