I have a notion to put an old horizontal in the shop, not as a production machine - we'll buy new when it reaches that stage, but to do the jobs that are awkward/impractical on the verticals. As such I don't want to sink a lot of money into it. I see lots of early 90's machines from quality builders, matsuura, mori, etc. that have what I want for reasonable money. (WIW being 50 taper, through spindle coolant, b axis, twin pallet). I have a number of low quantity repeat jobs that would be a cakewalk on such a machine compared to our current methods.
Often these machines have a Fanuc 15M control. The only fanuc's I have ever used are newer O series and I'm hardly enamoured with them, however Fanuc is the obvious choice for an old machine like this for parts and such.
What can these older fanuc's do? How much memory is it likely to have and what can it be upgraded to? 3d surfacing practical or not? Will I have to pay for things like helical?
Is there a reference anywhere detailing abilities of older controls?
TIA, Gregor
Often these machines have a Fanuc 15M control. The only fanuc's I have ever used are newer O series and I'm hardly enamoured with them, however Fanuc is the obvious choice for an old machine like this for parts and such.
What can these older fanuc's do? How much memory is it likely to have and what can it be upgraded to? 3d surfacing practical or not? Will I have to pay for things like helical?
Is there a reference anywhere detailing abilities of older controls?
TIA, Gregor