Well here we go “the salesman” trying to pitch me his machine above the others, right? Well no, we want you to buy the machine that has the most impact for you and your business. You may not believe it but I have advised plenty of people that one of our machines is not the solution to their problem. Selection of the machine that is going to have the most impact on our business and our bottom line is always a challenge. Whether that is a new laser, punch press, brake or a finishing machine.
After touching on the difference between polishing, graining and bur removal I wanted to give some information on how each is done. I do not intend to go too far but rather the basic how and why for each. As with all things there is often more than one way to do anything. This is just pulling from my own experience of over a decade and what others have shown and taught me as well.
Many times we all make assumptions based on our own knowledge. This can be a very deep conversation that gets into human nature and any number of other points. But I am noting that just because you know something is no indication others do. With that thought in mind I want to go back to the basics to help every one have a good foundation to build from.
Choosing a machine can be complicated. From floor space issues to getting everyone up to speed and able to use it successfully. Then there are the details such as how much is it? And when can I have it on the floor. There are an untold number of people selling finishing machines and it can be tough to sort through them. You want a machine that will do the job and not be out of service every time you turn around. This is where you can help yourself by weeding through the different avenues available to you.
My grandfather used to look at newer cars and say that they were too complicated. He was looking at the car as it would be in a few years when it would need repair. He was not afraid of the new technology but rather what problems it would bring later. Other than, the robot overlords taking over the world part, the rest of his argument made sense. Just because you can get a new anything with all kinds of add-ons and upgrades does not mean you should. If you get that new machine can your current staff operate and service it? If you need to bring in an outside factory tech for every little thing that goes wrong, the cost will certainly pile up over time. Keeping points like this in mind are important, as they are part of the big picture and the machine's True cost. It may not be an upfront cost but you are going to pay for it one way or the other.
In an effort to to provide more and better information on the Loewer machines I will be putting together more video content. The hope is to provide a repository of information to help you with a machine you have or one you are looking to purchase. These will range from a basic walk around to single topics in more depth. I will do my best to get content produced and uploaded on a consistent basis and add to it topics presented as areas of interest. So if you have ideas for content you think would be helpful please feel free to share your suggestions. The videos will be on our website as well as Youtube to make it easier to find where you may be looking for it. So feel free to post comments or to let me know what you would like to see covered.
As is always the case looking for ways to save money often leads to looking at many different paths. It can be the time invested in a process to vendor supplies and services. One area to look at that often hides savings is finishing.
We all know the typical wide belt machine and how it works. That process has been the same for a long time and has just been accepted as the norm. Cutting metal creates a bur and that must be removed for a number of reasons. Having the fresh cut edge causes issues with just handling the parts in more ways than one. The risk of people getting cut in assembly or later by the finished product is one of the most worrisome. Secondary to that is the bur tends to scratch other parts in stacking or just general movements around the shop. That leads to secondary operations or part rejection that can be avoided. Below is a close view of before and after just to show what the bur looks like in this parts case. The parts are identical with the left being fresh from the cutting operation and the right being after bur removal.
Why do belt sanders use more energy than disc sanders? Read on to learn more.
We’ve staked our claim to fame on our incredibly low operating costs, and in all of our cost of operation worksheets we discuss how much more expensive wide belt grinding machines are to run when compared to a Loewer DiscMaster. It’s worth understanding how the machinery works and why conventional machinery uses so much more electricity.
There are three primary factors that contribute to energy consumption; Mechanical friction from moving parts like chains, rollers, wheels, bearings and belts; friction between the abrasive belt and the part surface; and heat generated through the manipulation of the belt (which can be significant in some instances). Larger machines with more bearing surfaces and heavier parts create more mechanical friction.
