Today, manufacturing in a sector as that of precision micro-machining (but not only) means dealing with an increasingly demanding market, which requests must be satisfied as much as possible. Otherwise, you risk being non-competitive and therefore to be put on the side.
On one hand, this means that we have to start thinking that investments in new technologies and machinery are extremely important and on the other hand, we must be sharp to understand where to invest.
Hence my question: does it make sense nowadays to invest in a multitasking machine?
Since our latest technological investment concerns the purchase of a NTX 1000 by DMG Mori which is currently 100% operational at our workshop since a few months, my answer to the initial question is positive: yes, it makes sense nowadays to invest in a multitasking machine.
In the past, these machinery were very slow, producing only small size lots: they were mainly used in the nuclear field or some particular spheres of the naval sector, such as for example to produce complex parts for regatta boats that were requiring limited series. Today multitasking machines have significantly evolved: they are quicker, more precise and are becoming increasingly suitable for larger mass productions (let’s say average size), therefore they are more competitive compared to the past. Manufacturing a mechanical component without the aid of such type of machinery requires to first process the part on a lathe, and then move it on a work station when ready, for a second processing. Result? First of all, the need to use two different machines instead of one, with obvious consequences: higher costs to purchase machines, for energy consumption, staff and so on; and also more space required in the workshop. In addition to the above, production times are also extended: setting two machines instead of one requires time, as well as moving the piece being processed from one machine to the other.
This is the reason why the market of multitasking machines is growing and why we decided to make this type of investment.
In particular, our NTX 1000 is a highly performing machine that allows processing the part with five axes and features a storage compartment with 50 tools.
Therefore, it is able to manufacture in one single process, particularly complex components also characterised by extremely reduced tolerances. I can’t say that this is a super fast machine with regards to the work cycle, because the handling of all these tools and relative safety features inevitably slows down the process. Nonetheless, we are overall satisfied.
I leave you with a video of the NTX 1000 in operation, published by DMG Mori.
