More Machining in Less Space

Some managers may not think much about it, but it is very common practice to cut small parts on much larger machines than necessary. That’s a waste of floor space, which can be a legitimate cost factor, and can slow cycle times with more distance to travel between tool changes. Expand Machinery (Chatsworth, CA) has an answer for that with its Ganesh T500 vertical machining center. The company says that while a typical 40” x 20” milling machine consumes almost 90 square feet of shop space the T500, which is just 50” wide, takes up only one third of that space.

Shops may well need the larger machines for some of their work, but small workpieces could be machined much more efficiently on the smaller and low cost T500.  With faster spindle acceleration and deceleration, shorter rapid distances, much faster rapid rates, high-speed machining capability, and the ability to rigid tap at 6,000 RPM, the T500 is more productive and economical. The 12,000 RPM direct-drive spindle coupled with a 2,362 rapid traverse rate greatly reduce non-cutting time.

The 20” X 17” table can handle 6 power vises for high production work and features a 21-tool ATC with a very fast tool-to-tool change time of 1.6-second.  When dealing with smaller work, the savings potential available to of using this fast and compact machining platform can be substantial. Moreover, right now Expand has a special offer going on a showroom model at a reduced price.