b"Productive Timesmachine tool builder for new machines. want to still have a machine that has the most capability But instead of replacing the old machines with newand efficiency because we never know what is going to versions of the same model, J&R Machine decided tocome through the door tomorrow.purchase two NZX 2000 CNC machines, which haveThe machines were custom-ordered. Shop represen-two spindles, automated gantry loaders and three tur- tatives traveled to a facility in Portland, Oregon, for a rets with live mill/drill tool heads, said Vice Presidentmachine demonstration because that was the closest Parker Tumanic. location with a machine similar to the ones that J&R Not only did we just double the gain with the twin spindle and triple turret, but the machine runs unattended as well.The thought process was, he said, instead ofMachine decided to buy.adding more equipment long term to increase capac- It took about eight months from purchase order to ity, as equipment needs to be replaced we will simplydelivery, Parker said.put in a machine with twin spindles, automatically real- He said after installation, which required construct-izing a 100% gain while utilizing the same amount ofing a 0.6-m-thick (2') concrete foundation under each floor space and the same operators. We are not justmachine to enhance stability, the machines quickly going to say, We have this job, and this machine is allimproved the contract manufacturers efficiency. For we need. Because if that job goes away in a year, weinstance, a part that previously needed fixturing on two lathes and three horizontal machining centers was completed in one setup on an NZX 2000.TURN TOThe part was measured in the coordinate measur-ing machine and came out perfect for our orientation, THE LEADER INParker said. that the risk of operator error enters He explained SPINDLE PRECISION the picture when a part is produced on more than one machine, especially when precise orientations must be SALESSERVICESUPPORT held. In addition, the gantries automatically load and unload parts. Check Out Our New State-of-the-Art Facility! Not only did we just double the gain with the twin spindle and triple turret, Parker said, but the machine runs unattended as well.In another example, he said J&R Machine increased the number of parts per hour from five with the old ma-chine to 12 with the new one.The setup time remained fairly neutral, Parker said. Where you gain is on the uptime of the machine and its efficiency.He said some jobs run for 100 hours or more after setup.Your low-hanging fruit is in the run time rather than setup time, Parker said.To keep coolant at the ambient temperature of the shop air, which is held to 22 C (72 F), J&R Machine800-686-1679 added coolant chillers to the machines. info@gmnusaWhen you have three turrets cutting, it heats up thewww.gmnusa.com coolant, Parker said, noting that the company can run 69 bar (1,000 psi) coolant through all the turrets.48SEPTEMBER 2020 ProTimes.indd 48 8/17/20 11:14 AM"