05/09/2025
From go to woah, yet another batch of brass spacers delivered. Once this job is started, the machine runs continuously for days until complete. Most of that run time is unmanned, much of it I am actually an hour's travel from the machine, leaving it to run alone, as it was designed for. Apart from changing bars, deburring, washing and counting, I'm not needed on this one. The hand written G code program has the Hicell cycle time as fast as it can be. Even the smallest edit can save 1 sec per job, saving hours in run time totals. Using correct spindle speeds, turret feeds on brass will result in none to minimal tool wear. Tool change and index positions are minimized to reduce cycle times, with only mm between tools, job, chuck. Fortunately, the Hicell has a huge advantage over most other brands by being able to place any tool, anywhere the operator likes, so indexes are not wasted on empty turret pockets. Hitachi Seiki’s employed kennametal KV4540 quick release 2 stage clamping tool system which is extremely versatile. All 22 pockets (10 front turret, 12 rear carousel) can be turning, boring, drilling, fixed, live, rotary, random, solid, whatever you like. This makes for one of the most efficient and fastest setup machines ever built. Tweak the setup and program, then do it again, until it runs as fast as it possibly can.
