For most shops, the bottom line is how many real parts are cut on the machine by the end of the day. And a key there is how much time goes by from the time the last part of the previous job is done until you're in production on good parts on the next job. All that time in between, you are not cutting good parts so your customers don't want to pay for that time -- the more you can reduce that time, the more money you've made at the end of the day.
Many shops are experiencing smaller and smaller lot sizes. Sometimes the programming time, set-up time and prove-out time becomes significant time compared to actually cutting the parts.
Have you noticed that your CNCs sometimes are not cutting parts for a time, when switching over to the next job?
Work more efficiently, and training of new staff is reduced, by having one consistent system to program all your Mazaks. And still use all the core power of your Mazaks by programming in Mazatrol, and G-code when you need it -- instead of being limited as other programming methods do to just G-code or just Mazatrol = half the power by being restricted to only one or the other.
We're not just another CNC programming system, we're also a different methodology -- a different way of doing things -- that can change how your CNCs are utilized.
It's made a big difference. We can program on the PC now. Saves a lot of time. We're not tying up the machines. Saves about 30% on programming time. ... We have 14 Mazak lathes. I did 5 million on the lathes last year. 30% of 5 million, that's a lot.
-- Mark Cooper, ProTech