Got a new to me Sharp 2412 and moved my 2 double 6" vices to it, since this will be my production machine. Had to run one of my jobs first op in the Kitamura because it needs 19 tools. I figured it's only 20 pieces , I'll just throw a single vice up on there. What a mistake, I felt like I was tied to the machine with a cycle time of 30 minutes. Kept having to stop what I was doing to change part, Couldn't go in house and have a nice dinner while machine was running. Never again, had some 4" doubles on a sub plate I bought at an auction that will be in service very soon. I love long cycle times, when you are a one man band and 4 machines to run. My Pop and I would just shake our heads when I was younger and we would visit a shop and there in the middle of the table was a 6" Kurt holding 1 part. He gives me a hard time that I'm not palletized, but I don't have the room right now.
Most of my mill work is alum. blocks with 6 sides needing machining and holes that are perfect HMC work. Most orders are 20-50 a month so not what most HMC guys are looking for and I don't have enough change to justify one just yet.
Got to get one though, he always told me if your doing it the same way as last year ,your doing it wrong.
Hope it makes somebody on the fence on spending the money for a couple double vices do it , you wont be sorry.