Re: Hard decision....4 axis mill for $2500

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@y..., "Kos" <kos@e...> wrote:

> Date: Sun, 29 Apr 2001 00:34:19 -0000
> From: dougrasmussen@c...
> Subject: Hard decision....4 axis mill for $2500.
>
> Group,
>
> Here's a hard one for me to decide on. Maybe some of you know this
> machine type and controller.
>
> The machine is a Berney (Swiss?) T38-CNC horizontal mill with a 4th
> axis. The control is a Siemens Sinumerik. It's not clear if the
> control is an 800, 810 or 820, literature for all those controls is
> included. Delivery date of the machine was 1988.

If that machine is really $2500 with an 810 on it, it may be a great
deal. the 810 uses fairly standard G-code, but has an exceptional
macro language, and excellent work offset and tool ofset handling. It
(the macro language) is a bit cryptic, but as I recall, you can write
your own canned cycles and they will execute like subroutine calls,
including passing parameters back and forth. Had funny little
Chicklet buttons & soft touch keys around(not on)the monitor edges.

I had many hours close to one that had a $100,000.00, 30 HP EmcoMaier
360TCM Lathe attached. The machine would hold +/- .0002 all day, on
a diameter. You just had to watch out that the coolant didn't heat up
too much, it only held 90 gallons, and we hogged so much 8620 with
that machine that it would heat the coolant up to about 115-130 deg
F. Good thing it had a conveyor for the chips.

If the 4th axis works and is full contouring, servo based, it is
probably worth $5000-$7000 alone(new).